Hello and thank you for your interest in the An Óige Hillwalkers club.

An Óige runs three walks every Sunday: Easy hike, Moderate hike, and, via our club The Hillwalkers, a Hard hike. Private buses are used for each walk. Once back in Dublin, we scatter for food and then go to the Palace Bar on Fleet Street (round the corner from the former Bewleys cafe on Westmoreland Street).

The Hillwalkers (Hard hike) programme caters for experienced walkers. The average walking distance is 16km but can vary from 15-20km and the ascent can vary from 500 to 1000 metres depending on the type and awkwardness of the terrain. The average walking time is 6 hours (including lunch and other stoppages).

The Moderate Hike programme is designed for people of average abilities. These walks are usually of a slower pace to those designed for hard walkers above. The average walking distance is 12-14km on most Sundays and the ascent can vary from 400-600metres.The average walking time is 5 hours (including lunch and other stoppages).

Walks times and ascents are usually tailored to take account of weather conditions, location and time of year. Please bear in mind that hillwalking is a strenuous activity requiring the participant to be in good health and reasonably fit.


What grade is right for you?
What we generally say to new members is if you are new to walking, do the Easy or Moderate. If you have walked before but have not been out for some months we recommend trying out the moderate initially. It is much better for yourself (and the other people on the walk) if you find your yourself under-exercised on the moderate, than if you do the hard and find yourself unable to keep up the pace, thereby exposing yourself to hardship and the rest of the group to unnecessary delays (in possibly bad conditions).

For the Moderate and Easy hike, preference is given to members of An Óige (ph 830 4555) - this membership is well worth getting as it gives you 10% off in most outdoor equipment stores, plus a discount in hostels. Just ask for your discount when purchasing - though I find it does not apply during store sales.

If you are an experienced hillwalker with the right gear for Winter, then you may like to try out the Hillwalkers (Hard hike). Separate membership is required. The application form is on our web-site (see below). This covers insurance, Mountaineering Council of Ireland membership, and the posting of the MCI Mountain Log journal and the Hillwalker's newsletter. Preference is given to members for seating on the bus.

All this is general advice and it is up to you to know your own abilities.


Basic gear
Multiple layers of clothes inc. good rain gear for upper body and legs, hat, gloves, proper boots, food, water, hot drink, torch, NO jeans (as these are useless in wet boggy conditions).


Standard meeting details for Moderate & Easy hike
Meet: Sundays at Eden Quay, O' Connell Bridge End, outside the Comedy Club before 10.45 a.m (though bus normally fills up before 10.30 so get there between 10-10.30)
Transport: Special Bus. Cost 12 Euro.


Standard meeting details for Hillwalkers hike
Meet: Sundays outside the old Irish Press offices by the Liffey on Burgh Quay (between Hawkin Street and Tara Street, near the Spar shop). You should turn up before 10 AM.
Transport: Special Bus. Cost 12 Euro.


Main An Óige web-site
http://www.anoige.ie/activities/hillwalking

An Óige head office 01-830 4555


An Óige Hillwalkers web-site (Hard hike)
http://www.hillwalkersclub.com


Look forward to seeing you on the hills,

Editor
An Óige Hillwalkers Club