Walk, scramble or climb -
it's all mountaineering!

With a focus on attracting a young, enthusiastic membership it was felt that a rather free and easy atmosphere should prevail rather than the fussiness and formality of older established mountaineering clubs. This approach was successful with membership booming to such an extent that District Secretaries were required for Kirriemuir, Brechin and Dundee.  However, that initial enthusiasm rather dwindled and in 1953, the club was reinvigorated with an influx of new Dundee members who reinforced the remaining Forfar and Brechin folk resulting in annual general meetings moving to Dundee.  The club subsequently took on a Dundee identity, but retained the free and easy atmosphere, attracting a more working class membership compared to the established Grampian Club which had a rather more “professional” membership.

The monthly bus meets were very popular, sometimes attracting so many members two buses were required.  However, in the early 1950’s focus remained active on the Red Crags in Clova with Fred Old, Frank Anderson and Alex Ferguson particularly active. Their first ascent of Guiness being of some significance, but there were several other excellent rock climbers active in the club.  Anybody wanting to learn more about their escapades and achievements should take a look at Grant Farquhar’s “A’Chreag Dhearg, Climbing Stories of the Angus Glens”.

In 1965, club members built their first club hut at Braedownie in Glen Clova and this proved to be a very successful project providing a base for both social events, mountaineering exploits and subsequent celebratory trips to the bar in the Clova Hotel, a mere three mile stagger back up the road!

In the 60’s and on into the 70’s club members continued to be at the forefront of Scottish climbing with Graeme Hunter and Doug Lang leading the way on Creag an Dubh Loch and the classic Ardverikie Wall.  Lang and Neil Quinn were a formidable pairing on the snow and ice routes in winter.

The annual “Carn Dearg Social” held at Dykehead Hotel was always a highlight on the club calendar.  This event necessitated involvement of both members and partners and the club has always encouraged a mixed membership. In 1983, Irene Hughes was elected as the first lady president of the club, and today a significant number of our active members are women.

Carn Dearg members have regularly been at the forefront of other mountaineering related activities with slide shows and lectures from visiting speakers initially held in rooms at Dudhope Castle, then the Ancrum Activities Centre and for a more prestigious venue, Dundee University could be accommodating.  Members, particularly Honorary Life member Alfie Ingram, were fundamental in establishment and running of Tayside Mountain Rescue, the MountainMind Quiz, and the Dundee Mountain Film Festival.      

By the early 2000’s, the Clova hut was showing signs of considerable wear and tear, and at the 2009 AGM, members agreed to initiate a plan to develop a new hut.  After considerable lobbying, fund raising and brute force effort from members the new hut was officially opened in 2017 and provides very comfortable premises at the Braedownie location.

Although our current membership of around 40 is rather less than in the club’s heyday, we continue to hold regular monthly club meets. Members are now spread across Scotland and even into England and attendees at our meets include members from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Fife as well as the Dundee and Angus area.  Although camping is still an option, many members nowadays prefer the comfort of a hut or cottage to a tent, and with the geographical spread of our members, cars are the normal mode of transport rather than the traditional “club bus”.