Callater Lodge

The snowgates at the Spittal of Glenshee were closed last night, so we had to drive the long way round via Stonehaven and the Slug Road to Braemar arriving at 11pm.

This morning the snowgates were still closed and we waited until they opened at 10am to head for the hill. We parked the car in a frozen car park about 2miles south of Braemar and watched a procession of eager skiers driving up to Cairnwell.

The walk started well, but soon we were battling into the teeth of a southerly gale, with snow and spindrift making visibility difficult. Eventually we reached Callater Lodge and the sanctuary of the bothy for a cup of tea. The wind whipped through gaps in the door depositing snow crystals across the wooden floor.