The Ochils Mountaineering Club

Has anyone had any thoughts about where we might re-site our Wednesday evening training to? I know that it is early yet but come next month we'll be back inside and the Carnegie is shutting in December.
The obvious thoughts would be Ratho for the East and Ibrox for the West but that is pricey and it is a shame that we would not all be together at least some times.

Is there any value in speaking to the people at the Lowport Centre to see if we can book the wall on a regular basis? I know that it is small and the hall is hot but if we had it to ourselves, it would be fine.

The other reasonably priced option might be the Heriot Watt wall. I've never been there so have no info (although the is a post about it on Scottish Climbs).

The Club could approach Ratho about a discount but I'd be surprised if that was available and it can be soooo busy in there that you get little focused training done.

Just a few thought and to see what others think.....

Bruce

PS Please forgive any typos....I've a sair haun.

B

Lowport Centre would be the most central for most folk. It is a small wall but packs a lot in. The climbing wall there opens for the winter season on Tuesday 7th October. It's open for climbing on Tuesday & Thursday evenings from 18:30 to 21:45. The club has in the past booked the occasional Wednesday for exclusive use but would have to rely on sufficient numbers to make this worthwhile.Also depends on how many evenings in a week you wish to climb.

Another wall is the one in Callander. Not so accessible to most folk but fairly cheap and provides a worthwhile workout. Even cheaper if you take out a membership and pay it monthly. Jeanie says 3 visits a month pays off.

Is there going to be a wall in Stirling?

I don't think either Low Port or Callander walls have enough there to justify going every week - Low Port is fine once a month or so, and Callander maybe once or twice a year. I'm not exactly a regular at the indoor climbing, though - maybe others disagree?

Is the Carnegie wall closing for good? If so, that's a shame.

The whole Carnegie Centre is closing for a contentious £17m refit. It will be closed for at least 18 months.
I agree that the Lowport is not ideal, but it does have good features and with a bit of imagination, it could be made to work. Perhaps we could look at a Club booking there one (twice?) a month and folks could train elsewhere in between?

Bruce

Agreed that it is not ideal, but still a good option. Ratho is dear for a wee midweek session as is Alien Rock. I think the Heriot Watt wall has had some kind of refit so maybe worth looking at, the Jacobites also use it on a Tuesday I think.
We need to do something to get out of the house thru the winter! God forbid that we end up weak next spring!? Kate and I move into our new house at the start of December so I should have the garage converted into my own training facility in no time!
jd

We'll all just go round to John and Kate's then
Seriously, Lowport would be worth investigating. Fortnightly?

Ian, I think Lowport could maintain interest on a fortnightly basis. Maybe we should have a vote? As an aside, is there any value in the Club writing to the Carnegie to ensure that the bouldering wall remains part of their long term plan? I would hate to see it go to be replaced by some well-meant but useless wee top rope wall or something. I might even be able to round up a quote from Dave Mac if needed...he quite rated it as a facility.

Bruce

Found this on t'internet.

http://www.stirli...v.uk/index/council/news.htm?id=151568

Seemingly there are plans for a climbing wall in Stirling at the new sports place down near Springkerse, 'due to open early 2009'.

Not sure if anyone has more details???

I for one am somewhat put off by distances involved in travelling to the other venues on a week night and would certainly attend more regularly (indeed might actually turn up ) if a place was open in Stirling.

Hi

As the main local climbing club, maybe we should be writing to Stirling council expressing our interest in the new facilities and offering any input they might require... I am thinking that if its any good, club members will make up a large-ish percentage of its evening users...

This should probably come from us as a club, on some headed paper or somet... Maybe this can be discussed at the business meeting tomorrow eve?

I'd go for the the Lowport - tis on my way home! The fact that there are good pubs nearby and a mechanism to get to/from using public transport is rather tempting - also means more beer may be consumed afterwards!

Nigel