You must book your place in advance with the Leader. Members can access full details here using their password (those members who have yet to receive a password or need a reminder should contact the Secretary.)
Non-members should contact the Secretary.
Welcome to the winter walking program. As things return to normal, Covid is sadly still with us. Please read the following notes carefully.
Car Sharing
Car sharing reduces overall petrol use and parking congestion at the start point, and also allows members with no transport to participate. On the other hand, Covid and other nasty viruses are still with us, and car-sharing carries a significantly higher risk of transmission than outdoor activities. New, more aggressive versions of the virus may yet appear.
Leaders can choose to specify a rendezvous point (often the UHI offices on Ness Walk – the old Royal Northern Infirmary building: click here to see map) as well as a start point, to facilitate car sharing. The ground rules are:
- Walkers can still choose to travel directly to the start point (parking space permitting).
- Drivers must not be pressurised to offer lifts. Those drivers (or transport bubbles) who choose not to share their car with others may prefer to travel direct to the start point to avoid awkwardness.
- Neither the Leader not the Club can police Covid testing or vaccination status. Those who decide to car share do so at their own risk.
- All walkers must pre-book with the Leader. Assist the leader by providing your mobile phone number, an emergency contact number (for safety reasons during the walk), and whether you intend to meet at the rendezvous point or go directly to the start.
Booking a few days in advance is appreciated – particularly for walks involving a car shuttle, which require a lot of planning. - You should aim to arrive 15 minutes or so before the advertised time.
Contribution to transport costs
When sharing a car, walkers should contribute to transport costs. The recommended rate is 30p per mile, divided among the number of occupants of the vehicle.
To locate the starting point: if you are reading this document on your computer or smartphone, just click on the provided grid reference, and a map showing the start point will open in your browser (click here for more details)
Alternatively, open https://gridreferencefinder.com/ on an internet browser and enter the grid reference in the appropriate search field (2 letters, 6 digits). It may also be possible to search on some Satnav devices – see manufacturer’s instructions.
Other information
Please click to access walk gradings and safety information.
Sunday 1st March: Glen Meinich
Grade: C Time: 10:15 Grid ref: NH282526 OS sheet: 25
Rendezvous point: Old Royal Infirmary building Ness Walk Time: 09:15
A Linear walk on estate track in lovely scenery. Good chance of seeing eagles & deer.
Distance – 8 miles/ 12.8 km: Ascent – 784 feet/ 239 meters:
Saturday 7th March (AGM walk)
GLENAN LODGE TO CARN na BHOTHAIN DUBH BOTHY (Tomatin)
Grade C, Start 09:45, Grid ref NH792303, OS sheet 35
Rendezvous point – Old Royal Infirmary building, Ness Walk, 09:00
Directions: A9 to Tomatin turn off. Take first 1st right for approximately ½ mile and park at the side of the road at the sign Glenan Lodge. Additional parking is available a little further up the Glenan Lodge road, on the wide shoulder.
After a short walk through some residential homes and then forest, we will stop for a coffee break in the shelter of the trees. Now in open moorland a good track ascends gently to the bothy below Carn na Bhothain, where we will have a short break (not lunch)! Lovely views of surrounding hills and a chance of eagle spotting. Return by outward route.
Distance 5 miles/8km, Ascent 500 feet/152m
Sunday 15th March: Beinn Bhreac near Ullapool
Grade: A Time: 09:45 Grid ref: NH182853 OS sheet: 20
Rendezvous point: Old Royal Infirmary building Ness Walk Time: 8:30
Starting at Inverlael – the Beinn Dearg car park on A835. Good forest track most of the way and wider views opening up higher up of the surrounding mountains, then up pathless Beinn Bhreac (summit 667m) for about 150m. Superb views of all the surrounding hills. Back down the same way.
Distance –9 miles/ 14.7km: Ascent –1950 feet/660 meters:
Saturday 21st March: Invergarry to Bridge of Oich
Grade: C Time: 10:30 Grid ref: NH297012 OS sheet: 34
Rendezvous point: Old Royal Infirmary building Ness Walk Time: 09:00
Car Shuttle Walk. From Invergarry Visitor Centre ascend up to Loch Lundie for wonderful views to the South. Follow round the loch & then descend by the Invervigar burn. Walk along the Great Glen to Bridge of Oich.
Distance – 7.2 miles/ 11.67 km: Ascent – 492 feet/ 150 meters:
Sunday 29th March: Lochan Sgeireach
Grade: B Time: 10.00 Grid ref: NH164585 OS sheet: 25
Rendezvous point: Old Royal Infirmary building Ness Walk Time: 09.00
Please meet at Achnasheen Station ( toilets permanently closed! ) as parking extremely limited at start of walk. Car shuttle may be necessary. There’s a gate to climb and a ford to cross near the start, otherwise good track all the way, with a steep climb up to ever increasing terrific views from Moruisg, round to the Torridon giants. Return same way.
Distance – 7 miles/ 11.25 km: Ascent – 1000 feet / 300 meters:
Saturday 4th April: Ben Bhraggie and Big Burn Walk
Grade: B+ Time: 10:15 Grid ref: NC832000 OS sheet: 17
Rendezvous point: Old Royal Infirmary building Ness Walk Time: 9:00
A walk around and up to the Duke of Sutherland statue in Golspie. Starting along the beach and then up via the Big Burn waterfall and finally along the back of Ben Bhraggie before returning down the shorter (but steeper section to the car park). The route is split between a track and generally well used path. There are steep steps in places and the path and wooden gantry sections are somewhat worn around the Big Burn waterfall. Surfaces can be slippy!
Distance – 6 miles/ 9.5 km: Ascent – 1200 feet/ 400 meters:
Sunday 12th April: Three lochs near Whitebridge
Grade: C Time: 10:00 Grid ref: NH489153 OS sheet: 34
Rendezvous point: Old Royal Infirmary building Ness Walk Time: 09:00
Parking at the Wildside centre, we cross the scenic bridge and follow the road a short distance to enter the Whitebridge plantation. The estate tracks are good throughout. The track takes us half way round loch Kemp, then a brief ascent on short-ish heather brings us to a high point with views of Loch Ness. On returning to the Plantation via the outward track, we take a diversion to the charming Loch Paiteag.
Distance – 6.1 miles/ 10 km: Ascent – 380 feet/ 120 meters:
17th-20th April: weekend away
Kings Arms Hotel, Kyleakin, Skye. Contact secretary for details
Sunday 26th April: Sgorr Na Diollaid, Glen Cannich
Grade: A Time: 9.45 Grid ref: NH285334 OS sheet: 25
Rendezvous point: Old Royal Infirmary building Ness Walk Time: 8.30
Start over the bridge in Glen Cannich then uphill on mostly pathless terrain with heather rock and bog to a rocky top 496m; slight descent and up again to the rocky summit with good views of the Strathfarrar munros and the firths on the east side, possibly a detour to some tops; if not back down the same way
Distance – 4.5 miles/ 7 km: Ascent –2145 feet/ 654 meters:
Great Glen Walking Club 