Cairngorm Club

The Cairngorm Club is a mountaineering club, based in Aberdeen, Scotland. It is one of the clubs with a claim to being the oldest in Scotland, formed around 1887.

History

One source indicates that the club was founded at Clach Dhion - the Shelter Stone above Loch Avon in the Cairngorms on 24 June 1887.[1] The club's website records the same year (only), while another source indicates that the club was founded in 1889.[2] Its founders included Reverend Robert Lippe and a group of his friends. Reverend Lippe served as the first Vice President.[3] The President for 2020/21 is Garry Wardrope.

For a 40 year period, from 1889 until the 1930s, the Cairngorm Club and the Scottish Mountaineering Club were the main climbing organisations in Scotland.[4]

Cairngorm Club Journal

The Cairngorm Club Journal has been published since 1893, currently in its 11th volume, and refers to many articles in the form : (C.C.J., vol. iii. p. 370).[2] The first editor of the CCJ was Alexander Inkson McConnochie.

Each edition of the CCJ comprises a number of articles usually, but not always, focused on some aspect of the Cairngorms - for example:

Volume I
  • The Flowering Plants and Ferns of the Cairngorms - Prof. J. W. H. Trail
  • The Eastern Cairngorms - A. I. McConnochie
  • The Central Cairngorms - A. I. McConnochie
  • Outlying Nooks of Cairngorm - Rev. W. Forsyth

Volume II
  • The Western Cairngorms - A. I. McConnochie
  • The Braemar Highlands after the '45
  • The Mountains of Scotland over 2000 feet: The Cairngorms - C. G. Cash
  • Outlying Nooks of Cairngorm - Rev. W. Forsyth
  • Outline View of the Cairngorms from Aviemore - C. G. Cash

Construction

In 1950 the club reconstructed the Corrour Bothy.[5]The Cairngorm Club are responsible for the construction of many bridges throughout the Cairngorms including those over the Luibeg Burn at Preas nam Meirleach, and over the River Dee at Corrour Bothy. Probably the most famous is the Cairngorm Club Footbrige over the Am Beanaidh in Rothiemurchus Forrest. Known as the Iron Bridge,[6] the construction is largely mild steel, with cast iron upstands.

Deaths

Several members or their spouses have died in unusual circumstances. Gerard O'Neill aged 50 was murdered on George Street, Aberdeen on 25th March, 2001.

Lyn Potter aged 51, wife of member Ernie Potter, fell from An Teallach on 28th June, 2001.

John Elgie aged 62, was avalanched in Lochnagar's Black Spout during a meet on 12th January 2003.

William D. Robb aged 75 was found in the River Spey after going missing on 28th October, 2012.

Carol Henderson aged 51 died in a house fire on 28th June, 2013.


  • Footbridge over Luibeg Burn
  • Footbridge over River Dee

References
  1. Watson, Adam (1975). The Cairngorms. Edinburgh: The Scottish Mountaineering Trust.
  2. Alexander, Henry (1928). The Cairngorms. Edinburgh: The Scottish Mountaineering Club.
  3. https://archive.org/stream/fastiecclesiaesc00scot/fastiecclesiaesc00scot_djvu.txt
  4. Murray, W. H. (21 March 1949). "Growth and development of climbing clubs". The Glasgow Herald. p. 6. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  5. Wills, Jack (15 November 1986). "Veteran of the hills". The Glasgow Herald. p. 12. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  6. "Rothiemurchus Forest and the Iron Bridge". Walkhighlands. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
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