After a reasonably enthusiastic response. Tobermory YH is provisionally booked from 27th Dec until the morning of Sat 5th.
After a reasonably enthusiastic response. Tobermory YH is provisionally booked from 27th Dec until the morning of Sat 5th.
A long trip. Since you only have to take 3 days off to get the w/e in it's worth going for (well maybe?).
If too many people want to leave early I'll have to negotiate with the warden, or else we could move to the mainland for 3 days.
The hostel itself has 42 beds, we'll have it to ourselves and there are 8 rooms so we should be able to isolate families and couples who want to pay premium rates. I'm very willing to take refundable deposits of around £20 from anyone who thinks they're more than likely to attend. (Hopefully F&M will be over by then)
Be warned, to the best of my knowledge (based on last years timetable), you wont be able to leave the Island on the 31st or the 1st (fair enough).
January 25th-27th
This trip is organised by Chris Musson for his 30th Birthday
As some of you may know, I'll be becoming an Old Git on Christmas Eve this year. I think the only suitable way of celebrating? this is to have a weekend in Yorkshire. Obviously Christmas Eve is a bit of an inconnvenient time to have a birthday so I've decided to put it back a month to the 25th-27th January next year. This is a bit far off at the moment but Gus has found what looks like a good place so I've booked it already.
The location is The Golden Lion Hotel, Horton in Ribblesdale, near Settle, which is near Pen y Ghent and Ingleborough.
I've booked their 15-bed bunk room (£7/night), and they also have double rooms as well.
They have a web site: www.goldenlionhotel.co.uk, and the place looks pretty good. I like the bit about "Awards for the keeping of the beer include Camra Pub of the Season and Theakson Grand Master Trophy for winning the award of excellence on three occasions."
Chris
Burnham Deepdale, Norfolk, 1st -3rd March 2002
The first official trip kicks in earlier than usual to allow some regulars to go skiing and also because Easter comes at the end of March. We are staying at the Deepdale Granary Bunkhouse, which is situated in Burnham Deepdale, a village adjacent to Brancaster Staithe halfway on the A149 between Hunstanton and Wells-next-the-Sea on the North Norfolk Coast. The AA Phone Box in the village is a listed building! The Jolly Sailors and The White Horse will cater for our nocturnal needs.
The marshes along the coast contain a number of famous bird reserves linked together by the North Norfolk Coastal Footpath which passes our front door. Burnham Market 3 miles SE is one of Norfolk's finest villages and nearby Burnham Thorpe was the birthplace of Horatio Nelson.
The stately home and grounds at Holkham Hall are unfortunately closed at this time of year. This was in the newspapers recently when valuable jewllery went missing while guests were staying there, very much in the style of an Agatha Christie mystery. (It was the butler wot did it).
The footpath network inland is not as highly developed as elsewhere in the country and the walking will not be of a demanding nature. It is ideal cycling country with many country lanes and enough hilly bits however, to convince aching muscles that Norfolk is not totally flat.
The bunkhouse itself lies in the village a few hundred yards east of the natural harbour, almost opposite the church and between the Saltwater Gallery and Kushnz 'n' Kwiltz (sounds like one of Gustav's distant cousins). There are 18 beds in rooms of 1x2 beds (reserved for a family), 1 x 4 beds and 2 x 6 beds and the bunkhouse is fully equipped with all the usual facilities. We are having to pay southern prices of £9.50 per night. Ouch! If we manage to fill the place then SHOT funds will sub it
to a more reasonable level. Unlike the recent trip to Walker Barn, a £5 deposit to Gustav will definately reserve a bed.
Useful web sites for those afflicted are :-
Contact Gus for more details
Friday 28th - Sunday 30th June
The Berwyn Arms provided Mashy with a memorable 30th Birthday way back in 1999 when he was rich, young and attractive. Some of us had an equally memorable hangover. Three years on will have recorded some changes, but seeing as this venue was so popular, it is well worth a repeat visit. The landlady has assured us that we will hardly recognise the place as many improvements have been made. They have developed their outdoor activity side and also the conference facilities. One welcome addition is a newly constructed wooden terrace overlooking the Dee Valley. No doubt late beers will also remain a popular feature.
We have provisionally booked places for 25 people. This number will have to be confirmed nearer the date. The accommodation remains flexible regarding the rooms allocated to us. What has been reserved is the two smaller rooms for families. One has four and the other has two beds. The price per night, which includes a hearty breakfast, should be in the region of £12. The exact figure has faded from the memory.
The Berwyn Arms lies directly on the A5 a few hundred yards west of Glyndyfrdwy village, which is itself 5 miles east of Llangollen. It is a white fronted 17th Century coaching inn. Four miles further west is Corwen. For computer nerds try these two web sites.
The Berwyn Mountains is a large massif, much of it over 2000ft, which rises immediately south of the pub. Cader Berwyn (827m) forms the focal point of numerous lateral ridges which provide extra illusive tops for the peak baggers amongst us. Once the height is gained walking is fairly undulating. The steep sided valleys surrounding the Berwyns are well worth exploring, especially the Dee Valley with its langourous meanders and steam railway. The larger tourist honeypots of Bala and Llangollen offer alternative attractions.
To book a place please send Gustav a £5 deposit. Please remember that as we are staying at a pub and money has been paid up front, cancellations/changes may not be possible.
Sept 13th-15th
Mark H and Tim both turn 30 and a weekend away to the recently renovated Smithy's Bunkhouse is in order. It is reportedly an excellent place, with the added attraction of a 17th century pub nearby. Some excellent walking (one hopes); also biking, canoeing, horseriding, etc. There is lots of info on their web page www.smithysbunkhouse.com With only 24 beds available let Me know ASAP
Friday 11th - Sunday 13th October
The Methodist Youth Centre in Braithwaite was originally booked for a SHOT weekend in March this year, but had to be transferred to October after improvement work to the facilities was expected to over run. So the opportunity to watch new born lambs has been replaced by the chance to witness the autumnal colours for which this part of the Lake District is justly famous.
The Youth Centre is attached to the Methodist Chapel on The Green in Braithwaite Village, which lies two miles west of Keswick just off the A66 to Cockermouth. Its exact location is submerged beneath a mass of purple National Trust lines and tints on the NW Sheet of the Outdoor Leisure Map for the Lake District. The rudimentary sketchmap suggests the best approach as being the B5292 to Cockermouth (the Whinlatter Pass road) through the village from the A66. Go past the Royal Oak PH on the left at a road junction, follow the road around a left hand bend and after it bends to the right take a minor road on the left across Coledale Beck. The whtewashed buildings will be near a small green on the right hand side. A short distance further along is the Coledale Hotel.
The accommodation consists of 26 beds. These are in rooms of 7, 8 and 9 respectively and one of 2 which is reserved for a small family. It has the usual amenities of seperate washrooms, drying room and kitchen stuff. Just remember to bring your sleeping bags. We are only allowed to park THREE cars outside the Centre (the rest must be parked elsewhere in the village). One other pre-condition is that as it is a Youth Centre belonging to the Methodists we must respect their wishes so NO alcohol is allowed on the premises.
Walking opportunities abound. Rising up from our base the Grasmoor/Hopegill Head and Robinson Fells form the high ground seperating Buttermere from Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake. Various ridge routes and horseshoes can be devised with one particularly attractive route going up Causey Pike and Sail. The Skiddaw Massif lying three miles to the North East offers a contrasting mountainscape. Derwent Water, its islands and shorelines provides a very colourful low-level alternative.
Yvonne's parents have retired to Braithwaite, so the rumours that being nice to Yvonne may result in an invitation for afternoon tea and biscuits at her folks are totally unfounded. To book a place please send a £5 deposit to Gustav.
A long weekend staying a 4* hotel in central Lisbon to enjoy the sights and hightlife of one of europes less explored capitals. Lisbon is the furthest south we have travelled for a Christmas trip so we hope for some warm weather to explore the mainly 18th century city. Lisbon is set on a series of hills offering some spectacular views over the cities interesting archetichure. Well worth a visit
Contact Mark or Tim for more info