Nevis Hillwalking Club is a small, friendly, Lochaber-based club that goes out walking every weekend of the year. Its members are keen hillwalkers, mainly Lochaber residents, who share a passion for the local countryside, the Scottish hills, and mountains everywhere. They come from a variety of backgrounds. Some have been hillwalkers since childhood; some joined the club as novices.
Walks are normally on alternate Saturdays and Sundays. Bad weather is not a deterrent, although the planned walk is sometimes modified, or an alternative proposed, to suit the conditions on theday.
Any member may propose walks for the quarterly programme of outings achievable in a day trip from Fort William. Members are free to attempt less or more than the programmed walk, but normally everyone finishes at a convenient pub to socialise at the end of the day.
In summer, the Club tackles more distant hills with weekend trips to places such as Skye, Rum, Torridon and Knoydart. Social events, such as barbecues, and training events are organised from time to time.
We offer a warm welcome to new members and visitors.
Recent changes and additions -
Walks Programme for January to April 2012
The Club Yearbook which used to be distributed annually in paper form to all members has now been discontinued and replaced by an online document - The Club Handbook. This contains a foreword, the club code of practice, the country code, the constitution of the club and the rules of the club. Click here to download this document. Please contact the secretary if you wish a paper copy.
The handbook is in PDF format (the same as the MWIS weather forcasts, for example). Most browsers will open
this automatically using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software (and you can then view or print the
programme)
If you don't already have the Adobe Acrobat Reader software (unlikely), you can download
this from the Adobe web site -
The Nevis Hillwalking Club is affiliated to the Mountaineering Council of Scotland.
Please refer to the quarterly programme for the day (Saturday or Sunday) we are walking each weekend. If you do not fancy the programmed walk for any reason, contact the Walks Coordinator to find out whether or not alternatives have been proposed, or to suggest one yourself. Alternative walks are often arranged at the meeting point. The programmed walks may be changed if weather conditions are unsuitable.
The main meeting place is the car park of the Woollen Mill (Ben Nevis Highland Centre) at the junction of the Glen Nevis road with the main A82 road in Fort William. Please be there in time for an 8.00am departure. You may also join the group at the pick-up point for the area we are going to :
For walks at or north of Spean Bridge: 8.20am at Spean Bridge Woollen Mill car park
For walks at or south of Glencoe: 8.30am at Glencoe village car park (behind the Mountain Rescue base)
For Ardgour or further west: 8.25am at the Corran Ferry slip. Click here to see the ferry timetable .
For Kinlochleven or the Oban road (A828): 8.25am at St Brides School, North Ballachulish
If in doubt, or if you wish to join the group elsewhere, please contact the Walks Coordinator beforehand.
For each outing, we have a "walk coordinator". See the Walks Programme, to find out who this is.
The co-ordinator is not a leader, and nor should members expect to be led on a club walk.
The onus is on the members to provide relevant information to the co-ordinator. This will aid the organization and safety on the hill. There is a need by members, for good communication (before the walk, on and off the hill and at the end of the walk), responsibility, duty of care and awareness of others. There is a safety issue for those who walk out-with the group and, while members are, of course, free to have their own particular goals, it is very advisable for members to ensure that other members of the group are aware of their intentions.
Members are encouraged to contact the co-ordinator before the day of the walk, particularly when travelling separately or meeting at a different point, and to discuss possible alternatives. The co-ordinator acts as a central contact point to facilitate this discussion. Individual goals and plans should then be discussed and confirmed again at the start of the walk and communicated to the co-ordinator. This will enable like minded individuals to form groups so that members are not left to walk on their own.
Members are reminded that it is club policy for less experienced members to be accompanied by a more experienced member.
Members should ensure that the co-ordinator knows that they are safely off the hill.
We are grateful to members with cars who provide transport for club activities. Those who take a lift should be prepared to contribute to the driver's mileage costs. It you need transport, contact a Walks Coordinator.
We always give a warm welcome to visitors and people who are thinking of joining the club. If you are considering joining, or are a visitor to Lochaber, and would like to come along with us on one of our walks, please contact one of our Contacts.
It would save time if visitors could download a copy of the Guest Registration Form and bring it with them already filled in. Persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied - see the Parental Consent Form , which must be completed both by the juvenile and the patent/legal guardian, for more details on this.
Anyone is welcome to join the club - you don't have to be proposed or serve a probationary period or the like. However, it is probably a good idea to come along for a few outings as a visitor to find out how you get on. You need to download our membership form which has instructions printed on it.
Mobile phones can make a significant contribution to efficient organisation and safety on club walks. We encourage members to use their phones for this purpose. Please pass on your number to the other club members and remember to switch your phone on during the outing.
Dogs are not allowed on club walks.
Please ensure that you are fit enough on the day to participate in the planned activity, under the prevailing weather conditions.
The short lists below contain essential items for a day in the hills. A list of optional items would be endless. Whatever extra weight you wish to carry, remember it will demand of you more effort and energy every step of the way.
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Clothing |
Equipment |
|
Waterproof and windproof jacket with hood |
Rucksack |
|
Waterproof and windproof over-trousers |
Food and drink |
|
Warm hat and gloves |
Torch and spare batteries |
|
Trousers (avoid jeans) |
Whistle |
|
Spare sweater or fleece |
Survival bag |
|
Undergarments in thin layers, preferably of wicking materials |
Compass and map |
|
Proper hillwalking boots |
First aid kit |
|
|
Crampons and ice axe (for high routes in winter) |
Do not worry if you do not know how to use a map and compass. You will have ample opportunity to learn in the company of experienced people.
These days a wide range of clothing and equipment is available at a variety of prices. An even wider variety of opinions and advice is available from club members to help you make up your mind.
The following outdoor shops offer a 10% discount to club members.
|
28 High Street, Fort William |
|
|
Belford Road, Fort William |
|
|
Leven Road, Kinlochleven |
|
|
34 Church Street,Inverness |
|
|
Airds Crossing, Fort William |
|
|
99 High Street, Fort William |
This discount may not always extend to books or sale items.
Members have obtained disounts in outdoor shops as far afield as Glasgow and Perth. So ... it is always worth asking.
For queries about membership or just coming on our next walk, send an email to nevishillwalkers@f2s.com
Please do not ask us to take you up Ben Nevis or to give you advice on Scottish hillwalking. There are lots of excellent walking routes at all sorts of grades on the Walk Highlands web-site. You can also find here a list of local Mountain Guides and Guided Walking businesses who would be delighted to help you.
The Club Contacts are Jean (01397 701957) and Sarah (01855 821277). Contact details for all club members, including the coordinators, should have been sent to all members by email or by paper mail. If you dont have a copy, please ask the secretary. For information about the next club walk, or to propose an alternative walk, contact the Walk Coordinator.
