Kilmacthomas Walking Club, Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford was founded in November 2004. Jim Bowdren is the only founder member still active with the club.
The club prides itself on its friendliness and accommodates walkers at all levels. Our mantra is: “it’s not a competition” and we walk at a pace that suits the participants. Generally there is a flat or low walk and a hill/mountain or high walk every week. Walks are graded A, B and C and most last between 2 and 6 hours.
Upcoming walks are posted on this website.
We normally walk on Sunday mornings. Information on the time and the location of the meeting point for each individual walk is given in the week before the walk using the club’s WhatsApp group. Members may, subject to Covid restrictions, car pool from there to the walk location.
Since Irish weather is not dependable, walks may be cancelled or changed at the discretion of the leader. If a walk is cancelled, a WhatsApp group message will be sent to all members as early as possible on the morning of the walk.
We walk primarily in the Comeragh/Monavullagh Mountains most of which is a Special Area of Conservation(SAC). (For further details on SACs click here .) We also walk regularly in the Knockmealdowns, Galtees and elsewhere, as well as flat walks along river banks, beaches e.g. Tramore, the Suir, the Barrow etc.
It should be noted that dogs are not permitted on club walks. The club subscribes to Mountaineering Ireland’s policy on “Dogs on the Hills”, click here for a summary. In addition, some members may be fearful of dogs. In certain circumstances guide dogs may be permitted.
We have a few “away” weekends each year and celebrate Christmas and the Summer with nights out. In addition, most years the club plans a walking trip abroad. Previous trips have included: sections of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, Snowdonia, the Italian Alps and Nepal.
In October 2019, the club hosted the Mountaineering Ireland Autumn Gathering.