Restoring Inver
In the late 1980s, the club went in search of a suitable venue for a hut. Eventually they were able to secure a lease on Inver.
An early view of Inver, looking the part in a wild landscape,
with Moruisg in the background.
Inver as it appeared in gentler light. The potential was there for a hut with great atmosphere.
Looking less good on closer inspection, but the structure was basically sound and dry. This is the view from
the north side.
An early inspection party contemplating the amount of work to be done. The south side.
One of the biggest tasks was arranging a means of access from the road. Building the bridge became a huge task in itselsf. See separate page.
John the economist formulated a business plan to sell the bags of sharn as fertilzer to pay for the .........
New door, plastic windows and a muckle heap o’ sheep sharn.
An early work party. Guess who is who? One clue is that some of them now have less hair and some of them
now wear trousers.
Ruth surveys the challenge inside the original main room. Note the iron fireplace.
It was 1966 since Inver was last used as a shepherding base. The sheep had taken it over by the time we
obtained a lease on it in 1989.
Compare this view with that of Sally admiring the new floor and Roy admiring the blazing hearth.
Sally admiring the new floor laid by Alistair. No windows yet, but the place was getting habitable
Roy the builder leaning against the freshly pointed chimney breast. There was plenty of old wood to burn in
those days.
Replacing the stairs was a big challenge for the joiners in the club, and the new stairwell had to act as a
smoke proof fire exit as well.
However, these apprentices were in need of a spirit level before assisting with rebuilding the stairs.
The loft was actually a lot better than it looks here. The main thing was that the rafters and skylights were in
good condition. The sheep had scaled the stairs, despite the bags of feed up there.
The loft area as it looked with a new floor and stairs, but before the installation of insulation on the ceiling.
The byre roof was the worst of the decrepitude. This was fixed in a mammoth work-meet.
The byre was eventually converted into spare bunk accommodation, drying room and a tool store. What
happened to the plans to fit a pool table and bar in here?
The area that is now the utility room, with the toilet leading off on the right. Note the original wallpaper and
remains of plasterwork.
New shelving, sink and gas light in the utility room.
The sanitation arrangements needed improvement too.
This lead to another Inver epic. An obliging JCB driver was persuaded to ford the river and dig a hole for the septic
tank. The hole promtly began to fill with water. The empty tank did not want to stay the hole. What was
plan B?
A water pump - much hanging on of Jacobites - a truss of roofing timbers followed by much manic shovelling
finally persuaded the tank to sit in its hole.
Inver as it appeared at the end of the main renovation phase, with new windows and shutters.
A 2005 view of the hut. Note the large Velux windows which replaced the original skylights in 2004,
and the full-size door on the byre (a relatively early upgrade). The trees were planted by club members too.
What Now?
Maintenance is an ongoing issue. The club still has work-meets at least twice a year (see report from April 2005 work-meet). There is a continuing debate within the club about further development. Some work will be needed just keep up with the effects of 15 years wear and tear, and exposure to a harsh climate. Costs have risen too.
When these issues came to a head in 2005, club members clearly indicated that they wanted to retain and improve Inver. A sub-committee has been set up to oversee this, and a programme of fundraising is being undertaken. Items being considered include electricity from wind or solar, an improved water supply, rebuilding the fireplace and even more thorough rebuilding of the main interior. There is also a strong awareness of the unique character of Inver, which could be spoilt by innappropriate development. All views on this are welcome.
Photos courtesy Alan Walker, Alan Walker, Bill Runciman, Allan Robertson, Guy Wimble and Bruce Kerr. Text Alan Walker and Gordon Crawford
Top --
Inver Main Page --
History --
Hut Facilities --
Mountaineering Guide --
Home
