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“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” John Muir
Chicks Unleashed use some of the most inspiring and celebrated mountainous areas in Scotland. The details given below for individual areas are simply to give you an idea of the kind of things that we do. We also run clinics in the Peak District, Wales, the Lake District and Cornwall.
Here's some tantalising outings to tickle your tastebuds. To see further details click on the linked name of each outing in the table below. If you have a journey in mind, or specific dates please contact us directly.
"We headed for Glen Coe intent on the pleasure of traversing the Aonach Eagach Ridge in the sun and snow…Conditions were iron hard, the way untracked, the snow and ice sparkling, the sky blue against white, gleaming hills. Roped, we traversed west towards the sun, and far out, the sea. Absorbed, we eventually found ourselves climbing on a crest of pink snow, the glen a growing blackness beneath us. The sun was setting but we moved in a world of light. Anne had no desire to leave the ridge. She liked pink snow…Under a scatter of stars, we plunged down the side of the ridge somewhere before Clachaig Gully…Lights approached. We saw the Glen Coe road under our feet…We were down. It had been a good day." WH Murray
Cited by Cameron McNeish as the ‘spiritual home of mountaineering’, Glen Coe includes an amazing array of mountaineering opportunities whatever your experience or aspirations. From the vast Rannoch Moor, past the perfectly conical Buachaille Etive Mor (‘Great Shepherd of the Etive’), and along the most popular ridge in mainland Britain, the Aonach Eagach, Glen Coe has fine scenery for truly exciting adventures.
The Scottish Mountaineering Club’s Lagangarbh Hut makes a perfect base nestled at the foot of Buachaille Etive Mor, which marks the gateway to Glen Coe. This hut is a renovated cottage with fully equipped kitchen, 2 showers, a drying room, sitting room and 2 bedrooms with platform beds for twenty people.
ITINERARY
This is a suggested itinerary only. We find that having too stiff a plan is not much fun, so the point of what is written below is to give you an idea of a typical week. We'll adapt to how we feel and the weather.
Sunday 1st June: After a pick up from Glasgow Central Station at 5pm we'll drive to Glen Coe, perhaps stopping at a pub on the way for supper. We'll settle in to the SMC's Laggangarbh cottage at the foot of Buachaille Etive Mor.
Monday 2nd: On our first walking day we'll head straight to Buachaille Etive Beag as a beautiful warm up to this valley of awe inspiring mountains.
Tuesday 3rd: At the far end of Glen Coe is the perfectly shaped horseshoe above Ballachulish called Beinn a' Bheithir giving us a rugged walk with stunning views out to the isles and up through the glen.
Wednesday 4th: Back to the previous day's bigger sister: Buachaille Etive Mor, which sits as guardian at the entrance of the Glen. It's a classic cone shaped mountain and one of the most photographed in the country.
Thursday 5th: The great hulking mountain Bidean nam Bian has many possible routes.
Friday 6th: As a grand finale to the week we'll aim to tackle the famous Aonach Eagach which is said to be the best ridge on mainland Britain. It's a challenge and in places exposed, but the path is good and these trickier sections are short. And, the cosy pub awaits our descent!
COST
£274 Laggangarbh cottage, selfcatering
£tbc B&B supplement in Glencoe village
BOOKING FORM
WHAT'S INCLUDED
5 days guided walking
5 nights accommodation in a self catering cottage
group equipment
map & use of compass
MAP
OS, sheet 41, ‘Ben Nevis, Fort William & surrounding area’ Landranger 1:50,000
BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
The Evidence of Things Not Seen, WH Murray
 The Cairngorm National Park forms the largest area of arctic mountain landscape in the UK and is host to some 25% of the country's threatened plants, animals and birds. These mountains are ancient & magnificent to experience.
ITINERARY
This is a suggested itinerary only. We find that having too stiff a plan is not much fun, so the point of what is written below is to give you an idea of a typical week. We'll adapt to how we feel and the weather. We may find that you would prefer fewer nights camping, or more.
Monday 9th June: A gentle day takes us up the dragon back ridge of Bynack More where we can experience the imposing beauty of the granite tors. There are a choice of routes back home from here, either back through the glens, or up and over Cairngorm and down her northern flanks.
Tuesday 10th: It would be a sad thing to go to the Northern Cairngorms and not climb Braeriach. Today, we'll access the mountains from the western side at Glen Feshie. Should we feel like it, there are the tops surrounding Loch Eininch: Sgoran Dubh Mor and Sgor Gaoit. And then a long but gentle rise to the top of Braeriach, where we may be allowed incrdible views over to Cairn Toul, Ben Macdui and the Larig Ghru. A long track walk back through the forests at Rothiemurchus may lead us nicely on to a slap up meal at the Old Bridge Inn.
Wednesday 11th: This morning we pack up and head for the heart of the Cairngorm plateau. By accessing the plateau from the Cas car park, we gain some free metres. After heading up the wide north eastern ridge of Cairngorm we may even stop by for a hot chocolate (or icecream!) at the restaurant. We'll be able to walk easily across the plateau with a feeling of great space and the elements about us, around the northern coires, to the 2nd highest mountain in the country, Ben Macdui. From here we'll descend to the beautiful shore of Loch Etchegan, which makes for a wonderful wild camping spot.
Thursday 12th: Today we can enjoy a lighter rucsack as we day trip from our camp to visit Derry Cairngorm and the towering tors of Beinn Mheadhoin
Friday 13th: And finally down to Loch Avon and it's imposing string of cliffs - the Shelter Stone and Carn Etchegan. From here we'll either reutrn via one of the glens, or resurface up to the plateau.
COST
£249 Hostel accommodation
£tbc B&B supplement
BOOKING FORM
WHAT'S INCLUDED
5 days guided walking
2 nights wild camping
2 nights accommodation at a Youth Hostel
group equipment
MAP
OS, sheet 36, 'Grantown, Aviemore & Cairngorm', Landranger 1:50 000
BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
'Hostile Habitats' by M Wrightham & N Kempe
Jun 14-15
Isle of Skye
£175
"Twenty peaks of naked rock shimmered in the heat-haze; a horse-shoe of light grey spikes linked by a six mile ridge of gabbro and shattered basalt, narrow, rarely sinking under three thousand feet…After an hour of silent admiration I took a wider sweep with the eye, disclosing a feast of sunlit seas and distant islands, and still later, a still wider sweep to embrace skyscapes that rocked the mind with wonder. Time spent in failing to fathom a blue sky is never spent in vain." WH Murray
Skye and the famous range of mountains called the Cuillin are a truly magical and unique experience of rock, sky, mountain and sea. They offer a myriad of mountain unmatched by any other area in the UK and seep the history and possibility of mountaineering adventures.
The mountains suggested below are a great way for a walker to get to the heart of what the Cuillins are known for.
ITINERARY
Saturday 14th: Bruach na Frithe
Sunday 15th: Sgurr na Banadich
COST
£255
BOOKING FORM
WHAT'S INCLUDED
2 days guided walking
1 night's hostel accommodation
group equipment
MAP
Harvey's Superwalker, 'Skye, The Cuillin', 1:25,000, ISBN 1-85137-287-3 NB: don't use the OS 1:50,000, you just can't see much!
BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
Jun 20-22
Isle of Skye,
Social Meet
£38
"Twenty peaks of naked rock shimmered in the heat-haze; a horse-shoe of light grey spikes linked by a six mile ridge of gabbro and shattered basalt, narrow, rarely sinking under three thousand feet…After an hour of silent admiration I took a wider sweep with the eye, disclosing a feast of sunlit seas and distant islands, and still later, a still wider sweep to embrace skyscapes that rocked the mind with wonder. Time spent in failing to fathom a blue sky is never spent in vain." WH Murray
ITINERARY
Our seasonal Social Meets have been an amazing success, with women from all over the country dashing to get their boots together, tidy away their desks and catch the train on a Friday afternoon! So many good days out, new friendships & socialising has been shared.
We've realised that you might like to learn some skills too, so we're laying on 2 clinics: moving together and a journey to some of the not too scarey peaks. Each clinic is one day long and £38! If you'd like to take part, just include this on your email to us.
If you’d like to come to this meet please send us an email telling us where you’re coming from and if you’re interested in being involved in lift sharing. We also need your mobile number. We then circulate all details of the event, the women coming along and lift sharing details. There is an administration charge for these weekends (included in the price shown below) as they take an awful lot of organising.
Friday 20th: Arrive when you can at Glen Brittle campsite and settle in for a social evening. If the weather is half decent to us we'll aim for a barbeque, if not we could huddle in or scuttle for the pub!
Saturday 21st: You can take to the hills with new found friends. If you fancy it there'll be a 'moving together' workshop when we may manage an ascent of the Inaccessible Pinnacle too.
Sunday 22nd: You may like to use your new found or polished skills to go on an adventure of your own. If not we've another one laid on today, a 'strolling clinic', where we'll head to one of the peaks that take you to the heart of Cuillin, without being too 'out there', such as Sgurr nan Eag & Sgurr Dubh Mor.
COST
£28 2 night's at Glen Brittle Campsite (01478 640404).
£20 supplement to stay at Glen Brittle Youth Hostel (01478 640278), subject to availability.
Please let us know if you would like to know about the single room supplement.
BOOKING FORM
WHAT'S INCLUDED
A great social weekend, which is organised so that you can get in touch with everyone attending beforehand to chat through ideas for your weekend & lift sharing.
Access to our extremely nicely priced Clinics!
2 nights camping at Glen Brittle
MAP
Harvey's Superwalker, 'Skye, The Cuillin', 1:25,000, ISBN 1-85137-287-3 NB: don't use the OS 1:50,000, you just can't see much!
BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
 “These are leviathan hills, ancient beasts which rise sheer from sea level with long lines of mural precipice, rounded and terraced bastions topped by sharp-pinnacled ridges, summits capped by grey Cambrian quartzite….All are individual, idiosyncratic, primeval – all are rugged, all are different. Beinn Alligan is elegant, shapely, bejewelled. Liathach is a monster and breathtakingly huge, while Beinn Eighe isn’t so much a hill as a chain of hills, a complex mini-range” Cameron McNeish
The Ling Hut is another Scottish Mountaineering Club Hut, and like all the others is situated perfectly at the heart of the area, at the foot of Beinn Eighe. This Hut sleeps 16 in two rooms, has cooking facilities, heating and lighting. There is also the other SMC Hut, The Elphin. Location will be decided according to weather forecasts, group preference & hut availability.
ITINERARY
Monday 23rd: Beinn Damph gives a great warm up on day one
Tuesday 24th: Now we'll head for the great giant that is Beinn Eighe, with it's impressive northern cliffs.
Wednesday 25th: before the big one we'll head around to Slioch, another beautiful summit.
Thursday 26th: Up the awe inspiring mountain, Liathach if we're feeling ready for such an adventure. Stunning views & intruiging terrain.
Friday 27th: And finally to beinn Alligan, or possibly one of the smaller summits around to allow you a gentle wind down!
COST
£249 wild camping
£269 SMC club hut / cottage
£tbc B&B supplement
BOOKING FORM
WHAT'S INCLUDED
5 days guided walking
5 nights accommodation
group equipment
MAP
OS, Landranger sheet 25, ‘Glen Carron & Glen Affric’ 1:50,000
OS, Landranger sheet 19, ‘Gairloch & Ullapool, Loch Maree’ 1:50,000
BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
Jul 11-13
Glen Nevis, The Grey Coires
£165
 The Mamores are a series of mountains forming a 15 kilometre ridge between Glen Nevis and Loch Leven. A tour of them all would be a big undertaking. This is the perfect area for a mini expedition with a few nights under the stars. The mountains are beautiful and offer anything from exposed walks and scrambles, to the ideal ground for navigation instruction. The walks will be tailored to your needs and fitness.
ITINERARY
Friday 11th Stay at a hostel, probably Glen Nevis, but depending upon availability at time of booking.
Saturday 12th: Today we'll walk up to the idyllic Steall Meadows, and set up camp in the area. After a soaking up of the scene we'll head up onto Sgurr Choinnich Mor and along the ridge to Stob Coire an Laoigh and even to Stob Choire Claurigh.
Sunday 13th: After yesterday's efforts we'll take a walk up to Stob Coire a'Chairn, possibly Am Bodach and finally Stob Ban.
COST
£165 one night at a hostel & one wild camping
£tbc B&B supplement
BOOKING FORM
WHAT'S INCLUDED
2 days guided walking
1 night at a hostel
1 night wild camping
group equipment
MAP
OS, sheet 41, ‘Ben Nevis, Fort William & surrounding area’ Landranger 1:50,000
BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
Jul 19-20
Ben Nevis & Aonach Mor
£165
‘The mood, temper, climate, and conditions of Nevis are inexhaustibly various; their changes swifter and more radical than on any other hill, and not predictable even one day in advance. No other mountain has been more roundly cursed by the disappointed climber, or so lavishly praised by the fortunate: because nothing he ever gets is expected.’ W H Murray
ITINERARY
Saturday 19th: Either by the Tourist Path from the Visitor Centre in Glen Nevis, but preferably from the north side carpark at Torlundy, and the gentl walk beneath the northern faces of truly alpine proportions, and then up the western flanks of Carn Mor Dearg to follow her famous, sweeping arete that gives you the best seats in the house for viewing Britains highest mountain, and on up to her summit.
Sunday 20th: Up and over the great mountains of Aonach Mor and Aonach Beag
COST
£165 hostel accommodation
£tbc B&B supplement
BOOKING FORM
WHAT'S INCLUDED
2 days guided walking
1 nights accommodation
group equipment
MAP
OS, sheet 41, ‘Ben Nevis, Fort William & surrounding area’ Landranger 1:50,000
BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
Jul 26
Arrochar Alps: Cobbler & Beinn Narnain
£43
Although short of being a munro, The Cobbler is an iconic mountain, with particular significance for the Glaswegian walker & climber (At the turn of the last century shipyard workers would walk the 20 odd miles from the city & sleep under the boulders, just to get their paws in the rough rock). It's unmistakeable profile, abundant cliffs and accessibility have probably added to peoples fond feelings for The Cobbler.
ITINERARY
Saturday 26th: after an 8am pick up from Glasgow's train or bus station, we'll head up the lochside to meet at the carpark at the foot of the Cobbler. From here we'll be taking the gentle path up the hillside. From the foot of the impressive coire we can choose several routes to the 3 summits where a 'threading of the needle' is an option! Down to the col and over Beinn Narnain gives a great descent & further views to the sea & the morning's ascent.
COST
£43
BOOKING FORM
WHAT'S INCLUDED
1 day's guided walking
group equipment
possible pick up & drop off from Glasgow
MAP
OS, Landranger sheet 56, ‘Loch Lomond & Inveraray area’ 1:50,000
BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
Jul 27
Arrochar Alps: Ben Vane & Ben Vorlich
£43
ITINERARY
Sunday 27th: Ben Vane & Ben Vorlich`
COST
£43
BOOKING FORM
WHAT'S INCLUDED
1 day's guided walking
group equipment
MAP
OS, Landranger sheet 56, ‘Loch Lomond & Inveraray area’ 1:50,000
BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
"We headed for Glen Coe intent on the pleasure of traversing the Aonach Eagach Ridge in the sun and snow…Conditions were iron hard, the way untracked, the snow and ice sparkling, the sky blue against white, gleaming hills. Roped, we traversed west towards the sun, and far out, the sea. Absorbed, we eventually found ourselves climbing on a crest of pink snow, the glen a growing blackness beneath us. The sun was setting but we moved in a world of light. Anne had no desire to leave the ridge. She liked pink snow…Under a scatter of stars, we plunged down the side of the ridge somewhere before Clachaig Gully…Lights approached. We saw the Glen Coe road under our feet…We were down. It had been a good day." WH Murray
Cited by Cameron McNeish as the ‘spiritual home of mountaineering’, Glen Coe includes an amazing array of mountaineering opportunities whatever your experience or aspirations. From the vast Rannoch Moor, past the perfectly conical Buachaille Etive Mor (‘Great Shepherd of the Etive’), and along the most popular ridge in mainland Britain, the Aonach Eagach, Glen Coe has fine scenery for truly exciting adventures.
The Scottish Mountaineering Club’s Lagangarbh Hut makes a perfect base nestled at the foot of Buachaille Etive Mor, which marks the gateway to Glen Coe. This hut is a renovated cottage with fully equipped kitchen, 2 showers, a drying room, sitting room and 2 bedrooms with platform beds for twenty people.
ITINERARY
Saturday 2nd: Today there are 2 choices: Buachaille Etive Mor, which sits as guardian at the entrance of the Glen. It's a classic cone shaped mountain and one of the most photographed in the country. Or, the great hulking mountain Bidean nam Bian has many possible routes.
Sunday 3rd: As a grand finale to the weekend we'll aim to tackle the famous Aonach Eagach which is said to be the best ridge on mainland Britain. It's a challenge and in places exposed, but the path is good and these trickier sections are short. And, the cosy pub awaits our descent!
COST
£165 SMC club hut accommodation, depending on availability at the time of booking
£tbc B&B supplement upon request
BOOKING FORM
WHAT'S INCLUDED
2 days guided walking
1 night's accommodation
group equipment
MAP
OS, Landranger sheet 41, ‘Ben Nevis, Fort William & surrounding area’, 1:50,000
BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
Aug 9-10
The Crainlarich Hills
£165
These mountains mark the start of the 'true' Highlands in our humble opinion: you're properly in the big'uns, with mountains stretching as far as you can see to the north. The Crainlarich hills are wild but extremely accessible. And although rugged and packing a whole lot of Munro in per kilometre, the ground is grass rather than heather. If you've waded in heather you'll realise the significance of this!
ITINERARY
Saturday 9th: Meeting in Crainlarich (a pick up from Glasgow may be possible), we'll start our walk just a few kilometres from town. Today we'll ascend the beautiful north ridge of Caisteal and then round to the summit of Beinn a'Chroin and back through the glen.
Sunday 10th: Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean
COST
£165 hostel
£tbc B&B supplement upon request
BOOKING FORM
WHAT'S INCLUDED
2 days guided walking
1 night's accommodation
group equipment
MAP
OS, Landranger sheet 51, ‘Loch Tay & Glen Dochart’ 1:50,000
BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
Aug 10
Ochils
Navigation Clinic
£38
These beautiful & well situated mountains are perfect for getting to grips with navigation. The features in these hills offer a range of terrain that allows us to go through the vast range of skills used to keep us safe. According to rescue figures the primary reason for people calling out the local rescue team is down to navigational issues. This one day clinic will go along way to increasing your confidence & fine tuning your techniques.
ITINERARY
Sunday 10th: We will meet at Stirling train station at 9am and after a quick drive over to Tillicoultry & the hills (less than 20 minutes) we'll be slipping into our walking boots. I'll expect to be donning my flip flops and enjoying a post walk brew by 5pm. A lift back to the station will be provided for those in need.
COST
£38
BOOKING FORM
WHAT'S INCLUDED
1 day's intensive navigation clinic
group equipment
lift to & from the station / bus stop
MAP
OS, Landranger 58, ‘Perth to Alloa’ 1:50 000
BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
'Mountaincraft and Leadership' by Eric Langmuir is a classic & extensive book & has a good chapter on navigation
'Mountain Navigation' by Peter Cliff is a great & thorogh little book
Aug 17-22
West Highland Way
£399
"."
ITINERARY
Sunday 17th: Milngavie to Drymen, 12 miles
Monday 18th: to Rowardennan, 15 miles
Tuesday 19th: to Crainlarich, 20 miles
Wednesday 20th: to Bridge of Orchy, 13 miles
Thursday 21st: to Kinlochleven, 21 miles
Friday 22nd: to Fort William, 14 miles
COST
£399 wild camping & hostels
£tbc B&B supplement
BOOKING FORM
WHAT'S INCLUDED
group equipment
accommodation
map
rental of individual equipment
consultancy service
daily bag transferal
MAP
OS, Landranger, ‘’ 1:50 000
BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
"The mood, temper, climate, and conditions of Nevis are inexhaustibly various; their changes swifter and more radical than on any other hill, and not predictable even one day in advance. No other mountain has been more roundly cursed by the disappointed climber, or so lavishly praised by the fortunate: because nothing he ever gets is expected." W H Murray
ITINERARY
Saturday 23rd: Either by the Tourist Path from the Visitor Centre in Glen Nevis, but preferably from the north side carpark at Torlundy, and the gentl walk beneath the northern faces of truly alpine proportions, and then up the western flanks of Carn Mor Dearg to follow her famous, sweeping arete that gives you the best seats in the house for viewing Britains highest mountain, and on up to her summit.
Sunday 24th: Up and over the great mountains of Aonach Mor and Aonach Beag
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE A MAP?
COST
£165 hostel accomodation
£tbc B&B supplement upon request
BOOKING FORM
WHAT'S INCLUDED
2 days guided walking
1 night's accommodation
group equipment
MAP
OS, sheet 41, ‘Ben Nevis, Fort William & surrounding area’ Landranger 1:50,000
BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
Aug 30-31
Cairngorms, Lairig Ghru
£175
The Cairngorm National Park forms the largest area of arctic mountain landscape in the UK and is host to some 25% of the country's threatened plants, animals and birds. These mountains are ancient & magnificent to experience.
The Larig Ghru carves a natural (and ancient drovers path) line from the southern right through to the northern Cairngorms. It's an extremely popular walk that takes you through the heart of this unique wilderness.
ITINERARY
There are 2 ways to do this weekend. Either you can join us for both the days, or join us on the Sunday morning in from Braemar, and meet us at the mountain bothy by Derry Lodge. If you would like to do this you should contact us to arrange a single day fee.
Saturday 30th: Heading up the north ridge of Cairngorm and over the summit, we'll cross the Cairngorm plateau and over to Ben Macdui. We'll follow impressive ridges down into the glen & along to the welcoming hut by Derry Lodge.
Sunday 31st: This morning we'll take the gentle track that leads into the Lairig Ghru, with the Devil's Point, Braeriach & Cairn Toul on one side, and Ben Macdui & the plateau to the other.
COST
£249 wild camping
£tbc B&B supplement on request
BOOKING FORM
WHAT'S INCLUDED
2 days guided walking
1 night's mountain bothying
group equipment
MAP
OS, sheet 36 'Grantown, Aviemore & Cairngorm', Landranger 1:50 000
BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
'Hostile Habitats' by M Wrightham & Nick Kempe
book now
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