Ramblers raise a glass to distillery donation

Monklands Ramblers received a generous donation towards their bus hire costs from an Airdrie distillery.

And it was “Slanj” to Inver House distillers – whose head office is based at the town’s Roughrigg Road – after they served up a very welcome £500 to the group.

Eileen Rae from the company told the Advertiser: “Monklands Ramblers is an association we are happy to support.

“It fits perfectly with our social sustainability commitments both in relation to community and the health and wellbeing of our staff. We are delighted to be involved with this local organisation.”

Member Alan Robertson, who works in the lab at Inver House distillery, led his first walk for the club at Hillend, near Edinburgh.

Monklands Ramblers, which was formed in 1985, had been running continuously until lockdown in March 2020.

Douglas Bryson, the club’s treasurer, told us: “We use a 50-seater coach as transport to all walks every fortnight.

“In a normal non-covid year we would have about 25 hires per year and we try to encourage participation by keeping fares as low as possible, which is greatly helped by sponsor support.

“That allows us to offer a ‘fit for a fiver’ introductory fare on someone’s first walk with the club.”

Average walks by the group are about 10 miles and vary from Munros to easier coastal strolls.

Since restarting last May, they have visited Arrochar, Abernethy, Aberfoyle, Blair Atholl, Bridge of Orchy, Comrie, Dunbar, Dunkeld, Falkland, Hillend, Melrose and Peebles.

All club officials are unpaid volunteers who offer a professional service to their many members.

The team of walk leaders devise the walks and prepare routes in advance using their skills in navigation and risk assessment.

They also take the time to prepare the morning and post-walk social stops and the more experienced group members train others in the skills of map reading, leadership and administration necessary to arrange a successful walk.

For more information on the Monklands rambling group, and their upcoming walks, visit http:// monklandsramblers.com/

Cheers Alan Robertson, walk leader (left) from Inver House Distillers in Airdrie presents the cheque to walks organiser Ken Paton (right) prior to the group’s trek near Edinburgh