The Hillwalker ● May – June 2015 Page 2
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Hillwalkers Club May - June 2015 http://www.hillwalkersclub.com/ C é i l í M ó r 2 8 F Loch Voil, Balquhidder, Scotland.e Photo – José Luis Calle Miquel In this edition HILLWALKER b Hike programme: Mayr - June 2015 2 The pick-up points u 3 Club news and events 7 Environmental news a 9 Trip report - Wales Str Patrick’s Weekend 12 Trip report - Kerry Easter 16 Trip report - Scotlandy Easter 20 THE 2014/15 membership applicationF form 29 u r t h e HIKE PROGRAMME May 2015 – June 2015 MEET: Corner of Burgh Quay and Hawkins St DEPART: Sundays at 10.00 am (unless stated otherwise), or earlier if it is full. TRANSPORT: Private bus (unless stated otherwise) COST: €12.00 (unless stated otherwise) 2nd pick-up point: On the outward journey, the bus will stop briefly to collect walkers at the pick-up point. Should the bus be full on departure from Burgh Quay, this facility cannot be offered. Return drop-off point: On the return journey, where indicated, the bus will stop near the outward pick-up point to drop off any hikers. We regret this is not possible on all hikes. If you wish to avail of the 2nd pick-up point, it advisable to contact the hike leader or someone else who will definitely be on the hike, to let them know. GENERAL HIKE NOTES PARTICIPATION Mountaineering is an activity with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants should be aware of and accept these risks. People who take part in our club activities do so at their own risk and are responsible for their own actions and involvement. CO-ORDINATION If necessary, tickets are given out on Sundays to ensure that participants reserve a bus place as they arrive. LEADER The leader has the right to refuse anyone who is not adequately equipped (e.g., without appropriate boots, rainwear, food, torch, hat, gloves, etc.). The leader may alter the route from that described in the program. The leader sets the pace of the hike and walkers are expected to obey the leader’s instructions at all times. EQUIPMENT It is essential to bring good rain gear (both jacket and over-trousers) and to leave cotton t-shirts and jeans at home! Boots must be sturdy with proper ankle support and a rigid non-slip sole such as Vibram. WALKING STICKS AND RUCKSACKS Remember that walking sticks and rucksacks cannot be brought onto the bus and must be stowed away in the boot during the journey. The Hillwalker ● May – June 2015 Page 2 The pick-up points The Hillwalker ● May – June 2015 Page 3 The Hillwalker ● May – June 2015 Page 4 Introductory hard hike The Hillwalkers Club offers an Introductory Hike, usually on one Sunday per month. Guests are welcome to join us on this hike, as long as they provide their name, address and contact details for our records, which will be taken on the day of the hike. Unless guests have their own personal hiking insurance, they are not insured. There is no need to book a place in advance, just turn up on the relevant Sunday morning. Guests can come on one hike without becoming a member of the club, but after that they must join the club. Even though the name of these hikes is ‘Introductory Hike’, they should not be considered to be an introduction to hiking, but rather as an introduction to the Hillwalkers Club and its hillwalking activities. Therefore, participants need to have a good level of personal fitness and, ideally, have some prior experience of hillwalking. All intending participants should be aware that hillwalking and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or even death. By walking with the club, they are aware of and shall accept these risks. Moreover, they acknowledge that they wish to participate in club activities in a voluntary capacity and that they shall be responsible for their own actions and involvement. Please note that as guests of the club, they do not enjoy personal accident insurance, which is otherwise offered to club members through Mountaineering Ireland. Further details are available from Mountaineering Ireland (www.mountaineering.ie/membersandclubs/Insurance/default.aspx) For further enquiries contact 086 356 3843 For Sunday hike leaders, the contact people for Mullally’s Coaches are: - Austin O’Hagan, 086 466 4680 - James Mullally, 086 383 7495 - Micheál Martin, 085 102 2204 Sunday 10th May 2015 Sunday 17th May 2015 Leader: Rúaidhrí O’Conor Leader: José Luis Calle Miguel, 087 640 4861 2nd pick-up & return drop-off point: Maldron Hotel, Tallaght 2nd pick-up point: Bus stop before the roundabout at Loughlinstown Route: Snugborough Bridge * Sugar Loaf- Different return Lobawn* Corriebracks * Church Mountain - Drumreagh * St Kevin's Way * Hollywood Route: Glenmalure Lodge Car Park * Forest Village (Hollywood Inn) track to Kelly´s Lough * Carrawaystick Mountain * Corrigasleggaun * Lugnaquillia Distance: 18 km Ascent: 700 m * Camarahill * Fenton´s Pub Distance: 17 km Ascent: 900 m Map: OS 56 , East West Mapping Maps: OS 56, East West Mapping The Hillwalker ● May – June 2015 Page 5 Sunday 24th May 2015 JB Malone walk Sunday 14th June 2015 Leader: Tom Kenny Leader: Rosaleen Clarke 2nd pick-up & return drop-off point: : Bus stop 2nd pick-up & return drop-off point: before the roundabout at Loughlinstown. Swords (R132) Pickup Point Dublin Bus Stop #5074 on the northbound Route: Pier Gates * Djouce * Maulin * Crone carriageway of the R132 (Swords Bypass), south of Wood * Knockree Youth Hostel the Swords Road – Malahide Road roundabout, adjacent to a footbridge close to the Pavilion Shopping Centre. Distance: 15 km Ascent: 540 m Drop off point is bus stop opposite on southbound carriageway Maps: OS 56, Harvey, East West Mapping Route: Carlingford Village * The Eagles Rock For Birdwatching option see page 10 * The Split Rock * The Foxes Rock * The Windy Gap * The Castle * The Round Mountain * Lumpers Pub Sunday 31st May 2015 Distance: 18 km Ascent: 600 m No Sunday Hike Maps: OS 36 Weekend away in Donegal Sunday 7th June 2015 Leader: Eugene Dudley 2nd pick-up & return drop-off point: Rathfarnham Castle (R115) Route: Cruagh * Glendoo * Knocknagun * Prince Williams Seat * Boranaraltry Bridge * Two Rock/Fairy Castle * Three Rock * Ticknock Distance: 18 km Ascent: 720 m Maps: OS 50 & 56, East West Mapping The Hillwalker ● May – June 2015 Page 6 Club news and events Birdwatching Event and June Bank Holiday trip to Donegal Environmental Officer Russell Mills and Michael Quinn have organised a field day in conjunction with Birdwatch Ireland on May 24th see page 10 Frank Rooney and Jim Barry have organised a trip away to Donegal over the June Bank Holiday weekend. For trip details see Page 11 ONLINE MEMBERSHIP FACILITY Membership can now be taken out and renewed on the club website see http://www.hillwalkersclub.com/membership-application-form.php Payments by members into Club Accounts The club has introduced a method for booking and making payments for events and trips directly into club accounts via the club website see http://www.hillwalkersclub.com/event-listings.php Payments may also be made directly into club accounts either over the internet or at bank counters as before. It is extremely important that members use their names as the reference when making internet payments into club accounts. It is very difficult to identify and credit your payments otherwise. If paying at bank counter, please note number of lodgement docket and text or e-mail this number to Lourdes or the event organiser to ensure your transfer is correctly identified The Hillwalker ● May – June 2015 Page 7 Club news and events continued Club membership A current Hillwalkers Club membership card is a requirement for participation in the Sunday hikes. Membership cards will be checked before boarding the bus Guests may sample only one hike before taking out membership Membership forms will be available for lapsed members as they cannot hike with the club without renewing their membership Members authorised to check membership cards include Garry Byrne, Bill Fine, Tom Hennessy, AnneMarie Keoghan, Søren Mandrup, Don Reilly and all members of the current committee Club membership for 2014/15 has been open since October 2014. A membership form is included on final page of this Newsletter. Membership can now also be taken out and renewed on the club website see http://www.hillwalkersclub.com/membership-application-form.php WANTED Good photos for inclusion on Hillwalkers Club Facebook Page and / or in Newsletter Please send photos to Eugene [email protected] or Mel [email protected] The Hillwalker ● May – June 2015 Page 8 Environmental notes Hello Hillwalkers, On Sunday May 24th we have organised a bird watching workshop with Niall Keogh of Birdwatch Ireland. Niall is an extremely knowledgeable and approachable guy, with a good deal of handy tips on watching the bird life of the Irish uplands. Full details of this unique day can be found on the following page. This is a first for the Hillwalkers, so please support it if you can. Special thanks are due to Michael Quinn for setting this in motion. April was a surprisingly dry month, and many of you would have seen at first hand the damage done to the upland environment by the recent burning. Large fires have been raging over the Wicklow Mountains, with severe damage to Paddock Hill and adjacent to the Coronation Plantation just two of the badly affected areas. Hopefully the recent rain will have put paid to this for another year, and with the ground nesting birds about to start laying eggs, it is not a moment too soon. T his Great Spotted Woodpecker was photographed by P.