Join us for our first weekend away this year to Braemar in the Cairngorms!
Tickets are currently available. In the event tickets sell out, you can sign up for our waitlist here.
A quick outline:
The trip runs from 11:30am, Friday 17th October - 8:45pm, Sunday 19th October. It will include 2-3 hikes of moderate/challenging difficulty, one each day. We'll be sleeping in a village hall overnight. It will be a smaller group, 30 people total including walk leaders. Your ticket covers attendance and accommodation, but you will need to pay for your own food and transport.
The details:
Transport - We'll be catching two buses, from Buchanan Bus Station at 12:00pm to Dundee, then switching to reach Braemar at 4pm. On Sunday we'll reverse this route, leaving Braemar at 4:14pm and arriving back in Glasgow by 8:45pm. These are the most viable transport options; please ensure you are able to make these buses before signing up (particularly leaving on Friday) as there is no later option without travelling via Aberdeen.
Hiking - The plan is to leave Friday evening for informal walks/exploring, and then run hikes on both Saturday and Sunday. There are a range of routes available with different difficulties. We plan to make a final choice of walks on Friday evening as a group, as they are of course dependent on weather, safety, group numbers and interest. That said, we intend to do challenging routes. These may include long distances (>30/35km) and high elevations (>1,00-1,400m), walking for most of a day, crossing difficult terrain, or walking in potentially bad weather. Potential routes include - Lochnagar from Auchallater, Tolmount and Tom Buidhe, and Mar Lodge/Glen Quoich.
Safety is always our top priority: as walk leaders we will always alter or entirely stop walks if we feel there is a risk to the group. We will also never ask anyone to do more than they are comfortable with. That said, please consider your level of fitness and experience carefully before signing up, and feel free to message us with any questions or more details on potential routes. Ideally, previous experience hiking munros or other more challenging walks is expected.
Sleeping and kit requirements - In addition to our usual kit requirements: hiking boots, waterproofs, warm layers etc., you need to bring your own sleeping set up. As we're sleeping in a village hall there is no furniture, so you will need a sleeping mat and sleeping bag/blanket or something similar that you will be comfortable with. You should be able to comfortably carry all of your kit, as we will be walking on Sunday after locking up the hall, so suitcases are not recommended.
Food- Finally, there is a grocery shop in Braemar as well as various cafes and restaurants, we do recommend you bring what food you can for snacks/non-perishables, just to ensure you don't go hungry if the shop don't have what you need for the day.
Further details will be released in an info doc to everyone attending, but please feel free to email or message us with any questions or concerns and we will be happy to chat to you.
Before signing up:
Check: Do I have the right kit for hiking, and for sleeping on the floor? Will I be able to make the buses? Do I feel capable of walking multiple days in a row?
If you're unsure and would like to chat to us for clarification, advice etc. please do not hesitate to reach out on Whatsapp (through the community chat), Instagram or email. We are always happy to chat.
Happy hiking! -GUWS team 🪿
You must be a current GUWS member to attend this event. Tickets will be released for £32 at 6pm, Monday 6th October - there will be a waitlist available in the event all spaces fill up. For more information please see our Shoe Guide and Safety Policy. All attendees must follow the GUSRC Events Code of Conduct: https://www.glasgowunisrc.org/policies/events-conduct/