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
Saturday, 19 April:
➝ Club Easter Weekend Trip to Aviemore
Sunday, 4 May:
➝ Scottish Borders
Saturday, 17 May:
➝ Loch Awe
Sunday, 1 June:
➝ Dunkeld
Saturday, 14 June:
➝ Lake District
Please note that the walk day of Saturday 12 July in the programme has had to be changed to Sunday 13 July.
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
4 May
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Notes:
Morning stop will be at Carfraemill. Please note orders for scones and hot rolls (bacon, link sausage or egg) have to be phoned in. Price for scone with tea/coffee £4.50. Orders will be collected once we leave Airdrie.
Post Walk stop will be at the Ship Inn, Melrose
✔ Date: Sunday, 4 May
✔ 1st Leader: Stuart Sefton
✔ Location: Lauder to Melrose Southern Upland Way (Asc.270m)
✔ Grade: B
✔ Distance: 10.3 Miles / 16.5 km
✔ 2nd Leader: Pat Rawlinson
✔ Location: Melrose and Old Melrose Circular (Asc.220m)
✔ Grade: C+
✔ Distance: 8 Miles / 12.8 km
✔ Walk Report:
➝ Lauder to Melrose Southern Upland Way (B+):
Our walk forms part of the Southern Upland Way, starting in Lauder and ending in the centre of Melrose. There are a couple of short climb sections at the start of the walk but these are not long or hard. We then have rolling hills before a long descent into Melrose, finishing with a nice section along the banks of the River Tweed.
Take care on this section as there are a lot of exposed tree roots and don’t fall in the river. Our walk is on track, grass and a couple of short tarmac sections. It’s about 17 km or 10.5 miles and just under 300m of overall climb. Lots of very nice views of the Borders along the way.
➝ Melrose and Old Melrose Circular (C+)
A beautiful 8 mile walk from Melrose Abbey to Old Melrose which is a natural promontory on the River Tweed and the Monk’s Ford. This is where the monks walked from the monastery at Old Melrose to Dryburgh Abbey.
We will pass Trimontium the site of a Roman fort and view the Tweed from the Leaderfoot Aqueduct. On the return loop we will also see The Rhymer’s Stone marking the spot where Thomas Rhymer allegedly met The Faerie Queen.
The walk is on a mixture of minor roads and good paths which can be muddy after rain. The route overall involves 220m of climbing but with no sustained ascents.
✔ 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.
✔ Booking: Please contact Stuart Sefton by text message on 07760 171693 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) followed by Coatdyke opposite and adjacent to the Kwik Fit and then, Airdrie (Farmfoods across from Airdrie Railway station at 8.30am),
Wednesday walk
14 May
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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 (30 April) 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: North Calder Heritage Trail – Drumgelloch to Coatdyke
✔ Time & Travel: We start the walk from Fairlie Train Station, . We catch the 9.04 a.m. ‘Dalmuir’ train from Whifflet Train Station to Central Station (Platform 1) arriving 9.33 a.m. and transfer onto the 9.45 a.m. ‘Largs’ train (Platform 12) to Fairlie Train Station arriving 10.43 a.m.
Remember to book a return train ticket from Whifflet to Largs in advance of the date / time of travel. As we only have 12 minutes to walk from Platform 1 to Platform 12 there will not be enough time to stand in a queue at a ticket station at Central Station to purchase a return ticket from Whifflet/Glasgow to Largs.
Without a pre-paid ticket, you will not be allowed through the ticket gate at Platform 12. The walk from Platform 1 to Platform 12 will only take a few minutes. On the return journey, we catch the train from Largs Train Station to Glasgow Central. There are various bus and train routes which can be taken back to Coatbridge.
✔ Finish time: 3.5 to 4 hours (approx.)
✔ Recce: This is 7 Mile walk from Fairlie Train station to Largs walking on a mixture of primarily woodland paths, a short section of hillside road and coastal pavements. The walk steadily climbs from the train station through woodland to the top of Kelburn Estate with various stunning views of Millport & Largs.
We will then steadily make our way down the glen taking care of some steep steps on the way and emerge at The Beech Plateau within Kelburne Estate for lunch. From there we proceed along the woodland path passing Kelburn Castle & the Visitor Centre to The Pencil on the shoreline and along the seafront to Largs.
✔ Footwear: Walking shoes / boots (if wet/muddy) and poles recommended.
✔ Comfort Stops: There are no comfort stops available on this walk until the end point.
✔ Pre-walk & Walk comfort stops: Glasgow Central, on the trains & Kelburn Visitor Centre.
✔ Post-walk social stop: Drouthy Neebors Lounge Bar (adjacent to Largs Train Station). The Drouthy Neebors Pub Restaurant in Largs
Ten Pin Bowling
02 May
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✔ Date: Friday, 02 May
✔ Location: Hollywood Bowl at the Showcase Leisure Park
✔ Time: Arrive at 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start
✔ Price: £13.50 for two games and one drink
✔ Note: All monies have to be collected BEFORE the event. Please either bring extra money out on walks or if transfer is easier, please contact Jackie and she will give bank details.
For those who already put their names down on the last walk, can everyone please email Jackie Wilson at jacquelinewilson117@gmail.com to confirm whether or not they still wish to attend on the above date.

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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.
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
