Club weekends provide an opportunity to access hills beyond the normal travelling distance for the monthly walks. We stay in bunkhouses or hostels in some of the more far flung parts of the UK.
Weekends can be booked either at the meeting, or by contacting the Club Weekend Convener, Jane McMinn, by email.
Booking Conditions
All Club weekends must be paid in full at the time of booking.
Once a booking has been made, there is no refund if you are unable to attend for whatever reason, unless you find someone else to take your place. The reason for this condition is that the Club has to pay the cost of the accommodation in advance, and anyone getting a refund would result in a loss to the Club.
Club Weekends (overview)
The Club organises regular visits away to various locations across Scotland. The trips generally consist of a 2 or 3 night stay depending on the remoteness of the location being visited.
The stays are normally in bunkhouse or hostel accommodation. At worst the accommodation can be basic, although most of the locations provide a good level or very good level of accommodation and facilities.
Sometimes the Club has exclusive use of the accommodation. At other times the accommodation will be shared with other visitors which is usually the case in hostels. Individuals normally share same gender rooms often consisting of 4-6 beds, and bed linen is normally provided. Where bed linen isn’t provided sleeping bags should be taken, but this is quite rare.
Cooking facilities and food storage are available in all locations for self catering use. On occasion the bunkhouse or hostel will provide breakfast, packed lunches and sometimes evening meals at a reasonable additional cost. Some individuals prefer to eat out and sometimes the accommodation is located near to local restaurants and pubs.
The Club does not organise transport to the club weekends and members normally car share. The accommodation costs usually range from £35 – £65 for the weekend depending on the type of location and length of stay. Depending on the location and time of year the group numbers on a Club weekend will range from ten to the mid twenties.
The Club weekends tend to be very popular because they offer good value accommodation, the opportunity to explore more remote areas and the chance to make new friends. Invariably if you attend one then you will more than likely want to attend more.
The most popular Club weekend is usually the annual pilgrimage to Skye where new members can be introduced to the delights of the famous Cuillin Ridge. Professional guiding (at a reasonable cost) can be arranged through the club for a trip into these iconic mountains.
Other popular trips have included visits to the remote and beautiful Knoydart Peninsula, the popular Ratagan Youth Hostel in Kintail and the breathtakingly rugged Torridon.
There may be a view that the Club weekends are limited to the experienced mountaineers within the club but this is really a myth. The weekends are attended by the fit and not so fit alike as well as those with lots of mountain experience and those with virtually none.
The Club weekend walks can range from big days out in the hills to more sedate low level ventures. People sometimes only walk the one day then spend the next one sightseeing or maybe shopping (although usually not the men!).
Where the facilities suit we also organise shared meals, where members provide items of food for a communal meal. The thought of attending your first Club weekend can be a bit daunting but if you do take the plunge you will see another side to the Club. In reality the Club weekends are a great way to meet your fellow Club members in an informal setting as well as gaining some invaluable hill experience.