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Winter Walking |
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OIR Winter Walking Group
September 2009 – April 2010
Grade A - Most routes are on the hills so expect rough ground. Paths are used if they exist
Grade B – Level walks mostly on tarmac or good paths with occasional minor hills
A& B usually means that we start together before splitting into 2 groups
Note: All walks subject to modification on the day but regardless of the weather there will always be a walk starting at the usual time.
Unless otherwise stated meet for prompt 0900 start at exit to Barrfields car park
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Date |
Type |
Location |
Miles approx |
| Sep 26th | A & B | Garroch Head - Together for first half of walk followed by an optional but slightly more challenging return to car park. | |
| Oct 3rd | A & B | Cobbler A –
North Peak , Jeanies Needle, return via South Peak ridge B - Forestry walk in Glen Croe |
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| Oct 10th | A & B | Arran - 0700 ferry – meet 0600 Barrfields. A & B bus to Thundergay and walk together to lochan. Group A head for Pirnmill via Beinn Bhreac and Beinn Bharrain. Group B explore lochan area and then descend to Thundergay and walk coast road to Pirnmill |
6/7 |
| Oct 17th | A & B | A Ben Ledi B Explore Cycle route to the south by the Leny Falls and then use track by Loch Lubnaig to the North | |
| Oct 24th | A | Scalpsie Bay
– Tarmore Hill – Quien Hill – Bicker’s Houses – Blackpark Hill-Barone
Hill – St Mary’s Chapel – Rothesay. Low hills but rough terrain Summer time ends ! |
6 |
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Oct 31st |
B | 0850 train to Glasgow (buy return to Milngavie) Milngavie via Kevin Walkway |
10 |
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Nov 7th |
A | Glen Kin – Cruach nan Capull – Inverchaolain- Port Lamont |
7/8 |
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Nov 14th |
B | Bus Wemyss Bay for 0925 ferry Rothesay – Ascog - Kerrycroy |
8/9 |
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Nov 21st |
A & B | Greenock Cut - Cornalees - clockwise to Overton – A group `return to Cornalees via Dunrod Hill | |
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Nov 28th |
A & B | Ayr River Walk Ayr – bypass –Group A continue on the Southt side of river (rough walking after 1 mile) B proceed using the official route on North side. We may meet in Auchincruive before returning to Ayr. |
? |
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Dec 5th |
B | Cumbrae | |
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Dec 12th |
A | Bus to Blairpark – Knockside Hills – Irish Law – Feuside Hill – Rigging Hill –Jock’s Castle – Douglas Park | |
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Dec 19th |
B | Bus to Kip Marina – Lunderston Bay - Greenock |
10 |
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2010 |
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| Fri Jan 1st | B | Local walk 1000 start | |
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Jan 9th |
A | Bus - Glenfoot House - Meadowhead – WK –Caldron Hill - Glentane Hill – Glenburn Resvr –Fairlie Glen - Fairlie [25 walks in N Ayrshire 9 & 20] | |
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Jan 16th |
B | Eglinton Park | |
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Jan 23rd |
B | Largs – Fairlie – Goldenberry Hill – Portencross – Seamill – West Kilbride | |
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Jan 30th |
A & B | Mugdock - Dumgoyne | |
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Feb 6th |
B | 0850 train to Kilwinning (buy return to Troon). Walk Kilwinning to Troon | |
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Feb13th |
A | Glenbranter – Benmore | |
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Feb 20th |
B | Bus/car for 0930 ferry to Hunter’s Quay – Dunoon - Toward | |
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Feb 27th |
A | Bute Kilchattan – coast walk/scramble to Rothesay | |
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Mar 6th |
B | 0850 train Glasgow (Rtn Uddingston) – Clyde Walkway Final 3 miles a bit rough – unwilling divert to Newton station. |
11 |
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Mar 13th |
A & B | Luss – A
Beinn Dubh – Mid Hill horseshoe B – explore Auchengavin track before Glen Luss |
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Mar 20th |
B | Bus Gourock - ferry - Kilcreggan - Rosneath | |
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Mar 27th |
A | Muirshiel -
Hill of Stake – Largs Summer time begins |
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April 3rd |
A & B | Ben Vorlich via Loch Sloy – various B on good tracks | |
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April 10th |
A & B | Ben A’an & forestry walks from David Marshall Lodge | |
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April 17th |
A & B | Arran A
Corrie Mullach Buidhe North Goatfell- Goatfell B -? |
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April 24th |
A & B | Garroch Head |
The partly joint A&B walks assume the presence of a member prepared to accept responsibility for leading the B sub group.
OIR Winter Walking Group
(Revised September 2009 See new note 9)| 1 Meeting Point Unless stated otherwise in the programme, we meet near the exit in the Barrfields car park in time for a prompt departure at 0900. Here we decide how many cars (if any) to use. Those without cars are welcome as there is usually plenty of spare capacity. Return to Largs is generally in the late afternoon ( 4.00 to 6.00 p.m.). |
| 2 What sort of walking? A Walks: Usually we walk on paths of some description but there are times when we cross terrain where we are lucky if we occasionally find useful tracks – it is not like walking along the prom in Largs! Most of our walks involve some hill climbing that may require crossing obstacles such as fences and dykes. Conditions underfoot are often very muddy and suitable footwear is essential. B Walks: These walks restricted to routes that are mostly on tarmac or good paths and may have occasional minor hills.] There is always a chance of changing weather conditions during any winter walk with a possibly unpleasant combination of wind and rain. There are normally few actual stops once we have started. We stop for coffee and to eat our packed 'lunch', but these stops are rarely prolonged because of the rapid loss of body heat in winter. Apart from these refreshment breaks we try to keep going at a steady pace. The return journey may be punctuated by a tea break if a suitable establishment is encountered en route. |
| 3 Clothing Weather in the West of Scotland is highly variable (and difficult to forecast), particularly in winter, so every individual must wear adequate protection from wind rain and cold, and have strong footwear. After one walk I heard someone say that they were 'wet through', and feeling rather cold. This is potentially dangerous and of course avoidable. It is possible but quite unnecessary to spend a small fortune on specially designed gear. Most people already possess a thermal vest and anyone living in Largs should have a reasonable waterproof to go on top of a jacket. Boots are likely to be the most expensive single item. Many members find walking poles helpful. |
| 4 Food and other spares There is a need for a reasonably robust small rucksack to carry a hot drink and food, plus waterproofs and other clothing when they are not needed. Rain driven by strong winds seems to penetrate even the best quality bags so it is desirable to wrap the contents of a rucksack in plastic bags. Leaders carry a compass, map, first aid kit and a survival bag. Several regular walkers also carry a survival bag. |
| 5 Cost Passengers in cars contribute to the petrol cost and we share the cost of ferries. The petrol cost contribution rarely exceeds about £6/7 Taking cars on ferries inevitably means that the cost of going to places such as Bute is higher but is unlikely to exceed £12. In addition, participants on each walk are asked to contribute 50p to a fund for the purchase of maps and guidebooks. |
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6 Programme Changes The programme is subject to change on the day e.g. if the weather is poor a local low-level walk may be substituted. Such a walk might be, for example, Knock Hill, Greenock Cut, Hunterston to Seamill along the coast, or a look at the waterfalls on the Gogo Burn. [If possible, postponed walks will be rescheduled for later in the year.] Newcomers should note that there will be a walk starting at 0900 regardless of the weather. |
| 7 New Members New members are welcome. Some walks are more strenuous than others and occasionally a new member is taken by surprise by the level of fitness of our bunch of ‘oldies’. |
| Leaders Each walk will have a leader. |
| Membership and Insurance Participants on OIR walks must be OIR members. This is a requirement to ensure that we are covered by the OIR indemnity insurance policy. A non-member may be allowed to join us on one outing but thereafter they must expect to show a membership card if asked. |
| John Turcan 687364 |
| 11th September 2009 |
OIR
Largs members get a 15% discount on goods from Cotswold Outdoors. Nearest stores
are Crow
Road, Glasgow, and Silverburn Shopping Centre, Glasgow. Show your OIR membership card.
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