Caithness is as far north as you can get on the British mainland.
Following the establishment of the experimental fast nuclear reactor project at Dounreay on the north coast near the town of Thurso in 1955, there was massive influx to the area of young, professional people from all parts of the UK. Among these was a nucleus of experienced, amateur mountaineers. These, mostly men, initiated the Caithness Mountaineering and Ski Club (CMSC) in April 1959.
The Club quickly became very active in the local hills of North West Scotland – Ben Loyal, Ben Klibreck and especially Ben Hope, the most northerly Munro, whose NW face provided a range of winter climbing routes.
In the 1960’s the Club was dominated by rock and winter climbers who attacked these local hills and also the abundant sea cliffs in the area. Winter sorties to the then new Cairngorm ski resort also started.
In about 1970, these climbers were replaced by young recruits to Dounreay who all lived together in the company hostel. Although inexperienced, they became enthusiastic hill walkers with ventures almost every weekend to the local hills and those down the north west coast.
By the late 70’s, this group had been diluted by marriage and families but a few stalwarts remained. Club expeditions to Iceland and Norway took place at that time.
In 1980, there was a big influx of fresh blood, this time with more hill experience. Meets became more ambitious and further afield with bunk houses etc replacing the tents of the ‘70’s. The Club also had its own ceilidh band to liven up evenings in the pub after exhausting hill days. Several Club based alpine ski trips took place at this time.
1984 was the 25th birthday of the Club and was celebrated by a 25 mile walk across the deserted land of Ben Armine, culminating in a kilt clad march onto the summit of Ben Klibreck and an all-night ceilidh in the hotel below.
Further celebrations were organised for the 50th anniversary in Newtonmore and a special 60th anniversary took place in Aviemore in 2019 where many members, past and present, gathered with much reminiscing and a revived ceilidh band: a good time was enjoyed by all.
General mountaineering and ski-ing have always been the main interests of the Club but Caithness, being well endowed with sea cliffs, attracted many climbers in the Club to try out various routes old and new. Several keen ski mountaineers make good use of the Cairngorms and also venture abroad.
Nowadays, the activity centres mainly on monthly weekend trips away, staying in bunk houses and sometimes camping. Perthshire, Lochaber and Skye are about the limit of practicality for weekend travel.
Originally, the Club was mostly Dounreay orientated but that is no longer the case. Many members live outwith Caithness including Orkney, Inverness area, Stirling and Glasgow.
It has become a tradition to have an informal Christmas weekend meet, usually in the Cairngorm area, which gets the best attendance of the whole year. After a day on the usually snowy hills, everyone relaxes on the Saturday evening to enjoy a hearty feast conjured up by Club members.
After 60 plus years, the CMSC is still thriving, albeit with a depleted membership, but hopefully with many more days to be enjoyed on the hills and mountains in the good company of our friendly members.