Result of Draughts Competition
Following on from the fun games night at the Miners Institute some time ago, a draughts competition was suggested. This has taken place over the last six months or so and many thanks to the brave competitors who were up for a bit of fun or a serious match depending on your outlook. Most of the matches took place in the Kirky Puffer after Jim’s very successful Thursday walks. Spectator numbers varied and to pass the time, dominos and card games were also provided. Dominos were a firm favourite and a relaxing time was had by all with lunch and chat as optional extras. The games culminated in the final on 13th February between Izzy and William. The game was tense and very close but Izzy was the eventual winner. She received a bottle of excellent wine as her prize as did William.
It was a logistical nightmare to arrange due to busy schedules. However, it was worth it and we can honestly say that of all the Scottish Ramblers groups, Kirkintilloch has the national champion and runner up. That is unless other clubs can say otherwise.
Next year the Commonwealth Games perhaps.
Christine
(Social Convenor)
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Neil's email 16 February 2025
Hi Folks,
Gillian Lang was joined by 21 members on her first walk as leader as she successfully negotiated the historical trail over Barr Hill and Croy Hill from the Romans who built the Antonine wall to the Victorians who built the Forth and Clyde Canal, ably assisted by Bob Cole.The walk was thankfully in the dry although it was a tad chilly. It was unusual to find picnic tables and benches for lunch as well as other facilities which were much appreciated. At the end, everybody thanked Gillian for a great walk before departing or going for coffee and cakes in the Boathouse
Saturday 22nd February
Overview
Christine Cameron will be leading circular “C+” walk along the canal from Port Dundas to Stockingfield Junction to explore the Claypits Country Park, Stockingfield Bridge and the Beithir along the way.
Details
Full details can be found by using this link: -
https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/group-walks/port-dundas-stockingfield
Overview
Neil Kitchener will be leading a circular “B” walk along the canal from Port Dundas to Stockingfield Junction to explore the Claypits Country Park, Stockingfield Bridge and the Beithir along the way. Then continuing past Maryhill locks, along the River Kelvin and back to the canal and home.
Details
Full details can be found by using this link: -
https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/group-walks/port-dundas-maryhill
Future Events
The programme for the following weeks, which can also be viewed on the website or The Ramblers App, is as follows:-
Feb 26 S Christine Cameron – Lunch at Scholars Restaurant
Mar 1 B Jim Dougal – Overtoun Crags and Doughnut Hill
Mar 8 B Robert Bain – Seamab Hill and Glen Quey
Mar 15 B Stuart Ferguson – Allander Water and River Kelvin
Mar 22 C Jenny Burgon – Auchinloch to Garthamloch
Mar 22 B Stuart Ferguson – Pentland Reservoirs
Cheers
Neil Kitchener
07802 320958
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Neil's email dated 09/02/2025
Hi Folks,
11 walkers joined Carol to walk the Reindeer route around the centre of Glasgow, including one couple who travelled from Perth and a gentleman from Kirkintilloch hoping to join us soon. The day was dry but very cold. We had lunch at the Bus Station where everyone received a chocolate reindeer from Carol, a slice of cake from Mandy and sweets from Sheila. It was great to hear people talking about the original names and use of many of the amazing buildings along the route. At the end of the walk, they enjoyed looking at the Reindeer tracked by several of the group on their phones and agreed it had been a great day.
Robert led 16 members around the country park at Chatelherault and although it was a wee bit chilly in the wind it stayed dry and the paths were not too muddy. Although there were a number of fallen trees impeding progress along the route, we managed to negotiate.them all, either over, under or around depending on the individual. The whole party managed to get seats for tea break at the Dukes Monument, as if it had been made specially for us. Coffee and cakes were enjoyed in the visitor centre at the end.
Saturday 15th February
Overview
Gillian Lang will be leading her first walk up Barr Hill and Croy Hill, ably assisted by Bob Cole. It is circular “B” walk which also follows the River Kelvin and the Forth and Clyde canal at times on a mixture of established paths, tracks and towpaths
Details
Full details can be found by using this link: -
Barr Hill/Croy Hill Circular - Ramblers
Future Events
The programme for the following weeks, which can also be viewed on the website or The Ramblers App, is as follows:-
Feb 22 C+ Christine Cameron – Port Dundas to Stockingfield
Feb 22 B Neil Kitchener – Port Dundas to Maryhill
Feb 26 S Christine Cameron – Lunch at Scholars Restaurant
Mar 1 B Jim Dougal – Overtoun Crags and Doughnut Hill
Mar 8 B Robert Bain – Seamab Hill and Glen Quey
Mar 15 B Stuart Ferguson – Allander Water and River Kelvin
Cheers
Neil Kitchener
07802 320958
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Neil's email dated 04 February 2025
Hi Everybody,
The Strathkelvin Ramblers website is back in action. You can access our new website using this link strathkelvinramblers.org.uk.
You can also access it by searching Strathkelvin Ramblers in Google or whatever search engine you use. If you do this, you may find that your search shows up our web page on the Ramblers Association National website which does not contain much information about our club. If this happens. simply click on the link on that page which should take you to our own website.
Another possibility is that your search shows up an old page from our previous website. If this happens, our current website will display an error message '404 page not found'. Click on 'Home' in the Menu Bar and the Home Page of the new website should display.
Hopefully these minor inconveniences will disappear once the internet search engines update and our new website will appear at the top of your search results.
The home page gives details of the forthcoming walks and if you click on a particular walk the map display is different from that on the Ramblers website. To see the map for the meeting and starting points, click on (Streetmap/OSMap) in the relevant section and a large scale map should open. You can also click on (Directions) which will give you a route map if you insert your starting point.
If, as a walk leader, you wish to enter details for a proposed walk then you have to login to Walks Manager on the Ramblers National web site as before.
Our site is still under development, so if you notice any errors or have any suggestions for improvements, please email Robert at Webmaster:
Finally, for the sake of your sanity I suggest you set a time limit on perusing minutes of committee meetings in the members section.
Hopefully you will find the new website useful and informative.
Cheers
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Neil's email dated 03 February 2025
Hi Folks,
David’s gang of 16 enjoyed their walk through Lennox Forest, managing to negotiate the many fallen trees blocking the tracks and admiring the banks of snowdrops around the castle. Although the weather was dry, some of the paths were quite muddy
Saturday 8th February
Following Pauline’s unfortunate accident last week, her walk from Culross has been postponed till later in the season and Robert Bain has offered to lead his walk around Chatelherault which was cancelled in December. We all wish Pauline a speedy recovery.
Overview
Robert Bain will be leading a circular “B” walk in Chatelherault Country park around the River Avon on good quality paths with a short section of road walking involved.
Details
Full details can be found by using this link: -
https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/group-walks/chatelherault-country-park-2
Overview
Carol Jakar will be leading her “C+” Reindeer walk around the streets of Glasgow from Georges Square to view historical artifacts and some of the attractive murals adorning what were once blank walls. If you track the route on your phone or GPS you will find that it traces the outline of a reindeer.
Details
Full details can be found by using this link: -
https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/group-walks/reindeer-walk-0
Future Events
The programme for the following weeks, which can also be viewed on the website or The Ramblers App, is as follows:-
Feb 15 B Bob Cole – Barr Hill/Croy Hill circular
Feb 22 C+ Christine Cameron – Port Dundas to Stockingfield
Feb 22 B Neil Kitchener – Port Dundas to Maryhill
Feb 26 S Christine Cameron – Lunch at Scholars Restaurant
Mar 1 B Jim Dougal – Overtoun Crags and Doughnut Hill
Mar 8 B Robert Bain – Seamab Hill and Glen Quey
Cheers
Neil Kitchener
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Test Blog 3
A great turn out again this week, Wilma was gloating that she had 17 walkers whereas Fred only had 16. We were also joined by 5 visitors who thoroughly enjoyed themselves and even the old hands were surprised to learn new routes out of Strathblane.
We gave a hearty vote of thanks to Betty for providing maltesers and beautiful tablet for the breaks.
The weather was perfect and the mud on our boots from the early part of the route had dried off by the time we returned to The Kirkhouse for tea and cake.
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Test blog 2 - Pentland Hills
Disclaimer - This Blog Post was created by ChatGPT. No artificial intelligence was harmed in the course of the walk.
A Journey Through the Pentland Hills: Reflections on Harbour Hill, Capelaw, and Allermuir
There are moments in life when we step away from the hustle and bustle, and we reconnect not just with nature, but with ourselves and one another. Last weekend, a group of 14 walkers, led by the ever-capable Betty, embarked on a journey across the Pentland Hills—a trek that would take us over Harbour Hill, Capelaw, and Allermuir. The weather, as is often the case in Scotland, had its own agenda. A mist hung low in the air, cloaking the landscape in a veil of mystery. Yet, in that mist, there was something powerful—an atmosphere that, while obscuring the far-off vistas, left us with a deeper appreciation for the moments at hand.
Into the mist
The beauty of walking these hills isn't just in the clear views on a sunny day, though those are fine. It's in the opportunity to slow down, breathe deeply, and notice what’s right in front of you. On this day, we were greeted by the gentle quiet of the Pentlands, interrupted only by the sound of footsteps on soft earth and the occasional rustle of wind through the heather. The mist, thick at times, made each step an act of faith. We couldn't always see what lay ahead, but we trusted the path, and we trusted our guide.
As we ascended Harbour Hill, the landscape began to reveal itself in pockets, like a glimpse of a forgotten memory. The peaks of Capelaw and Allermuir beckoned in the distance, shrouded in cloud but ever-present. Though the panoramic views we might have imagined were hidden, the atmosphere felt almost otherworldly, as if nature itself was drawing us closer, inviting us to reflect on the journey rather than the destination.
Capelaw Summit
Walking in the company of others—each person bringing their own story, their own reasons for being there—reminded me that we are never truly alone. We shared laughter, conversation, and quiet contemplation as we made our way along the trail. Betty, with her steady leadership, kept us on course, guiding us not only through the hills but through the day’s experience, making sure each of us was present, connected, and safe.
There’s something to be said about venturing into the unknown, about trusting the path ahead, even when it isn’t clear. That’s what this walk was for me, and I think for many of us—a reminder that life, like the misty hills, is full of unexpected twists. We don’t always know what’s on the horizon, but we can find beauty in the moment we’re in.
By the time we descended from Allermuir, the mist had begun to lift slightly, revealing hints of the city below. It was as if the day had granted us just enough clarity to appreciate both the journey we’d taken and the destination we’d reached. And as we stood there, tired but content, I couldn’t help but feel grateful—not just for the landscape, but for the people, the shared experience, and the reminder that in life, even when things aren’t clear, we can find our way.
What you could have seen
We may not have had the sweeping views we anticipated, but we had something better—a day filled with camaraderie, quiet reflection, and the ever-present beauty of the Pentlands. It was, indeed, a great day.
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Test Blog - A walk around Loch Vennacher
Disclaimer - This Blog Post was created by ChatGPT. No artificial intelligence was harmed in the course of the walk.
A Ramble Around Loch Venacher with the Strathkelvin Ramblers
There's something uniquely refreshing about a walk in the Scottish countryside, even when the weather isn't on your side. This was certainly true for our recent Strathkelvin Ramblers' outing around Loch Venacher. Despite the overcast skies, the spirits of our group of 11 were far from dampened.
Led by the ever-enthusiastic Fred and Wilma, the walk promised not just scenic beauty but also a sense of camaraderie that comes from exploring nature with like-minded people. As we set off, the mood was buoyant—perhaps influenced by the promise of Fred’s homemade tablet and a curious mention of goat milk ice cream.
The Walk: Overcast Skies, but Bright Spirits
Loch Venacher, nestled in the heart of the Trossachs, is a place of serene beauty. The loch’s still waters mirror the surrounding hills and forests, creating a landscape that feels both grand and intimate. Though the weather was overcast, with clouds hanging low over the water, the atmosphere was cozy rather than dreary. The soft light made the greens of the trees and the heathers pop, painting the landscape with a gentle vibrancy that only Scotland can deliver.
As we walked, Fred and Wilma kept the pace just right—not too fast for those wanting to take in the views, but steady enough to ensure we’d make the full loop around the loch. Conversations flowed as easily as the path underfoot, with topics ranging from local wildlife to upcoming walks, and, of course, speculation about Stuart’s famed tablet.
A Culinary Surprise: Fred’s Homemade Tablet and Goat Milk Ice Cream
One of the highlights of any walk with the Strathkelvin Ramblers is the break, when flasks of tea and coffee are produced, and snacks are shared. This time, however, we were treated to something special.
At a picturesque spot overlooking the loch, Fred unveiled a tin of his homemade tablet. For those unfamiliar, tablet is a traditional Scottish confection—a kind of fudge, but with a firmer, crumblier texture. Stuart’s version was a hit, with its perfect balance of sweetness and the satisfying graininess that comes from just the right amount of sugar.
But the surprises didn’t stop there. Wilma, with a mischievous smile, handed out small tubs of goat milk ice cream. Despite the cool weather, the ice cream was a delightful treat. Creamy, with a slight tang from the goat milk, it paired wonderfully with the rich sweetness of the tablet. It was an unexpected and delicious combination, adding a gourmet touch to our rustic outing.
Wrapping Up
As we completed our circuit of Loch Venacher, the group was in high spirits. The overcast sky had done nothing to diminish the beauty of the landscape, and the treats provided by Fred and Wilma had certainly added an extra layer of enjoyment to the day.
Walking back to our starting point, there was a sense of contentment that comes from a day well spent in nature, in good company, with good food. It’s days like these that remind us why we love being part of the Strathkelvin Ramblers—a group not just for walking, but for sharing the simple pleasures of life.
We look forward to the next outing, come rain or shine, and to more of Fred's legendary tablet!
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