Gay Outdoor Club: Glasgow Walks 2008

Contact details for Glasgow Group

Intending participants for these events should always ring the contact beforehand to check the detailed arrangements regarding meeting times and places, food, accommodation, etc. Everything possible will be done to keep to this programme, but weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances may necessitate changes at the last minute. Ring the organiser beforehand to find out if there have been any last-minute changes. It also helps the organiser to know that you are attending in order to help to arrange transport. Bookings at Scottish Youth hostels may be made via the SYHA web site (www.syha.org.uk) or via the central reservations on 08701 553255.

Thursday 3 - Sunday 6 January. Mar Lodge. Post-Hogmanay long weekend, based in a three-star self catering apartment in Mar Lodge, near Braemar.

Friday 8 - Sunday 10 February. Weekend somewhere snowy. Ski-ing if conditions permit, otherwise hillwalking.

Saturday 9 February. The Glasgow Gay Rambling Group meet every month for a walk – venue decided on the day. Just turn up in Berkeley Street (beside the Mitchell Library). Bring a packed lunch and stout footwear.

Friday 7 - Sunday 9 March. Weekend at Slochd, possible cross country skiing.

Saturday 8 March. The Glasgow Gay Rambling Group meet every month for a walk – venue decided on the day. Just turn up in Berkeley Street (beside the Mitchell Library). Bring a packed lunch and stout footwear.

Friday 21 - Monday 24 March. Joint Easter Weekend with GOC Transpennine at Ninebanks YH. Communal evening meals. The hostel is now fully booked, but check with co-ordinator in case of any cancellations.

Friday 11 - Sunday 13 April. Island of Arran. Joint weekend with Outdoorlads. Ridge walking and scrambling based at the Glen Rosa campsite.

Sunday 13 April. Island of Arran. Joint walk with Outdoorlads up Goat Fell (874m). Meet at the foot of Glen Sannox, on arrival of the North Island bus service (no. 324) from Brodick. Ferry crossing from Ardrossan Harbour (rail connection from Glasgow Central). Walk will finish in Glen Rosa, returning to Brodick for ferry back to mainland. For those preferring a semi-low level walk there is the possibility of a traverse of Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa (omitting the climb over the North Goatfell Ridge).

Sunday 27 April. A pleasant walk, a stroll really, round Loch Chon in the Trossachs. Meet at the car park off the B829 on the eastern shore,

Friday 2 - Monday 5 May. Glenbrittle, scrambling and walking in the Cuillin. Joint with 18-39.

Friday 23 - Monday 26 May. Wilderness backpacking, Fisherfield,

Friday 13 - Sunday 15 June. Achmelvich. Hillwalking in Assynt - Suilven, Quinag and Ben More Assynt are all possibilities. Accommodation is either at Achmelvich Youth Hostel (bookings on 08701 553255) or at the adjacent Shore Campsite (Mr & Mrs I MacLeod; 01571 844393; Fax 01571 844782).

Friday 27 - 29 June. Mountain biking.

Sunday 29 June. Campsie Fells. Catch the 85 bus leaving Buchanan Bus Station. The walk departs from the terminus at Campsie Glen on the arrival of the bus. If the weather's good, the walk will be to Lairs (504m) via Campsie Glen. There should be great views over central Scotland. If the weather's unfavourable, the walk will be around the Clachan of Campsie area.

Friday 11 - Sunday 13 July. Torridon, hillwalking and some easy scrambling. Objectives are Liathach and possibly Beinn Eighe. I'm intending to use Torridon YH. Could members make their own bookings with the SYHA.

Friday 1 - Monday 4 August. Annual Outdoor Gathering, Worcester.

Friday 15 - Sunday 17 August. Edinburgh Festival weekend.

Friday 22 - Sunday 24 August. Scottish Highlands. Camping weekend near Corrievuic. A chance to get into the Gleann Fhiodhaig hills.

Sunday 31 August. Ayrshire Coast. An 11 km linear walk from Irvine to Ayr (or less or more according to the group's wishes) along the sandy beaches via Troon with fine views across the Firth of Clyde to the island of Arran. Meet outside Irvine station. Catch a rail replacement bus from Glasgow Central to Paisley Gilmour Street station and then connect with a train which arrives at Irvine. Remember to buy at Glasgow a roundtrip/return ticket to Ayr. If the weather is real sunny, we may have a picnic and/or a barbecue on the beach.

Friday 12 - Sunday 14 September. At the AGM in Oban it was agreed that the GOC would be happy to be associated with and to help the Mountain Bothies Association in caring for a bothy in recognition and thanks for the presence of bothies which provide much needed accommodation for walkers and to promote, through our work, the GOC. Culra bothy in the Central highlands is "our bothy" - at the foot of Ben Alder, southwest of Dalwhinnie on the route through to Corrour. It's a busy and important bothy.
The building needs some maintenance - mainly painting to protect the wood. Two members have installed gutters and done some woodwork repairs already. In general the bothy is in very good order.
For the weekend of Friday 12th - Sunday 14th we are planning a workparty. The more there are of us the easier it will be to get through the work - painting the outside and the inside of the two smaller rooms - nothing too strenuous. If you do come and I know of you coming I will feed you - it will be basic, safe for vegetarians and carnivores, but not food faddists. I think that a fair number may come by train and bring bikes - it's necessary to book in advance. A bike is very helpful and saves a lot of time in getting there. If we get through the work and the weather is at all kind we can go up a Munro or two - they abound in that region. A party rather than work atmosphere will dominate - come and promote the GOC, climb a hill and do some good all at the same time - who says men can't multi-task! Contact the co-ordinator if you intend to help.

Friday 26 - Sunday 28 September. The Glen Lyon weekend has been postponed/cancelled.

Friday 17 - Monday 19 October. Grey Corries, hillwalking and scrambling.

Sunday 26 October. Kilpatrick Hills. A walk up to Loch Humphrey and Duncolm (and then beyond or back according to the group's wishes and the weather on the day) with fine views across Greater Glasgow and the Clyde Valley to the south and even finer views of the Highlands to the north. Meet outside Kilpatrick station. A Balloch-bound train leaves Glasgow Central Lower Level for Kilpatrick but check nearer the day for possible timetable changes due to engineering works etc. If nobody comes by car, there may be scope for all of us doing a V shaped walk to Duntocher and catching a bus home from there.

Friday 7 - Sunday 9 November. Ardgour,

Gay Outdoor Club: Glasgow Walks 2009

Friday 10 - Monday 13 April. The joint Scottish Transpennine Easter weekend will be at Marthrown of Mabie.

For further information see the GOC Outdoors magazine.