Newcomers Information
What is An Óige Hillwalkers Club?
As the name implies, the An Óige Hillwalkers Club is affiliated with the Irish Youth Hostel Association, An Óige. An Óige organises Easy and Moderate hikes. The hillwalking club was established in 1993 for those who were interested in longer and more challenging hikes in Wicklow and further afield. We refer to these hikes as Hard hikes. This website is dedicated to the hillwalking club i.e. to the Hard hikes. Further information on the Easy and Moderate hikes can be found on www.anoige.ie. For information on which hike might be best suited to you please read on.
The an Oige Hillwalkers Club have a hike programme for almost every Sunday of the year. Typically, the club also organizes three to four walking weekends per year to locations in Ireland, the UK or mainland Europe. In addition, there are a number of social activities which don’t involve hiking, such as meals out or the annual Christmas Party.
The club also organises a popular Map & Compass Course
which is open to members and non-members wanting to learn or improve
their navigation and map-reading skills.
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What’s the membership profile?
We have approx. 130 members from all walks of life, of
different ages and nationalities. Some members are with us since the
foundation of the club, others join for just one or two years. Some are
active walkers, out almost every Sunday, others walk with the club only
occasionally. Sunday walks typically attract between 15-20 people but
the bus can accommodate up to 30.
How challenging is a typical Sunday hike?
The An Óige Hillwalkers Club i.e. our Hard hikes
cater for experienced walkers. The average walking distance is 16km but
can vary from 15 to 20km and the ascent can vary from 500 to 1000
metres depending on the type and awkwardness of the terrain. The
average walking time is 5 to 6 hours (including lunch and other
stoppages).
How do I know if the hike programme is right for me?
What we generally say to new members is if you are new to hill
walking, try out the Easy or Moderate Hikes organised by An
Óige first. Call 01-830 4555 or visit www.anoige.ie
for further information on these hikes.
I am an experienced hiker. Could I try out one of your hikes?
An Óige Hillwalkers Club offers a so-called
Introductory Hard Hike, usually one Sunday per month. Non members are
welcome to join us for the Introductory Hard Hike, provided you enter
your name in our hike log, which is available on the bus to the start
of the hike. There is no need to book a place on this hike in advance,
just turn up on the relevant Sunday morning. You can come on up to two
more hikes without becoming a member of the club, but after that you
must become a member in order to be covered by insurance.
Even though the name of these hikes is ‘Introductory
Hard Hike’, they should not be thought of as an introduction
to hiking.
Can non members go any hike or does it have to be an Introductory Hard Hike?
Non members are welcome on any hike presuming that they are
active and experienced hikers and that they have not already been on
three hikes as a non member. That said the Introductory Hard Hike is
probably the best one to introduce yourself to the club because there
is more likely to be other new members out on that day and the leader
will be conscious of that (although will not necessarily lead an easier
walk as a result).
Where can I get information on the next Introductory Hard Hike and on the full upcoming hike schedule?
Full details on all upcoming hikes can be found here.
How do I get to the starting point of the hike?
An Óige Hillwalkers Club uses a minibus which
transports hikers from Dublin city centre to the start of the hike. At
the end of the hike, the bus brings everyone back to Dublin.
Occasionally, we stop en route to pick up or drop off hikers; this is
marked clearly in the hike programme. Unfortunately it is not
possible to meet us at the start of the hike. Apart from the
fact that we believe taking a bus is more environmentally friendly, the
majority of our hikes are linear and so finish completely away from
where the hike started. This is of course another advantage to taking a
bus (we are not confined to circular routes).
Is there a charge for the bus?
Currently, the bus fare is €12 return unless stated
otherwise in the programme. The money is collected by the hike leader
on the bus and we appreciate if hikers could have the exact amount
ready.
Where is the meeting point?
We meet on Burgh Quay in Dublin 2 (between Hawkins Street and
Tara Street, near the Spar shop). You should turn up at approx. 9.45 am
for a 10 o’clock departure. At busy times, tickets may be
given out by the hike leader to ensure that participants reserve a bus
place as they arrive.
What do I need to bring on a hike?
Please note that hike leaders have the right to turn away
anyone who is not properly equipped. It is the responsibility of each
individual to wear and carry the appropriate gear.
Rain gear: This
is an absolute essential. Being caught on the mountains in an
unexpected downpour without a waterproof jacket and over-trousers is
foolish as hypothermia is a serious threat.
Boots:
Boots must be sturdy, with proper ankle support and a non-slip rigid
sole such as Vibram. It is very easy to twist an ankle in uneven
terrain or on wet rock. If in doubt, get advice from other hikers or an
outdoor shop. Waterproofing is helpful too; boots don’t have
to be goretex-lined, diligent waxing will keep the wet bog away.
Clothes: Multiple
layers such as an undershirt, fleece and outer jacket work best
– as long as none of the layers are made from cotton! Cotton
retains moisture, making the wearer cold and uncomfortable; wet cotton
trousers could actually lead to hypothermia. It is good practice to
bring extra items of clothing, for example, spare socks, gloves etc.
Other Items:
• Bring plenty of hot and cold
liquids and a packed lunch; make sure you can carry back all your
empties including banana skins, tuna cans and used tea bags without
spoiling the contents of your rucksack!
• Gloves, glove liners, hat
& scarf are advisable, even on the cooler summer days.
• In summer, don’t
forget the shades and sun lotion / sun block.
• A (head) torch with spare bulb
and batteries is essential during the winter months.
• A small First Aid kit and a
survival bag are highly recommended.
• Map and/or compass are not
required but might be of interest to hikers who want to develop their
navigation skills.
• Walking sticks are not
essential but certainly help to take the weight off your knees during
long descents.
How do I join An Óige Hillwalkers Club?
You must be a member of An Oige to become a member of the
Hillwalkers Club. An Oige membership forms can be found on www.anoige.ie. You can
download the current membership form for the Hillwalkers Club here.
Fill in all required fields including current An Óige
membership details, sign the declaration and post the form together
with the membership fee (cheque or postal order) to the Membership
Secretary (address on the form).
How much does it cost?
The Hillwalker Club membership year runs from 1st October to
30th September. Membership currently costs €35. Membership of
An Oige currently costs €20.
What is included in the Hillwalkers Club membership fee?
The membership fee covers insurance, Mountaineering Council of
Ireland membership, the posting of the quarterly MCI Mountain Log
journal and the Hillwalker's newsletter (10 editions per year, by post
or email). The MCI membership card entitles you to a 10% discount in
most outdoor shops.
Where can I find out more about the Hillwalkers Club?
More information about the club can be found by phoning 086
3563843 or by emailing info@hillwalkersclub.com.
Who runs the Club?
The club is represented by an elected committee of approx.
8-10 members who meet once per month. You can find out who is serving
on the committee in which role or function in the monthly newsletter.
An Óige Hillwalkers Club holds its Annual General
Meeting usually in October. This is a good opportunity to find out more
about the club, meet the committee and hear about the concern of other
members.
Who leads the hikes?
The hikes are all led by experienced volunteer leaders. On the
odd occasion the hike leader may have to change the route from that
which was advertised or they may have to amend the route on the day for
a variety of reasons. To ensure your safety and that of others on the
hike it is very important that you co-operate with the hike leader at
all times. The leader will always lead the hike so that they can set
the pace. A back leader will also be appointed. It is important that
all hike participants stay between the hike leader and the back leader
at all times. If you need to break away from the group even for a short
while, for whatever reason, the hike leader needs to be informed
beforehand. Safety on the hills is our priority at all times.
Do I have to lead a hike?
We would encourage all members to develop their map and
compass skills and to eventually lead hikes for the club but this is
not a necessary condition of membership and indeed many people have
hiked with us for years and are not interested in this side of hiking.
We look forward
to seeing you on the hills