Welcome to
Monklands Ramblers
exploring scotland
since 1985
before booking
Numbers on the coach are no longer limited, but it is still essential to book in advance, and not turn up on the day without a confirmed booking.
The booking contact will be indicated on the newsletter and may differ from the walk leader. A text will be sent back to confirm a booking.
If you are unable to attend a walk, please let the booking contact know immediately. There are no charges for cancellations.
Face masks are no longer compulsory on the coach. This will be up to each individual if they still wish to wear one.
Fit For A Fiv£r!
Future Walk Dates
Saturday, 23 March:
Lowther hills area
end of winter programme
Summer Programme starting soon.
social media
Scottish mountain Webcams
The Ben Nevis Webcam is located on the banks of Loch Linnhe, Fort William. The web cam updates every minute and captures fantastic views of Ben Nevis, Fort William, Loch Linnhe and Aonach Mor.
Buachaille Etive Mor in Glencoe, Argyll, is one of the most beautiful mountains in Scotland. The picture of it above was taken a short time ago by a camera at the Glencoe Mountain Ski Centre.
Weekend Walk
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Note: This is the final walk of the winter programme before the Easter break. Paper copies of the summer programme are now being distributed on the bus and is also available via “Find A Walk“.
Walk Report B:
✔ ‘Lowther and Auchenton Hills’ is a B walk of around 6 miles and an overall ascent of 440m. The walk will start in Wanlockhead and goes up Auchenton Hill then Lowther Hill. The majority of the walk is on grassy track, following a Section of the Southern Upland Way for part of the walk, there are also some short tarmac sections with a good grass verge in places. The climb up the hills is not relentless with long parts where you will be able to ‘catch your breath’ and the pace will be as easy going as necessary to suit the slope. If you find that you are struggling there can be an option to miss out Lowther Hill, though you’ll miss out on seeing the radar station at the top.
Walk Report B+:
✔ ‘Lowther Hills’ higher level walk is a B+ walk of around 8 miles and an overall ascent of 560m. This walk follows the same route as the ‘B’ walk heading up Auchenton Hill then Lowther Hill and from here it will then take in an additional top – Green Lowther (and possibly Dungrain Law if weather and time allow). The walk is ‘rolling’ without any overlong climb for those who would normally do the higher ascent walk. Conditions underfoot are as described above.
Hopefully there will be some terrific views on the day – the recce weather was up to its recent miserable standard and not only could we not see anything, we were all ‘drookit’ by the end. There is an interesting radar station on top of Lowther Hill and this could prove to be a good lunch stop if the weather allows. Boots are recommended even though the tracks are not overly muddy.
Morning stop: Abington Services with a cafeteria (that also does takeaway), Starbucks and Burger King
Afternoon stop: This will be in The Clydesdale Inn, (15 Broomgate, Lanark). The manager has offered to lay on some sandwiches for us – let’s hope he remembers!
Extra Info:
✔ Date: Saturday, 23 March
✔ Leader 1: Dougie Andrews
✔ Location: Lowther Hills
✔ Grade: B+
✔ Distance: 8 Miles / 9.7km
✔ Leader 2: Stuart Sefton
✔ Location: Lowther and Auchenton Hills
✔ Grade: B
✔ Distance: 6 Miles / 13.7km
✔ Booking: Please contact Stuart Sefton on 07760 171693 to book on the walk. Please send a text including your full name and pick-up point. You can only book as an individual or for family or couple bookings. All bookings will be acknowledged with a confirmation text. This may not be immediate so please be patient.
✔ Pick-up: First pick-up will be Airdrie at 8.30am (across from Airdrie Railway station) followed by Coatbridge (at the back of the Time Capsule).
Easter Break
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✔ Event: Easter 2024
✔ Date: 29 March – 1 April’24
✔ Easter Payment: Payments for the Easter weekend break are now being taken. All monies are required to be paid to Caledonian Travel by Friday 9 February. Please text Christine direct on 07837 990985 if bank details are required for any transfers.
3 nights dinner, bed and breakfast
Walk Reports
✔ Info: WalkHighlands – Ben Wyvis (near Garve)
Ben Wyvis (Grade A+) is a Munro with a height of 1046m and a total ascent of 935m. The walk is about 14km, approximately 9 miles. After a picturesque uphill walk alongside a river and wooded area there is a steep ascent up to An Cabar at 946m. This section of the climb is mainly in a series of steep steps, similar to those on The Cobbler. From An Cabar the walk to the summit of Ben Wyvis is a much more gentle ridge walk. The recce was particularly difficult due to winds in excess of 50 mph during the ascent, especially near the summit and it was snow covered across the entire ridge section of the route. It will be very much weather and conditions dependent on whether we attempt this walk on the day given we could still be in the depths of winter.
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✔ Info: WalkHighlands – Dunglass Island and the Conon, Maryburgh
Maryburgh Circular & Dunglass Island (Grade C+) is a flat walk of 12km, approximately 7.5 miles. The walk starts in the small town of Maryburgh and after exiting the town the walk skirts the River Conon which splits around the small Dunglass Island, once the site of a small fort. The walk crosses a bridge to do a circuit of Dunglass Island before re-joining the riverside path for about a mile. It then circles round some rural and woodland tracks back to Maryburgh. This is a picturesque and easy going river walk.
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✔ Info: Ullapool , WalkHighlands – Knockfarrel and Cnoc Mòr, Strathpeffer
On the Sunday the bus will take a trip to Ullapool for those interested in exploring the town, having a bit of a wander and sampling the local hospitality. As an alternative, a circular walk starting and stopping in Strathpeffer has been put together. This particular walk has not had a recce, but it should be relatively straightforward. It’s 10km, approximately 6.5 miles with 300m of ascent (Grade B). The walk takes us up to Knock Farrel, once an extensive iron age fortress, and then on to the summit of Cnoc Mor before returning to Strathpeffer. Good views should be on offer if we have a clear day.
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Payments
As previously mentioned Christine can take payments at any time. Final payments to Caledonian Travel have to be made by Friday 9 February 2024, so all monies will require to be with me before this date. Please have your payment with me by Sunday 4 February, so I can assemble the final payment. Document attached with final payments due in the last column.
If paying by cash, the final date for this would be on the last walk of January – Saturday 27 to give me time to pay any monies into a bank. If anyone wishes to do bank transfer, please just send me a text and I can send transfer details back to you. Thanks to those who have already paid.
Pick up points
We will be getting picked up at our usual walk pick up points. Time to be confirmed early next year.
Strathpeffer, Ullapool and hotel info
Strathpeffer is a lovely area and I’m sure we are all looking forward to the Easter weekend trip. As always you are free to decide what you would like to do during the entire weekend. However, a couple of walk recces have already taken place and you are most welcome to join a walk. On the Saturday we are hoping to have a choice of either Ben Wyvis or Maryburgh Circular & Dunglass Island.