Narnain Boulder Meet

This is the JMCS Centenary year! We have a number of events planned to celebrate this milestone in our history. We already have a book published that marks our hundredth anniversary and we will be having a Centenary Dinner at the Carr Bridge Hotel on 15 November with guest speakers from the SMC and LSCC. On the horizon, there will be a gathering at the Narnain Boulder on the aniversary of the formation of the Club. If you have the book you should be well aquainted with our unique origin story but if you don’t have it yet (available here at a £10 discount for members with JMCS100 code – https://scottishmountaineeringpress.com/product/junior-mountaineering-club-of-scotland/), the first meet of the JMCS was held under the Narnain Boulder over the weekend of Saturday 29 August 1925 to Monday 31 August 1925. A group of 7 slept under the boulder on the Saturday night with another 4 camping close by after spending the day building up the howff walls and traversing Jean and the Cobbler. The weather was not great overnight and the inaugural meeting was held under the boulder with some still in their sleeping bags They were joined by another 3 on the Sunday and the whole party then went up Ben Ime in mist and rain with some returning home by bike and others staying on till Monday morning, catching the early train to Glasgow in time for work that day.

August 29, 2025 falls on a Friday, 1 day shy of 100 years since that first meet.The Glasgow Section is planning to meet at the Narnain Boulder that weekend and we would be delighted if members from the other Sections and the SMC could join us there to commemorate the founding of our Club. I don’t intend to formally convene this meet other than suggesting various options that will be open to you. For the hardy and those that would like to follow in the founders footsteps, there is obviously the option of camping or a bivvi at the Boulder. I don’t think the Boulder was ever the most comfortable of dosses and it has deteriorated a bit since 1925. There aren’t many swathes of lush green pitches near the Boulder for those that fancy camping, but I hope that won’t put you off if you want to reenact the meet. Glenloin campsite in Arrochar accepts tents and campervans (£5 pppn and £20 for 2 per night respectively). Booking might be wise. There is parking at the start of the Cobbler path on Loch Long but it is quite expensive. Other options might be available. The Argyll & Bute website states that the car park at the A814 toilets on the other side of the loch is free but leaves a bit of a walk. For those that would like to emulate our founders, it is only a 27 mile cycle from Glasgow.

As the Club was officially inaugurated on the Sunday I think it would be fitting to have the gathering on that day (31 August) but I’m sure some will want to make a weekend of it. Hopefully the weather will not be the same as that on the first meet and climbing and/or hill walking might be options. I would suggest a hip flask and shot glass might be useful additions to your normal kit so we can toast our Club and its founders. I look forward to seeing you there.