How to Book a Ptarmigan Hillwalking and Mountaineering Club Bus or Ask About Membership

Updated

To book a seat on a Ptarmigan Hillwalking and Mountaineering Club bus, email Bookings. For general information, including membership questions, email Enquiries. You can start as a guest with no commitment before joining. The site does not publish these as clickable addresses, so you will need to send your message through the club's email contacts rather than a web form.

Booking a Place on a Club Bus

The club runs a monthly Sunday bus to the Highlands, and occasionally to the Borders or the Lake District. Booking is handled by email to the bus convener via the Bookings address.

What to include in your booking email:

  • Your name and contact details.
  • The meet or date you want to join.
  • A short note on your hillwalking experience and preferred pace or route type.
  • Any questions about equipment or the day's plan.

The bus convener records the day's routes and groups of at least two or three people, and can advise on routes and who to walk with. Expect to sort out the practical details by email before the trip.

Asking About Membership

Email Enquiries for general information about the club. The site describes the club as friendly and Edinburgh-based, with members of a wide range of ages, abilities and interests — from hill-running and serious climbing to low-level walking, geology, bird-watching and botany.

Key points for prospective members:

  • The club welcomes potential new members who have some experience of hill walking.
  • New members start as guests without any commitment.
  • As a Mountaineering Scotland affiliated club, members are entitled to discounts on formal summer and winter mountaineering courses at Glenmore Lodge near Aviemore.

What to Have Before a Typical Day Out

The club describes a typical six-hour day in the hills. Before joining an outing, you should have:

  • Basic first aid supplies, an emergency whistle, food and drink.
  • Clothing including full waterproofs.
  • An OS map of the area (or equivalent) and a compass — and know how to use them.
  • In winter, extra clothing, an ice axe and crampons are often essential for safety.

The club does not "lead" walks or provide formal tuition, but experienced members are happy to pass on advice. Members include several who have completed the Munros, Corbetts and even Grahams.

A Related Club Option

Ptarmigan has a friendly link with the separate Highways Hillwalking Club, also based in Edinburgh. Ptarmigan lists Highways trips (usually the second Sunday of the month), and Highways lists Ptarmigan's (usually the first Sunday). Members of one club are welcome on the other's trips — useful if the monthly dates or routes of one club do not suit you.