Last updated: 20/11/23

About the Club

Background
Based in Aberdeen, the Club was founded in 1887 and is the oldest and one of 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 NO076896 some 8 kilometres west of Braemar, on the north side of the Linn of Dee road. 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 undertaken a number of projects, such as the erection of summit indicators, e.g. on Lochnagar in 1924 and Ben Macdhui in 1925, and of bridges, e.g. over the Druie on the Lairig Ghru track (OS grid ref.  NH.927078) in 1912 and the Luibeg (NO 013942) in 1948. To mark its centenary in 1987, it established a 1.72 ha woodland regeneration area, known as Piper's Wood, in the middle of Glen Ey (NO 098857), and in 1995 the Club undertook the repair of the worst-eroded parts of the footpath into Coire Etchachan.
In 2012, as part of its 125-year celebrations, the Club funded access and waymarking at the Pass of Ballater, and in 2013 the Piper’s Wood area was approximately doubled in size.
In 2015, a further area was fenced off against deer at Altanour at the end of Glen Ey (at NO 083823).

Lochnagar Summit Indicator

A 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 23, Number 114, was produced in 2022. The Journal Editor is always assembling material for future issues and welcomes articles, notes, book reviews and other contributions at any time.
In 2019, all issues were digitised, and can be searched by text or issue via http://www.cairngormclub.org.uk/journals/ as on the home page of this website.

Training
The Club encourages members to become proficient in all aspects of hillcraft, including navigation, winter skills and first aid. Most simply, participation in Club meets (e.g. in the President’s Party: see under “Day Meets” in the “Club Activities” page), and walking in company with more experienced members, should help new members to acquire some skills and confidence. Occasionally, the Club organises its own courses at minimal cost; details are given in the newsletters, or made known via the email system. It can also offer financial support up to 50% of the cost of training and assessment courses offered elsewhere (e.g. at Glenmore Lodge), provided that some Club benefit (e.g. meet organisation) is envisaged: members should apply in advance to the Training Co-ordinator with details of the course and its cost.

Club members cannot train you in rock or ice-climbing; this is better done professionally. However, once the basics are learnt, you will be able to gain experience with fellow-members.
 

Club Library
The Club has a collection of about 1000 mountaineering books, journals, etc., housed in the Special Collections Centre of Aberdeen University Library at King’s College in Old Aberdeen. Opening hours are 10.00 to 4.30 every weekday (public holidays excepted). The entire University Library Catalogue can be searched online without a password at https://aulib.abdn.ac.uk/F.
To inspect, and/or to borrow, any Club item, it is necessary to contact Special Collections at speclib@abdn.ac.uk or 01224 272598 to specify the item(s) wanted; it is not possible to browse the shelves.
Alternatively, the Club Librarian (librarian@cairngormclub. org.uk) can be asked to borrow specific items on behalf of others.
For further information, please contact the Club Librarian.
A listing of the entire Club Library collection at a recent date can be viewed here (PDF format).