Newcomers Information
What is Hillwalkers Club?
The Hillwalkers 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. For information on which hike might be best suited to you please read on.
The 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 20-35 people but
the bus can accommodate up to 37.
How challenging is a typical Sunday hike?
The 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 have done some hillwalking in the past, could I try one of your hikes?
Guests may be allowed to hike with the Club if this is
their first time to go on a hike with the Hillwalkers
Club. As a Guest you are only allowed one tester hike
after which you must decide to apply for membership. If
you turn up on a second ‘tester’ hike you are not allowed
to go on the hike. You must provide your name, address and
contact details for our records, which will be taken on
the day of the hike. There is no need to book a place in
advance, just turn up on the relevant Sunday
morning. All guests must have suitable attire with
appropriate clothing of gloves, hat, coat, leggings, boots
along with food and water. Guests must have a record of
hiking similar to an average Sunday Hike. The norm for
this average is 15+ km, 500+ m ascent/descent and 6 hours
walking. If you do not reach this standard, we recommend
that you walk, first with the Moderate group in An Óige.
The hike leader for the day has the final decision on your
suitability to hike with the club. All intending
participants should be aware that hillwalking and
mountaineering are activities which have a possible danger
element to them and a have a risk of personal injury or
even death. By walking with the Club, you are aware of and
shall accept these risks. You are acknowledging that you
are participating on a voluntary basis and that you shall
be responsible for you own actions and involvement. Please
note that Guests do not enjoy personal accident insurance,
otherwise offered to members through Mountaineering
Ireland.
Can Guests go any hike or does it have to be an Introductory Hard Hike?
Yes, Guests can go on either an Introductory Hard Hike or
the normal scheduled Sunday Hike as their one tester
hike.The Hillwalkers Club offers a so-called Introductory
Hike, usually one Sunday per month. Guests are welcome to
use this hike as their one tester hike. An Óige members
are also allowed to go on these hikes provided they show
their up – to – date membership cards. Even though the
name of this hike is ‘Introductory Hike’, you should not
consider this to be an introduction to hiking, but rather
as an introduction to the Hillwalkers Club and its
hillwalking activities. The same criteria as in the
previous question applies in order to reach an acceptable
standard for hiking. 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?
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 €15 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). 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 Hillwalkers Club?
Please
Contact Membership Secretary Jim
Barry on 087 273 7338 or barryja@eircom.net
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.
We also have a Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/The-Hillwalkers-club-153861187966138/
We also have a Meetup page here: https://www.meetup.com/Hillwalkers-Club/
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