Last updated: 13/11/08

About the Club

Background
Based in Aberdeen, the Club was founded in 1887 and is the oldest and probably the largest hillwalking and climbing club in Scotland. Its coat-of-arms was granted in 1965. Its objectives are to encourage mountaineering, with special reference to the Cairngorm mountains; to promote competence, safety, knowledge and responsibility of attitude amongst mountaineers; to offer opportunities to engage in that pursuit in company with others; to impart information concerning mountains; to keep under review rights of access to Scottish mountains; and to issue publications. Its members have from time to time included a number of climbers of repute, but most are simply hillwalkers with interests ranging from cross-country walks, through more strenuous hillwalking (and unashamed Munro-bagging), to serious rock and ice-climbing.

Cairngorm Club at summit of Mount Keen, 1890

Muir Cottage

Muir Cottage
The Club ‘hut’, known as Muir of Inverey, is situated at OS grid reference 076896 some 8 kilometres west of Braemar, on the north side of the Linn of Dee road, about 200 metres beyond the Inverey Youth Hostel. It is available for use by Club members and guests accompanying them and also by members of other recognised climbing clubs, with whom it is much in demand for weekends throughout the year. Bookings must be made to the Huts Booking Secretary, and early booking is always advisable
Further information.

Projects
The Club has been responsible over the years for a number of projects. It erected the indicators on Lochnagar (in 1924) and Ben Macdhui (in 1925) and the bridges over the Druie on the Lairig Ghru track (NH 927078) (in 1912) and over the Luibeg (NO 013942) (in 1948).  As a project to mark its centenary with something public and tangible and hopefully less controversial than bridges have come to be, the Club in 1989 obtained the consent of the Mar Estate and funding from the Nature Conservancy Council to augment its own funding for a woodland regeneration project in middle Glen Ey, on a site of approximately 1.72 hectares around OS map reference 098857, known as the Piper's Wood. In 1995, the Club undertook the repair of the worst eroded parts of the footpath up Coire Etchachan, with the cooperation of the Mar Lodge Estate and grant assistance from Scottish Natural Heritage.

Lochnagar Summit Indicator

Cairngorm Club Journal


 

Club Journal
The Club has published the Cairngorm Club Journal since its earliest days, and the Club Library contains a complete set in bound volumes. Currently, an issue is published every second or third year, and is sent to members free of charge. The latest issue of the Journal, Volume 21, Number 108, was produced in mid-2007. The Journal Editor is always assembling material for future issues and welcomes articles, notes, book reviews and other contributions at any time.

Training
The Club encourages members to become proficient in all aspects of hillcraft. At the most basic level, participation in the President’s Party and simply walking in company with more experienced members should help new members acquire certain skills. The Club also organises courses e.g. in winter skills, navigation and first aid, at minimal cost; details are given in the newsletters, though information about courses aimed at newer members is usually sent direct to them. Members wishing to avail themselves of this should apply to the Training Co-ordinator with details of the course and its cost in advance of the training being undertaken.

Club Library
The Club has an extensive library of approximately 1000 books and sets of journals of a number of British and overseas climbing clubs. The library is located in the Special Collections Unit of Aberdeen University Library, at King's College, down the passage leading eastwards between Elphinstone Hall and the buildings around King's College quadrangle; opening hours are 9.30 to 4.30 every weekday (public holidays excepted).

Production of a current Club membership card is essential. A selection of books is usually also available at Indoor Meets; members borrowing and returning books at them should ensure that the borrowings book is appropriately written up.

For further information Please contact the Club Librarian.

The entire Club library collection can be downloaded here. (Excel format)