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Sufficiently full from evening meal, it was time to head across to the opening address by the chief instructor, Major O’ Brian. There were no more than 35 people in the brief (quite a few of which were the instructors!) but it gave all a chance to actually comprehend the adventurous training activities that were to take place over the forthcoming few days. There were to be sea kayaking and canoe expeditions, rock climbing expeditions and the one I was interested in, the foot expedition into Scotland’s impressive highlands. After the brief it was time to have a course specific chat in our groups with our instructors for the week. “Brad” was our instructor, he had served in the army for many years and accumulated a real passion for Adventurous Training. As a qualified mountain leader with a wealth of both AT and military knowledge, Brad proved to be a great asset to the group.

The group itself was made up of 11 people, 3 of which were cadets the rest adult instructors and officers from various schools and detachments from all over Britain (mainly London though!) It felt very strange to be in the same group as middle aged adults learning the same stuff but regardless of age and commission but the process of name learning had to begin at some point! Also in our chat it was revealed to us that rather than spending many nights on the hill, Monday, Tuesday and Friday would be day expeditions (leave camp and come back in the evening) as oppose to the other days where we would camp out Wednesday night and return Thursday. With everything sorted, and then later kit issued, it was time to retire for the evening, ensuring a good rest was secured before Monday’s big day. 

For Monday it was a prompt reveille for everyone as all were eager to don their AT clothes and venture out onto the water/hills/rocks! Once again the weather for Scotland was phenomenal; it was hot but with a light breeze and no cloud cover. After a short mini bus ride we soon arrived in the mountain region of “Wester Ross”. Abandoning the vehicle in Braemore car park, we soon began our trek towards the peak “Sgurr Nan Glach” over the swampy spongy terrain. Along the route much flora and fauna was pointed out to us, but sadly even having been on the Summer Mountain Proficiency course in April, it was hard to recall certain plants and their varying functions. After much walking we soon arrived at the summit of Glach 1093m but this was only mid afternoon, so we pressed on towards the other end of the saddle which was home to “Sgurr Each” (923m). There had been many photos taken during the course of the walks and at Monday’s lunch point there was a lesson on laces tying delivered by Brad. This had been taught to Brad by a foot doctor on a training placement in a well known outdoor store, this proved to be very useful. After descending from Each, we soon realised that this had been a full 8 hours day walking and for the first day, we had all been suitably pushed. The minibus journey back to camp was very sleepy......

Tuesday
I think it is safe to say that on this morning, the whole of the expedition group awoke with stiff legs! Today we would be heading over to the Cairn Gorms mountains region. The weather yet again was wonderful but just a little nippy in the early morning, the phrase be bold, start cold was defiantly muttered here! With breakfast in our bellies it was an hour’s journey to the ski centre where we would park then go on to climb Cairn Lochan (1215m) and Carin Gorm (1245m). The day was spent with different people leading the group and navigating over the terrain. As most were registered on Mountain Leading Training courses, getting navigation spot on was of paramount importance. After summiting Carin Gorm it was time to come back down a different route and head back to the ski centre. By now it was very hot in the day and although we had not been walking for as long as yesterday we certainly felt it in the legs again!
After arriving back at camp and sufficiently de-gunging, a Tesco trip in order so that we had food for the overnight expedition on Wednesday. After a frantic shop, we came back, we sorted admin and went soundly off to sleep.

Wednesday
The usual reveille routine was followed by a big breakfast and map issuing! We had a fairly long journey to the mountain region of Torridon but on the way through there was plenty of opportunities for spectacular photographs. Once again the weather was hot, hot, hot! As the back of the ears and neck would agree! After parking at Gleun Cottage we followed the stream up to Bidein Amhuic and then onto Stob a’Choire Laith (1105m). Along the way we stopped for a lesson on ropework on steep ground. This covered what to do in the event of an individual becoming scared at heights, scrambling up and down steep slopes and some knot techniques. This was all noted as very handy and useful especially for the people looking at doing future courses involving rope work and those on Mountain Leader Training (MLT)
Once Stob had been conquered it was time to move across Spidean Choire Veith (1035m) there were impressive views on the top of here, spanning over many miles. However, we could not spend all day in the clouds and had to descend at some point. Walking down was definitely taking its toll on everyone’s knees but soon enough we were heading back towards the campsite. The campsite at Torridon was big enough for us, had water refill points and had a toilet block. The only downside was the evening midges. These were very annoying and swarmed all across the area. That night’s sleep wasn’t fun.

Thursday
Thursday morning was fairly bleak, the weather had changed now moving through the week but nearing the end of the course all were glad the weather was changing now rather than earlier! Breakfast was porridge in a pot and a couple of croissants which were fairly squished anyway. However, despite our state of euphoria over the breakfast we were eating, the midges had returned and were a constant pest, even when putting down the tents! So it wasn’t long before everyone had eaten and got their kit packed and were ready to go.
Still working in the Torridon area, we parked at Mhid Nobal car park then we followed a stream and started to climb An-t-Sail (815) The visibility was starting to get poor and the waterproofs we had been carrying all week had reluctantly come out of the bags. There was some good grade one scrambling undertaken going both up and down An-t-sail but luckily no ropes had to be taken out!! After stopping for lunch at the stop of An-t-Sail, the cold and wet weather very slowly started to ease off. This then made our walk to Sgurr Mor (986) much more enjoyable. However, this enjoyable weather did not last for long as the wet came back again with a vengeance. On completing Sgurr Morr we returned the same route as we came up An-t-Sail and returned to the minibus. This was nice to be dry and all felt good about “bagging” the two peaks. Soon enough we arrived back at camp and began to carry out personal admin and hand in maps, etc, etc. All slept very well that night but before sleeping already packed for the shorter trek tomorrow.

Friday
Last Day! For some it was their last day in Scotland on our course but before we were allowed to go home a final day expedition was undertaken nice and early for our group and others too it seemed. We loaded up the minibus and went and parked at Stackpoint car park ready to climb Stackpolli (612). This had a circular path leading up to the top, so we simply followed one route up and came back down the other side. The views were still incredible, even for a mountain standing only 612m high. The weather seemed to be fine on the way up but reaching the peak only seemed to yield misty and murky views. So after having lunch, we swiftly made our way back down the mountain and then on to the minibus.
Upon arriving back at camp and the kit packed away and the admin all squared away it was time for the closing address by the chief instructor. Major Kevin O’Brian summed up the week for all courses, handed out certificates and issued the chef with a bottle of whisky kindly purchased from the donations of everyone on the course. With this over and farewells said, people started to disappear back across the country to their respective counties.