Intro to DryStone Walling - Kilsyth or Auchenfoyle, August

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I book a course?

  Please read the document "Walling Ways of Working" so you know our Safety, Clothing and Equipment requirements.

  Walling Ways of Working

  Then book using the booking process on this page.  If you wish to pay by Internet Banking please send us an email and we will send our Bank details and book you in after we receive payment.

  When the booking is complete, you will receive an email with links to PDF documents you should read before your course.

• How many places are on each course?

  Places on each course are limited to a maximum of 20 per course.

• What sort of Gift Voucher can I buy?

  You can buy a Gift Voucher for any amount - to redeem against a course. A Gift Voucher makes an excellent present idea for a birthday or other occasion.

  To buy a Gift Voucher, click on any course at the bottom of this page.  Then click on "Gift Vouchers" (below the blue/Book or yellow/Join Waitlist button).     Select or input your Voucher amount and enter the details.  Then select how you wish the Voucher to be delivered.

  	Deliver - by Email use this option to have a Gift Card emailed out to the recipient the recipient will be emailed a Gift Card after you complete the purchase you will be able to print/save a backup from the completion screen
  	Deliver - by PostCard use this option to be posted a physical Gift Certificate/Voucher (see the example in the picture). sent by Post - UK only - Royal Mail First Class. We usually post it out the next day - however, it may take up to three days around public holidays. It can be sent to you or sent directly to the recipient - you enter the postal address. it comes with a Compliments Slip and an inner envelope for the Voucher. you will be able to print/save a backup from the completion screen if you select the Postcard option, please enter a value of  £95 or a multiple of £95.
  	Deliver - by PDF use this option to print/download (download as PDF) an email/Gift Card that you can give to the recipient you will be able to download/print the email/Gift Card (as a PDF) - after you complete the purchase. you will be able to print/save a backup from the completion screen

• Are there any conditions?

  You must be over the age of 16 to join the course. While there are no specific fitness requirements, some of the sites require a short hill walk, so you should be able to walk up a hill.  Please check the course details to see where the sites are located and any notes of access.

  If you have dodgy knees or hips or have balance issues please be aware there is some bending over and kneeling for a couple of hours on the first day of the course. It’s not compulsory to participate in this or any other part of the course - so you can just watch - if it’s too onerous.

• Can I move to another course?

  We will endeavour to change you to another course if you can't make your booked course and there are available places on the alternative course.

  If you want to move course, then please send us an email, as we can easily move you to a course if there are spaces.  It is easier for us to do this, rather than you cancelling your booking.

• Is there any extra reading to do?

  In applying for a place on the course you are required to confirm that you have read and understood the Walling Ways of Working Instructions which can be found in the How do I book a course section above.

  You should also read the Beginners Guide which will help you understand the process for building a dry stone wall. It is an introduction to the Dry Stone Walling terms and techniques that will be taught on the course.

  Beginners Guide

  
  

• Is there more information on how the course is organised?

  Yes!  Please download the Course Information document.  It contains detailed information.

  Course Information

  
  

• I'm from out of town - where can I stay?

  Where we can, we will give you links to accommodation where previous attendees have stayed. 

  We include this on the Walling Location/Directions sheet we send you after you book. Look for the Local Accommodations section on the sheet.

• Where is the Kilsyth Location?

  Location Information Kilsyth

  Please note: In 2023 we had to move this third Course to from Kilsyth to Auchenfoyle because we didn't have enough stone at Kilsyth. In 2024 we will be attempting to get the right sort of stone at Kilsyth before the course in August but we can't guarantee that this will happen. We will attempt to get Kilsyth organised but please be aware that it may be moved to Auchenfoyle at the last minute. 
  

  We have marked the course as "Kilsyth or Auchenfoyle" and will let you know before the course starts.

  Address: Blackmill, Allanfauld Road, G65 9DE

  This is our permanent training and test site with many styles of wall. Please see wsdswa.org.uk/training for detailed travel instructions and suggested Accommodation.

  Please use our detailed directions, as Walls don't usually conform to the postcode assigned to them!  Our directions have pictures and highlighted routes.  We also show the What 3 Words locations and latitude/longitude coordinates.  When using latitude/longitude, please remove any other address words sent to your map website/app - just use the 2 numbers.

  Enter these latitude/longitude coordinates into your phone map app to drop a pin at the exact location (just paste these 2 numbers with the comma into the address box) 55.982577, -4.055843

  Unfortunately, due to weather or stone supply or other circumstances beyond our control, a build site may not be available for a particular course, so in this rare occasion, we reserve the right to move the course to another site. 

• When can I book for next year's courses?

  We usually open booking of the Courses for the following year around the beginning of November (after the AGM).   We may release the course dates on the Programme page before this but booking will usually be opened at the beginning of November.

  If you want to be notified that the new Courses are available for booking, please add yourself to the waitlist of one of the current courses.  
  Note:  Everyone who was on at least one of the current year's waitlist (and couldn't get on a course) will stay on the waitlist for the notification of the new year's courses.

• Do you have a Waitlist?

  If you add yourself to our waitlist, please be aware that we will probably not contact you until the week before the course,  as that is when we tend to receive our cancellations.

  At the end of the year, if you haven’t managed to get on a course we will email you when the dates for the next year are confirmed. We will then clear the waitlist – ready for the next year.