Welcome to
Monklands Ramblers
exploring scotland
since 1985
before booking
Numbers on the coach are no longer limited, but it is still essential to book in advance, and not turn up on the day without a confirmed booking.
The newsletter for our weekend walks is issued the Wednesday following a club walk at 6.30pm. Please try and book as soon as the newsletter is issued as the bus fills up quickly.
The booking contact will be indicated on the newsletter and may differ from the walk leader. A text will be sent back to confirm a booking.
If you are unable to attend a walk, please let the booking contact know immediately. There are no charges for cancellations.
Future Walk Dates
Sunday, 1 June:
➝ Dunkeld
Saturday, 14 June:
➝ Lake District
Sunday, 29 June:
➝ Ochils
Sunday, 13 July:
➝ Arrochar (Please note that the walk day of Saturday 12 July in the programme has had to be changed to Sunday 13 July)
Sunday, 27 July:
➝ Isle of Cumbrae
Saturday, 9 August:
➝ Tyndrum
Scottish mountain webcams
The Ben Nevis Webcam is located on the banks of Loch Linnhe, Fort William. The web cam updates every minute and captures fantastic views of Ben Nevis, Fort William, Loch Linnhe and Aonach Mor.
Buachaille Etive Mor in Glencoe, Argyll, is one of the most beautiful mountains in Scotland. The picture of it above was taken a short time ago by a camera at the Glencoe Mountain Ski Centre.
Weekend Walk
29 June
(D)
(H)
(M)
(S)
Notes:
Morning stop: This will be at Springkerse Retail Park in Stirling which includes Morrisons café, McDonalds, Tim Hortons and Costa coffee.
Post walk stop: The Woolpack Inn has been organised for our pub stop but there are other venues available in Tillicoultry.
✔ Date: Sunday, 29 June
✔ 1st Leader: Stuart Sefton
✔ Location: Alva to Tillicoultry (via Ben Cleuch & The Law) (Asc.870m)
✔ Grade: A
✔ Distance: 9.1 Miles / 14.6 km
✔ 2nd Leader: Pat Rawlinson
✔ Location: Tillicoultry and Gartmorn Dam Circular (Asc. 220m)
✔ Grade: B
✔ Distance: 8.9 Miles / 14.3 km
✔ Walk Report:
➝ Alva to Tillicoultry via Ben Cleuch and The Law (A) :
Our walk starts in Alva and makes its way up through Silver Glen on a fairly steep path towards Ben Ever which will be our first hill top of the day. From here we will go on to the tops of Ben Buck, Ben Cleuch, The Law and finally, Andrew Gannel Hill.
The good news is that by the time we have reached the top of Ben Ever we will have done about two thirds of our climbing for day and, after this, the going is fairly straightforward. From Andrew Gannel Hill we take a fairly wide path and gradual descent until we reach Mill Glen. Coming down Mill Glen is generally regarded as one of the more picturesque descents with a fairly dramatic deep gorge.
It’s a bit tricky in places, particularly if it is wet so care needs to be taken as we make our way down to the end of the walk in Tillicoultry. The walk includes the 3 highest hills in the Ochils, it’s 14.6 km (9.1 mls) and we have an overall ascent of around 870m, it’s on good tracks throughout and these are mainly on grass, though there is the occasional boggy bit.
➝ Tillicoultry and Gartmorn Dam Circular (B):
This is a 9 mile circular walk with a total ascent of 218m around Tillicoultry on good paths and tracks, some of which can be muddy.
The initial part of the walk is along a wooded stretch of The Devon Way. There is then the only sustained climb of the walk before emerging onto open farmland and delightful mixed woodland. These take us on to the Gartmorn Dam which we circuit before descending back to our starting point at Tillicoultry.
There are excellent views of the Ochil hills throughout.
✔ Bus Fare: Bus fare on this walk is £15. The continued rise in bus hire costs has meant revised fares which had been unchanged since April 2022. The new walker promotion now becomes “Starter for £10 ” with adjustment in junior prices – £10 for under 18s and £5 for under 16s.
After further discussions the Committee has identified the four longest travel distances on the summer programme which will be charged at £20 – 17 May Loch Awe; 14 June Lake District; 9 August Glencoe; 24 August Drumochter. We hope to keep others at £15.
✔ Booking: Please contact Ken Paton by text message on 07711 612520 to book on the walk.
Please send a text including your full name and pick-up point. You can only book as an individual or for family or couple bookings. All bookings will be acknowledged with a confirmation text.
✔ Pick-up: First pick-up will be Coatbridge (at the back of the Time Capsule) at 8.30am, followed by Coatdyke opposite and adjacent to the Kwik Fit and then Airdrie (Farmfoods across from Airdrie Railway station) at 8.40am.
Wednesday walk
16 July
(D)
(H)
(M)
(S)
To book a place on a walk:
TEXT the walk leader, Tony Grimason, on 07516238706, No phone calls
1. ONLY CONTACT the walk leader within 2 weeks (02 July) of the date of a scheduled walk.
2. Maximum number on each walk: 16.
3. Booking is on a first come, first served basis.
4. A reserve list will be created in the event of cancellations.
5. No charge is applied for those participating on these walks.
6. Financial costs associated with transport are at participants own cost.
7. All walks are between 5 and 8 miles, and will be undertaken at a leisurely pace.
8. Appropriate weatherproof clothing and walking shoes/boots & poles recommended.
N.B. Walk date, bus & train travel times may change – so check webpage for updates.
✔ Location: Cardross to Balloch via the Stoneymollan Coffin Road
✔ Time & Travel: We will catch the ‘Helensburgh’ train from Coatdyke train station at 10.05 alighting at Cardross Train station at 11.05.
Return journey is via the ‘Airdrie’ train from Balloch Train Station situated to the left-hand side of the Tullie Inn departing at 8 min & 38 min past the hour.
✔ Finish time: 3.5 hours (approx.)
✔ Recce: This is the pinnacle of the 2025 Wednesday Walk programme. It is a 6 Mile linear walk from Cardross on the banks of the River Clyde to Balloch on the shores of Loch Lomond.
The route follows an ancient coffin road used in the 19th Century by those living in Balloch to reach consecrated ground (Eye on Millig: The story of Helensburgh’s ‘coffin roads’) in Cardross to bury their dead at St. Mahew’s chapel (St Mahew, Cardross – Roman Catholic Church).
At the high point of the route there are stunningly breathtaking views back over the River Clyde and to the north – the islands in Loch Lomond and the hills beyond. Keep an eye on the airplanes making their downwards trajectory to Glasgow Airport. The trail then follows a pleasant route downhill to Balloch.
✔ Footwear: Training shoes on a dry day / walking shoes or boots on a wet day. Poles recommended.
✔ Comfort Stops: After a short comfort stop at the nearby ‘Village Hub’ (FOOD: Excellent menu at Cardross Village Hub this week), the walk will begin at 11.45.
✔ Pre-walk & Walk comfort stops: Mews Courtyard, Holyrood Palace café.
✔ Post-walk social stop: Tullie Inn, Balloch (Tullie Inn Balloch – Pubs in Balloch serving traditional pub food).
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RA Membership
Monklands Ramblers is an official Ramblers Association Group. We receive annual funding from the RA to finance club administration such as the website, walk leader recce expenses, the Fiver promotion etc.
RA members receive a welcome pack plus excellent quarterly magazine and an entitlement to walk with any Ramblers group in Britain. There is also access to an extensive online library of walks and discounts available to members eg Cotswold Outdoor Company, O.S maps, Ramblers Holidays etc.
You can join the RA here.
Please indicate your local group is: Monklands.
Information
The Ramblers' Association is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Company registration no. 4458492. Registered charity, Scotland no. SC039799.
Monklands Ramblers © 1985-2025
