Glasgow NHS Hill-Walking Club

The Club is open to any individual (NHS or otherwise), who is capable of getting themselves up and down the Scottish Munros and other hills under their own steam and in a reasonable time frame. Children under 16 must be under the supervision of a relative or guardian. Occasionally the more hard core members will undertake longer, more energetic ventures, but most walks are not too much of a route march!

We suggest newcomers come along on a couple of walks before joining the club. This gives them a chance to meet some of the regulars and gauge the types of walks we undertake.

The Club was set up in 1999 by John Abbott and David Wilson, two colleagues in the NHS in Glasgow, with a shared interest in hill walking in Scotland. Something of a shock to the system for John, who had never undertaken such a venture before! Lively banter and mild mannered, tongue in cheek humour are a regular feature. If that sounds too “Blokey”, don’t worry – that majority of members are female & they keep us in check Certainly plenty of chat goes on!

With support from the local NHS Staff Lottery, the club quickly took off & 10+ years later is still going strong, with an annual calendar of walks. While we have predominantly walked the Scottish “Munros” (the 284 individual 3,000 foot/914.4m plus hills in Scotland), we do venture further afield each year. This has included Snowdonia in Wales, the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales in England, the Itialian Appenines & Via Ferrata in the Dolomites near Riva del Garda. We intersperse the more physical hill walks with some that are more family orientated, as well as mountain biking, indoor climbing & the odd social event.

Walks are lead by experienced individuals, who have for the most part undertaken either the internationally recognised Mountain Leader or Walk Group Leader training.