Adult Summer Outdoor Activities Part 1 Spring 2018
1
Welcome
Equipment
Welcome to our summer 2018 community programme. This year we are splitting the programme in two. This first one covers up to the school holidays at the end of June and then we will publish part two, which covers the latter half of August until the end of November. As usual we are running all the usual activities expected from Scotland’s leading mountain sports community programme, bringing the wonderful Scottish mountain environment to all those with a sense of adventure.
Our modern and comprehensive stores have a full range of equipment for all of our courses. The stores will be open on the morning of your course for you to borrow anything you need. All this is included in the course fee. Of course you are welcome to use any of your own equipment on our courses if agreed with the instructor on the day.
From gentle walks to steep climbs, brushing up on basic outdoor skills to being assessed on a Mountain Training Association verified leadership course our outdoor instructors are dedicated, experienced and highly qualified in their sport and will provide an outdoor adventure that you won’t forget.
Contents Activity
Page
Welcome & Introduction
2-3
Seasonal Highlights
4
Walking
5
High Tops
6-7
Mountain Navigation
8
Mountain Scrambling
9
Equipment list available from: www. falkirkcommunitytrust.org/outdoors/ kit-lists.aspx
Transport and Venues
Falkirk Community Trust Outdoors Welcome to our winter adult community programme. This all All sea our course start and finish from ning run are son we winter our main office at Victoria buildings com e hav folk ies ivit and transport to ande al actabove) the usu (address leading Scotlanind’s from ectthere from is included the course to exp nity mu com fee. We have a large car park to leave mountain sports d ishe vehicles and we are a short walk from abl est g lon r mme. Ou progra Falkirk train (Grahamston) and bus rful nde wo the gs mme brin progra stations. Scottish winter mountain Start times are all listed with ha witcourse se the tho ment to environ dates and finish times will vary. Please . ure of adv sense ensure youent plan on being out with us
all day - if conditions are good we will le day outings, run sing We make the most of them. skills ed multi-day trips and link ething som courses. In fact we have r for everyone whatever you aspirations and ability.
All photographs by Craig McLaren, unless otherwise credited.
Rock Climbing / Mountaineering 10-11
2
Training & Qualifications
12-15
Trips
16-17
Rock & Water
18
Planner - At a Glance
19
Falkirk Outdoors
Adult Summer Outdoor Activities Part 1 Spring 2018
Information & Bookings Our office hours are; Tuesday to Thursday 09:00 – 17:00 | Friday 09:00 – 13:00 Outdoor Activities Base Victoria Building Annexe Queen Street Falkirk FK2 7AF Tel: 01324 506846 Email: outdooractivities@falkirkcommunitytrust.org Web: www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org/outdoors For information and to book a course please contact the Outdoor team using the above details. Before you join us on a course we will need a medical consent form completed and returned to us via post or email (you can download a medical consent form from our webpage, link below). Payment can be made by card (in person or over the phone), cash or cheque (payable to Falkirk Community Trust) Full payment must be made before a course can be booked. Details of prices can be found alongside our list of course dates. Please call us if you require information about any of our courses.
All bookings are to be made through the Outdoor Base By Phone (Card payments) Please call : 01324 506846 Our office hours are; Tuesday to Thursday 09:00 – 17:00 Friday 09:00 – 13:00
Please Note:
* Please note we still need a signed copy of our medical form before the start of the activity
• You will only hear further from us if your course has to be altered or cancelled.
By Post – (Cheque) Please send payment to: Outdoor Activities Base Victoria Building Annexe Queen Street Falkirk FK2 7AF * Please enclose details of the course you wish to book In Person Please call in and see us at Victoria Buildings
• We only take bookings on receipt of payment, we cannot accept provisional bookings.
• We require an original medical form at the centre before the activity takes place. Please ensure this is either sent in to Victoria Buildings prior to the activity date or brought with you on the morning of the course. • In the event you have to cancel a course within the cancellation period you are strongly advised to take out insurance to recover the cost of the course fees.
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Seasonal Highlights Skye Black Cuillin Traverse – a chance to take part in the finest mountaineering outing in the British Isles Glen Affric Munros – Long days on the hill ticking remote Munros based in the most scenic hostel in Scotland Ring of Steall & The Grey Corries – Nine Lochaber Munros over two iconic ridges. A camping trip where we carry no tents Mountain Training Scotland Awards – We are delivering Lowland Leader and Hill & Moorland Leader training and assessments as well as an Expedition Skills Module which will allow holders of both awards to run overnight camping
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Walking
Senior Rambles All Senior Rambles cost £11.50 Our long established Stravaiger and Tryst rambles are for those who like easy walking in groups. The majority of our rambles are no more than 7 miles long on easy paths with no significant height gain. We try and walk locally when we can but we’ll always chase the dry weather. The Stravaiger rambles leave from Victoria Buildings car park in Falkirk at 0915 every second Tuesday with the Tryst rambles departing from Foundry Loan car park in Larbert at 0930 on the alternate Tuesdays.
Stravaiger Ramble dates 17/04/18
01/05/18
15/05/18
29/05/18
12/06/18
26/06/18
Tryst Ramble dates 24/04/18
08/05/18
5/06/18
19/06/18 5
High Tops All High Tops days begin at 07:00 and cost £33.00 Our days out on the mountains are justly renowned for getting to the summits by interesting means whatever the weather. On a High Tops day you will tick either a Munro or one of our finer Corbetts, so you will need to have previous walking experience From the biggest Munro days to the most out of the way Corbetts we can take you there. Our days out on the mountains are justly famous for getting to the summits by interesting means whatever the weather. On the harder to reach hills we can take bikes if appropriate. We’re happy to take novices out but if you’re unsure how you’ll do on the day please call our office before booking and chat to an instructor.
26/04/18 Beinn Eunaich & Beinn a’Chochuill 13.4km + 1210 metres of ascent We’ve not been over to these two Munros for a while so we thought a nice summer stroll would rectify that. Starting by Drishaig a hydro track is used to get to Beinn Eunaich’s south ridge, which is ascended. A fine ridge links over to Beinn a’Chochuill before we head back to the hydro road for a quick exit.
06/05/18 Gulvain & Braigh nan Uamhachan 24.1km + 1500 metres of ascent This Munro and Corbett combo, accessed from the Gleann Fionnlaighe, are fairly remote undertakings. A good track eases the way out and back and adding the Corbett means we don’t have to go over Gulvain’s south top twice. We’ll do the Munro first.
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20/05/18 Meall na Fearna, Ben Vorlich, Stuic a’Chroin & Beinn Each – Bike Access
8.4km + 250 metres of ascent, Bike & 22.5km 1650 metres of ascent, Walk
This is a big day out on local hills ticking two Munros and two Corbetts. It’s unusual to go for all four hills in a day but they make a nice circuit from Glen Artney in the east. We’ll use bikes to get up the track to the bottom of Gleann an Dubh Choirein. Continuing up the track leads to the south ridge of Meall na Fearna. A fine high ramble takes us round the Munros to Beinn Each where the broad SE ridge leads back to Arivurichardich where the good track leads back to the bikes.
01/06/18 Ben Starav & Glas Bheinn Mhor 16km + 1400 metres of ascent Two fine Glen Etive Munros will be ticked on this outing. We’ll head up Ben Starav’s north ridge and then over Meall nan Tri Tighearnan to Glas Bheinn Mhor. There are fine views over Loch Etive and the Blackmount hills on this walk.
17/06/18 Beinn an Dothaidh & Ben Dorain 14.1km + 1220 metres of ascent Linking these two Munros makes an interesting outing if Beinn an Dothaidh’s west flank is included in the ascent. This means not having to go up and down from Coire an Dothaidh. The route goes straight up to the summit of Dothaidh from Bridge of Orchy, south to the bealach, up the ridge to Dorain and back as far as the wee lochain where a break in the crags provides a way down.
27/06/18 Na Gruagaichean & Binnein Mor 14.2km + 1270 metres of ascent The route goes from Kinlochleven up to Coire an Locahin, on to the col at Sgurr Eilde Beag, over point 1062m to the summit of Binnein Mor. After retracing our steps over the spot height the route turns right to Na Gruagaichean. The return is by its south ridge.
08/07/18 Carn Ealar & An Sgarsoch – Bike Access
25.4km + 300 metres of ascent, Bike & 14.3km 810 metres of ascent, Walk These are very remote hills. To get there we will bike in along a fine Cairngorm track from Linn of Dee to Geldie Lodge ruin. Shanks’ pony for the round of the Munros – Carn Ealar first, then An Sgarsoch.
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Mountain Navigation Mountain Navigation Begins at 08:00 and cost ÂŁ35.00
03/05/18
09/06/18
07/07/18
Good navigation in the mountains is the key skill to learn and practise in order to enhance one’s experience on the hill. This course is for hill walkers who understand the basics of map work and would like to take their understanding of navigation to the next level. This will be a full day on the hill recapping on the basics like taking bearings and measuring timings and distances, moving on to navigation strategies and relocation techniques.
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Mountain Scrambles
Mountain Scrambles All Scrambles start at 07:00 and costs £45.00 From the Lochaber and Glen Coe classics to the wilds of Ardgour or Arrochar, all the way over to the northern Cairngorms, our mountain scramble days are for folk who enjoy moving fast over technical terrain in spectacular settings. The nature of these scrambles means the participant should have previous experience of steep ground.
09/05/18 Pinnacle Ridge of Garbh Bheinn
(Grade 2/3)
The rough mountain of Garbh Bheinn makes a fine silhouette when viewed from the Leven Bridge or Glencoe. Come and experience what it feels like to stand on this Corbett’s summit after scrambling up its famous Pinnacle Ridge – a fine exposed route through some impressive scenery.
03/06/18 North buttress of Buachaille Etive Mor
(Grade Mod)
This is a fine way up the big Buachaille. It’s graded moderate so it’s technically a rock climb, but the actual climbing is short lived and there’s loads of scrambling between the pitches. The route finishes not far from Stob Dearg, the northern Munro on the mountain.
06/07/18 Aonach Eagach of Glen Coe
(Grade 2/3)
Our summer outing to this most iconic of mainland ridges takes place midweek to avoid the crowds. Billed by some as the hardest scramble on the mainland but the moves are pretty straightforward if you are on a tight rope. Taking in two Munros, we start at the higher eastern end and then scramble towards the western seaboard. 9
Rock Climbing We have structured our Rock Climbing courses so everyone gets a course that suits their needs from total beginners to the seasoned climber. If you are in any doubt please call the office and speak to one of our instructors.
02/05/18
08/06/18
Introduction to Rock Climbing
Supervised/Instructed day - ratio 1:6 All climbing days start at 08:00 and costs ÂŁ35.00 This is a course for beginners who want to experience climbing outdoors on real rock. The course will take place at one of our local single pitch crags and cover all the basics such as tying in, belaying and movement on rock. The course is suitable for complete novices or folk who have recently begun climbing indoors.
17/05/18
13/06/18
Rock Climbing Development
Supervised/Instructed day - ratio 1:6 Starts at 08:00 and costs ÂŁ35.00
Photo credit - Euan Whittaker
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This is a course for folk who have begun to climb outdoors and would like to get some experience of seconding single pitch rock routes. The day will be split between seconding and top roping so that vertical mileage can be maximised. This is the ideal progression course for anyone to gain the relevant experience to participate on our Classic or Hard climbing days in the mountains.
10/05/18
02/06/18
05/07/18 Classic Climbs
(Mod – Hard Severe) Guided Day - ratio 1:2 Starts at 07:00 and costs £70.00 Our Classic Climbs, rock climbing days, involve clients being guided up a classic (occasionally esoteric) route. We don’t plan to climb above the grade of hard severe; it’s all about a great climb in an amazing place. Venues are not specified because we will go where the weather is best. Example routes could include; Ardverikie Wall, Agag’s Groove, Savage Slit and Crypt Route. If the weather isn’t suitable to get into the mountains then we will head to a crag venue. Because of the nature of multi-pitch climbing we require participants to have previous rock climbing experience
10/05/18
02/06/18
05/07/18 Hard climbs (VS – E1) Guided Day - ratio 1:2
Starts at 07:00 and costs £70.00 Our Hard Climb days, like our Classic days are guided, however the climbing is that bit harder. Example routes could include; Spartan Slab, Bludger’s Revelation, King Bee and The Clean Sweep. If the weather isn’t suitable to get into the mountains then we will head to a crag venue. Because of the nature of multi-pitch climbing we require participants to have previous rock climbing experience
02/05/18
08/06/18
Learn to Lead Climb
Instructed day - ratio 1:4 Starts at 09:00 and costs £45 Following on from our beginners rock climbing course, these days are aimed at folk who have seconded climbs and would like to progress to leading a climb. Skills covered include selecting suitable equipment, placing protection and bringing up a second. 11
Mountain Training Scotland Courses Mountain Training offers programmes of training and assessment for walkers interested in leading groups as well as skills awards that teach individuals how to look after themselves in the hills and mountains. The UK and Ireland are home to a great many stunning locations and our work is dedicated to helping more people get out there and enjoy them. Falkirk Community Trust deliver these courses on behalf of the Mountain Training Scheme.
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Mountain Skills Mountain Training Scotland Courses The Mountain Training course aims to equip participants with the basic knowledge and essential safety skills required to start pursuing their own participation in mountain walking as a leisure time activity. Falkirk Community Trust is an approved provider of these awards.
23-24/06/18 Mountain Skills Cost £95 per two day course – Courses begin at 07:00 The Mountain Skills course is an ideal choice for walkers interested in applying their countryside walking skills to the mountain environment. Ideally, participants would have done some basic hill walking and have a reasonable level of fitness. Skills in map and compass, mountain weather forecasting, movement through steep ground, planning and preparation, emergency procedures, seasonal effects and the mountain environment all form the syllabus of this course. The course is run in the main high mountain areas of the UK and Ireland. Our courses will be based in the Scottish mountains.
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Qualifications Lowland Leader Award The Lowland Leader Award is ideal for teachers, community workers; those involved with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme – in fact anyone who wants to lead summer walking groups in lowland countryside and woodland. As with all Mountain Training Schemes there is no altitude limit to the remit of the award, “lowland” refers to the sort of landscape you will be operating in, i.e. fields and woodlands where there are clear paths on the map and on the ground. The training course looks at route-finding skills, an understanding of hazards and risk management, leadership techniques and an appreciation of equipment needs and the impact of the weather. There is an optional Expedition Skills module available for candidates who wish to move on to leading camping trips and supervising groups on backpacking expeditions.
Like other National Governing Body Awards the pathway to certification involves getting some personal experience, attending a training course, consolidating your learning, completing an assessment, and then continuing to develop these skills as a Lowland Leader. The length of time it takes to become a Lowland Leader depends on how much experience you already have. We recommend at least three months between training and assessment, and if it takes you a few years to feel ready, that’s fine too. The Lowland Leader Award can be used anywhere in the UK when you are in appropriate terrain. More information about the award please visit the Mountain Training website. Candidates must register direct with Mountain Training prior to training Fee - £44.
LLA Training Dates - Lowland leader award | PRICE: £125 18/05/18 - Friday 18:00 - 21:00
22/06/18 - Friday 18:00 -21:00
19/05/18 - Saturday 09:00 - 18:30
23/06/18 - Saturday 09:00 - 18:30
20/05/18 - Sunday 09:00 - 17:00
24/06/18 - Sunday 09:00 - 17:00
31/08/18 - Friday 18:00 - 2100
12/10/18 - Friday 18:00 - 21:00
01/09/18 - Saturday 09:00 - 1830
13/10/18 - Saturday 09:00 - 18:30
02/09/18 - Sunday 09:00 - 1700
17/10/18 - Sunday 09:00 -17:00
30/11/18 - Friday 18:00 - 21:00 01/12/18 - Saturday 09:00 - 18:30 02/12/18 - Sunday 09:00 - 17:00
LLA Assessment Dates | PRICE: £135 09/06/18 - Saturday 09:00 - 18:00
15/09/18 - Saturday 09:00 - 18:00
27/10/18 - Saturday 09:00 - 18:00
10/06/18 - Sunday 09:00 - 18:00
16/09/18 - Sunday 09:00 - 18:00
28/10/18 - Sunday 09:00 - 18:00
Mountain Training Expedition Skills Module Mountain Training Expedition Skills Module | PRICE: £125 05/05/18 - Day 1 09:00 – Overnight
21/07/18 - Day 1 09:00 – overnight
29/09/18 - Day 1 09:00 – overnight
06/05/18 - Day 2 finish 12:00
22/07/18 - Day 2 finish 12:00
30/09/18 - Day 2 finish 12:00
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Other course dates are available. Please contact our office for details.
Qualifications Hill & Moorland Leader Award The Hill and Moorland Leader award is designed for people who want to lead groups in the hill and moorland areas of the UK and Ireland. This award is a wonderful opportunity to learn the leadership skills required to feel confident about taking people out walking. As you may have guessed from the descriptive title of this award, it focuses on nonmountainous terrain. In a previous life this award was called the Walking Group Leader, and we think the new name better describes the award and makes more sense. This way, everyone knows where they (can) stand. The ‘overnight experience’ element of the WGL has been removed and we’ve created a separate Expedition Skills Module which can be ‘bolted on’ to the Hill and Moorland Leader (or indeed the Lowland Leader) if you want to increase the scope of your award to include multi-day expeditions. More information about the award please visit the Mountain Training website
Candidates must register direct with Mountain Training prior to training Fee - £44.
H&MLA Training Dates | PRICE: £195 21/09/18 - Friday 09:00 - 18:00
02/11/18 - Friday 09:00 - 18:00
22/09/18 - Saturday 09:00 - 21:30
03/11/18 - Saturday 09:00 - 21:30
23/09/18 - Sunday 09:00 - 18:00
04/11/18 - Sunday 09:00 - 18:00
H&MLA Assessment Dates | PRICE: £225 05/10/18 - Friday 09:00 - 18:00
16/11/18 - Friday 09:00 - 18:00
06/10/18 - Saturday 09:00 - 21:30
17/11/18 - Saturday 09:00 - 21:30
07/10/18 - Sunday 09:00 - 18:00
18/11/18 - Sunday 09:00 - 18:00 15
Trips
02/06/18 - 03/06/18
Lochaber Camping Trip Departs Falkirk 06:00 and costs £85 Two cracking days on the Lochaber Hills ticking nine Munros. Overnight camp at Glen Nevis camp site which has all the usual facilities. No camping gear will be carried on the hill walks.
Day one – Grey Corries Munros 25.7km + 1800 metres of ascent The walk begins at the old railway crossroad car park at Leanachan Forest. From here we’ll head up to the bothy on the Lairig Leacach. Stob Ban is the first Munro we’ll ascend and after this we continue on to Stob Choire Claurigh, the first Munro on the ridge. Then it’s a fine ridge walk over Stob Coire an Laoigh and out to Sgurr Choinneach Mor. We descend north down Beinn an Socaich and head back through the forest to the bus.
Day two – Ring of Steall – 12.4km + 1700 metres of ascent There might be some tired legs so we’ll begin a wee bit later. We’ll do this round anticlockwise so the Munro order will be Sgurr a’Mhaim, Am Bodach, Stob Coire a’Chairn & An Gearanach. This means the famous short (avoidable) scrambly section is tackled early in the day. Going this way leaves to inevitable bog trot round the base of Steall waterfall until the end. 16
18/06/18 - 21/06/18
Black Cuillin Traverse Departs Falkirk 07:00 and costs £275 We’re offering something special which is on most mountaineers’ bucket list: a traverse of the Black Cuillin Ridge. The plan is to drive from Falkirk, get on the hill and drop our overnight supplies off near An Dorus. Over the next two days we will traverse the ridge, sleeping high at our bivvi site. On the last day we will once again head up to An Dorus to collect our overnight kit. If the weather is too poor for a traverse attempt we will run single scrambling days from Glen Brittle. Previous scrambling experience is essential as well as a high level of hill fitness.
18/06/18 - 21/06/18
Glen Affric High Tops Departs Falkirk 07:00 and costs £175 This walking trip to Glen Affric will take in nine Munros over four days. We’ll be travelling through some spectacular country and be based in the stunningly situated Glen Affric hostel. The trip begins at Loch Cluanie and ends in Morvich. Some long days in the hills are planned. There are no shops in Glen Affric (although the hostel does have a small stock of some basics) so we will have to carry our own and we have to take our own sleeping bags to the hostel.
Day One 13km with 860 metres of ascent The walk begins by Loch Cluanie then up An Chaorann Mor. At the top of the pass we’ll dump the big bags and nip up Ciste Dubh, our first Munro. Then we’ll pick up our gear and head to the hostel.
Day Two 25.5km with 1600 metres of ascent This is a big out and back route to tick Mam Sodhail, Carn Eige and Beinn Fhionnlaidh, three Munros, the last of which is fairly remote.
Day Three 20km with 1480 metres of ascent Sgurr nan Ceathreamhnan, Mullach nan Dheiragain and An Socach are our objectives over another big day in the hills.
Day Four 17.7km with 1420 metres of ascent This last day is a walk out over the tops to Morvich where we’ll be picked up. Beinn Fhada is first followed by A’ Ghlas-bheinn. We’ll be taking all our gear out with us on this walk but the bags will be a lot lighter by the end of the trip. 17
Rock & Water 28/05/18 Canyoning Start at 09:00 and costs ÂŁ42 From the dryer technical gorges, to the full on big canyon descents, we will get you up or down safely. All our canyon days are staffed by appropriately trained instructors who have a passion for exploring the hidden away gorge systems. It is essential for participants to have a good level of water confidence for this activity.
25/06/18 Coasteering Starts at 09:00 and costs ÂŁ42 The rapidly growing sport of Coasteering is justly popular around the sea cliffs of Scotland and beyond. If you enjoy exploring our inshore waters we offer enough thrills like scrambling, swimming and jumping in to keep the enthusiast happy.
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At a Glance MAY
JUNE
1
Senior Rambles - Stravaigers
2
Intro to Rock Climbing Learn to Lead Climb
3
Mountain Navigation
Lochaber High Tops Trip Scramble
5
Expedition Skills Module
Senior Rambles - Tryst
6
High Tops Expedition Skills Module
JULY
High Tops Lochaber High Tops Trip Classic Climb Hard Climb
4
Classic Climb Hard Climb Scramble Mountain Navigation
7 8
Senior Rambles - Tryst
Intro to Rock Climbing Learn to Lead Climb
9
Scramble
Mountain Navigation Lowland Leader Award Assessment
10
Classic Climb Hard Climb
Lowland Leader Award Assessment
11 12 13 14 15 Senior Rambles - Stravaigers
High Tops
Senior Rambles - Stravaigers Rock Climbing Development
16 17 Rock Climbing Development
High Tops
18 Lowland Leader Award Training
Black Cuillin Traverse Trip Glen Affric High Tops Trip
19 Lowland Leader Award Training
Black Cuillin Traverse Trip Glen Affric High Tops Trip Senior Rambles - Tryst
High Tops Lowland Leader Award Training
Black Cuillin Traverse Trip Glen Affric High Tops Trip
20 21
Black Cuillin Traverse Trip Glen Affric High Tops Trip
22
Lowland Leader Award Training
23
Mountain Skills Lowland Leader Award Training
24
Mountain Skills Lowland Leader Award Training
25 26 27 28 Canyoning 29 Senior Rambles - Stravaigers 30 31
Coasteering Senior Rambles - Stravaigers High Tops
More Summer Community Adult Outdoor Activities to come after the school holidays 19
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY BASE Victoria Buildings, Queen Street, Falkirk. Tel: 01324 506846
outdooractivities@falkirkcommunitytrust.org www.falkirkcommunitytrust.org/outdoors falkirkoutdoors
Falkirk Community Trust gratefully acknowledges the support of Falkirk Council