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Who we are

About Glasgow Glenmore Club

About Glasgow Glenmore Club


What is the Glenmore Club?

The Glenmore Club is a group of enthusiastic hillwalkers. In practice this means most members are walkers, a description embracing most activities up to and including scrambling. In winter conditions can become sufficiently challenging to require mountaineering rather than normal hill walking skills and experience.There are also a number of climbers and skiers.

 

 

 

 



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What types of meets do you organise?

There are indoor meets, day meets, weekend meets, long weekend meets and social meets like the Christmas ceilidh or summer barbecues (when it usually manages to rain). For Burns night a weekend meet is combined with a tradtional Burns Night.



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What do we do?

We organise indoor meets with club or visiting speakers with slideshows,  day and weekend outdoor meets primarily in Scotland, but usually venture south of the border once a year. There have also been a number of summer meets in the Pyrenees and Alps.

 

 

 

 



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Where is the Club based?

The majority of members live in and around the greater Glasgow area. However we do have members scattered from te Midlands of England to Aberdeen, Inverness and the Western Isles. Provided you can get to meets members are welcome from anywhere!



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Tell me more about Indoor Meets.

Indoor club meets are usually held twice monthly from late September to early May, usually on the first and third Thursdays of each month in Hyndland Bowling Club in the west end of Glasgow at 7.30pm. Lectures, slide shows and other events are arranged, and these meetings give an opportunity to meet other members and to make arrangements for outdoor Club meets and other outings. Speakers may be external on a variety of topics of interest to an outdoor club, varying from mountainareas, wild life, conservation etc. Club members who have been on interesting trips arew also popular evenings. Training evenings on equipment to carry, rope techniques are also arranged from time to time.



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Tell me more about day meets.

Day meets, usually the second sunday of each month, are organised within easy driving distance of Glasgow, usualy less than one hour, especially in the winter months with shorter daylight hours. Longer days enable us to extend the range perhapsas far as Kingshouse in Glencoe. Typicall venues include Arrochar, Glen Falloch Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Glen Lochay, Killin, Iverlochlarig, Balquidder, Aberfoyle, Pentlands with occassional forays into the southern uplands for example Moffat, or Biggar.

Members meet at the designated location and then organise themselves into groups for the hill. There are not usually organised walks although a meet at Rowardennan will usually mean everyone goes up Ben Lomond, but by different routes and different speeds according to who is each party.

See the Programme for details of meets.



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Tell me more about weekend meets.

Weekend meets, usually the last weekend of the month,  are based in hostels or campsites and most are organised so that it is possible to drive up after work on a Friday evening. Normally the Club reserves a ‘block’ of beds or books a special opening when we will be the only people using the hostel.

As with day meets there are no organised walks. The process of deciding where to walk usually starts on Friday evening after arrival with groups poring over maps and guide books. Some will have a clear idea of what they want to do and will be looking for suitable company. Others will be less clear and seek to find what others are doing before deciding which group to join. Come Saturday morning most people will be up early, keen to make the most of a good day out - weather permitting. Walks on Sunday are usually less ambitious than on Saturday to allow time to travel home. Walks may be organised on the route home.

Members usually arrange their own catering, though sorties to a nearby hostelry for food and drink is also common. Sometimes the hostel will offer catering and the Club may also organise a communal meal for example the Burns Supper or at New Year meets.

Typical venues include Bridge of Orchy, Kinlochleven, Fort William, Roybridge, Newtonmore, Kingussie, Pitlochry, Glen Doll, Smaller meets use hostels like Loch Ossian or Feshie.

See the Programme for details.



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Tell me more about long weekend meets.

Long weekend meets take place over the easrly May weekend, the late May wekend and the September weekend when there is a Monday Holiday in Glasgow ( these can be a problem for non Glasgow residents/workers). These give an opportunity to venture further afield, for example to Torridon, Skye, Rum or Knoydart.. Apart from that they are the same as wekend meets using hostels or camp sites.

See the Programme for details.

 

 

 

 



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How are groups for the hill organised.

Generally there are no organised walks at a meet. Thus new members may feel a bit intimidated by the process whereby members negotiate, barter or tout for business. Some will have a clear idea of their plans, whilst others will be casting around for a  route that interests them. Each meet has a coordinator and in the first instance you should seek their assistance and advice in finding the most appropriate group to join.

Groups usually range from the fast and furious going for a long day over multiple hills to groups tackling a single hill, whilst others may opt for a gentler low level walk. It all depends on who goes on a particular meet. - and the weather or condition of the hills especially in winter.

Each group will complete a route card giving details of the route, any escape route should they need to change the plan, the distance and total ascent involved and an estimate of how long the walk will take. Be sure you know what you are letting yourself in for before you join a party!



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How is transport organised?

Each outdoor meet has a coordinator who maintains a list of those intending to go on a meet. If you can offer transport or require a lift let the coordnator know and they will then try and put you in touch with a suitable driver. Depending on locations drivers and passengers may wish to agree a suitable meeting place as it may not always be possible for passengers to be picked up from home.

On occassions the Club will hire a boat for example to get to Rum or to access barrisdale from Kinlochhourn.

 

 



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Where do you stay?

In the winter months from October to Easter, the Club makes use of the wide range of hostels and bunkhouses available, either SYHA or independant. Some favourites include Loch Ossian, Torridon, Tulloch station bunkhouse, Portnalong Old School House.  From Easter to September both hostels and camping meets are organised, the latter in recognised camp sites such as Loch Morlich or Glen Brittle and Sligachan on Skye. The Club likes to try new venues so if you have any recommendations, please let us know.

 

 

 



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What equipment will I need?

Everyone hill walking in  Scotland should have equipment which is suitable for the often harsh conditions on Scottish hills, which can occur at any time of year and not just in winter. Advice on equipment and conditions likely to be encountered on Scottish hills is available in guide books and from web sites, for example the Mountaineering Council of Scotland at  www.mountaineering-scotland.org. All Club members should ensure that they have at least the minimum, which may normally considered to be:

    * suitable trousers or leggings - not jeans, material should be warm when wet
    * waterproof jacket and overtrousers
    * good, strong pair of boots with Vibram soles or similar, and gaiters
    * gloves or mitts, hat or balaclava, fleece, socks
    * spare clothing as appropriate
    * torch, whistle, map and compass - and be competent in their use - watch and pencil
    * survival bag or similar emergency cover/protection
    * In winter, an ice axe and crampons are essential equipment

The above list is for guidance only and Members should carry the equipment which they feel necessary for their own comfort and safety.
 



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How many members are there?

At the time of writing membership numbers around 120, with an active element of about 50. Average attendance at outdoor meets varies between 10 and 30, with up to 50 at some meets. This makes us one of the larger clubs in Scotland, but new members need not be daunted by the apparent size; the membership is a very welcoming to prospective and new members.



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I need help finishing my Munros, Corbetts, ... can you help?

Absolutely. There has been a regular succession of completions over the years and members are always keen to revisit old friends and help others 'get their ticks'. Some members are experienced in climbing and rope work so we can help with those tricky Skye Munros as well.

 

 

 

 



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Are there overseas trips?

There have been European trips to Cauterets, Gavanie/Ordessa Canyon in the Pyrenees, the Stubai, in Austria, Chamonix and the Vanoise in the French Alps, Aosta in the Italian Alps. These take place on alternate years in early July, taking advantage of Glasgow fair Monday and slightly before the worst crowds but after the spring snow melt..

 

 



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Is there a Club Newsletter?

Yes!  A Newsletter is published three or four times a year, between August and April, and gives details of meets, rendezvous points, changes of address, general Club news, etc.

Much of this information is now also available from this website.

 

 



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How is the Club managed?

The administration of the Club is carried out by a committee of nine, comprising Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and five Ordinary Members. They are elected annually at the AGM, which is held in May, each serving for a maximum of three consecutive years in any one office or as a Committee member, subject to a maximum of six years on the Committee. Any full Club member is eligible to vote and stand for Committee.



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How did it originate?

People who attended courses or instructed at Glenmore Lodge, near Aviemore, formed the Club in 1954.

 

In 2004 the Club celebrated its 50th. anniversary and published a commemorative book How You’ve Changed! 50 Years of the Glasgow Glenmore Club that charts the history of the Club through articles and photographs – copies are still available.

 

 



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How do I join?

To really get a feel for the Club you should come along on one of the weekend meets. Don't be shy you will be made very welcome, will meet a lot of people and have a chance to find out all you want to know. They are the best attended of the Club meets. Alternatively come along to one of the day meets, an indoor meet or pub meet.. Details in the Programme. You may come on 2 meets before deciding to join the Club.

Membership Application (word document), (pdf format).

Information for Members (word document), (pdf format) - a printable version of much of the information on this page.

 To join contact the membership secretary.



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What are the benefits of membership?

  • members can join any Club meet
  • receive regular Club newsletters
  • access the Club Library
  • use Club Equipment
  • benefit from MC of S third party insurance whenever you are out on the hill
  • receive copies of the MC of S magazine - Scottish Mountaineer
  • gain reductions on some Glenmore Lodge courses
  • discounts at some Glasgow outdoor retailers.


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How much does membership cost?

For 2009/2010, membership fees are

  • £27 for full membership
  • £15 for furth of Scotland membership and associate membership.

A substantial proportion of this fee is for MCofS membership.

A reduction is usually made for new members joining part way through the membership year.



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Who do I contact for more information?

Contact the membership secretary if you want more information or would like to join a day or weekend meet before making the decision to join. We look forward to meeting you.



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