Ochil Trail Association

All attendees are required to sign up so that we can ensure volunteer to dig leader ratios. Sign up here via this google form: https://forms.gle/tsF24irpkEFokEG26 Under 18s to be accompanied by a responsible adult. Summary: a pretty big hike trampling bracken and having a chat with metal detectorists (I'll explain more!) on the way up then working on drainage on "Colsnaur Lower" (250-350 meters of ascending so a good level of fitness required). Details: Meeting at the start of the day (briefing and handing out tools to carry up the hill): - 10am at the gate at the bottom of "Menstrie Zig Zags": https://www.trailforks.com/trails/jerah-track-menstrie-zig-zags/ - If you will be coming by car please park at the Dumyat Centre car park in Menstrie Walking up: - Route: Up the track then along 'Menstrie Heritage Trail Lower' (where we held a dig day previously), up 'Foxy', and on to 'Colsnaur Lower' - Vegetation management: We will trample bracken and cut back brambles (an ongoing task throughout the summer!) - Discussions with metal detectorists: We would like to hold a dig day on 'Foxy' in future but have been advised that it would be good practice to have this checked by metal detectorists before arranging, so a group of metal detectorists will be checking the area out and we'll stop for a blether with them on the way up to get their thoughts on future trail maintenance work, and more likely than not a bit of a history lesson (the trail is near an iron age hillfort!) The main activity: working on Colsnaur Lower: We will address drainage and manage vegetation on the lower part of the Colsnaur descent (a brilliant trail but it is often very wet and could do with some TLC!). Heading back down: We'll head down, carrying tools, giving the bracken another trample and chatting more with the metal detectorists if they are still around. Please bring: - appropriate clothing (bearing in mind we'll be climbing pretty high so the temperature almost certainly be lower where we're going, and being in the hills, the weather can be changeable) - plenty to eat and drink - any preventative medication that you have (even if you haven't needed it for a while, please do bring any inhalers etc as we'll be in a remote area doing physical work) Looking forward to seeing you there!