Newsletter
June 2001
Reports
TANNERS HATCH 19-21 January (Easy-Moderate)
Mid-January, ... middle of a wood, ... no cars to the hostel ... walk in for ¾ mile. Most of us walked in the dark down the broad track to the lights at the low point of the wood. (Have they been flooded recently?) Down the path and inside to a wide hearth filled by a log-burning fire with padded seats each side. Steep stairs leading to 3-tiered bunks for the ladies, 1 step backwards to the Members kitchen (it’s a self-catering hostel), 2 steps back for the dining room, 20 steps along the path outside to the loos and 1 shower. I wonder why there wasn’t the usual queue for the shower after the days walk on Saturday? Possibly the frost had something to do with it or perhaps it was the working parties organised by Geoffrey who kept well away from the stoves where sausage casserole and egg curry were being prepared. Someone managed 4 helpings of ‘afters’! Well, yes we were there to walk. Several local CRC walkers joined us for the day on Saturday. We were a little alarmed to see a moving mass swarming up Box Hill but it turned out to be an organised race rather than wildlife. Coffee stall stop and tea at a farm shop were very welcome and we finished just as dusk was falling, approaching the hostel from the opposite direction. Sunday worship was at a large Anglican church in Dorking and a select group finished with a walk to the highest point in Surrey and then round by Landslip car park ... you can’t actually park cars there any more ... there’s been another very large landslip.
Crisp and bright on Saturday, foggy and wet on Sunday but a very pleasant start to walking in 2001.
Thank you Geoffrey.Janice Brett - Cavendish
ALFRISTON 2-4 March (Easy-Moderate)
A group assembled at “Frog Firle” hoping for the best regarding the foot and mouth epidemic. It was obvious Sussex had taken this very seriously: every footpath had been closed so the walking would have to be adjusted.
We set off into a strong easterly wind on Saturday morning along the beach. It was quite interesting walking between the various small villages and groups of beach huts etc. but the heavy shingle ensured it was not a doddle and it was quite a relief sometimes to walk along the minor road behind the beach. We had lunch at Cooden Beach sheltering behind a wall. The wind was bitter and some of the group were clearly feeling the cold. By mid-afternoon we had reached Bexhill-on-sea, where there was an opportunity for afternoon tea. This was seized with alacrity and a general decision was taken to return to Pevensey Castle by train. We played various games in the hostel common room after evening meal.
Sunday saw us off to Eastbourne to attend Victoria Baptist Church. A good service complemented a talk by Derek Tidball, Principal of London Bible College. Some of the group went their separate ways after this, but the intrepid drove back to Alfriston and walked to Wilmington. It was a very pleasant walk, the wind was not so punishing.
Many thanks to Ann and Peter Arnold for arranging and leading the walks.June Rose - West Norwood (London)
STOW-ON-THE-WOLD 23-25 March
(New Members)
The initial event was to be run for newcomers to the Club but, because of Foot and Mouth, the walking side was severely restricted and the event postponed to later in the year. However, a small group still decided to meet and do some sightseeing, much to the relief of the Warden and his cash flow. We decided that CRC tradition must be kept up i.e. we could visit tea-shops - but what in between to justify it? On Saturday morning we visited Chipping Campden and then moved on to Tewkesbury for the afternoon. We parked in the long stay car park and were lucky to see the car at the end of the day as the river had flooded right up to it. We then visited the Abbey, the museum, the first Baptist Church in the South West and had a walk through the alleyways. Did we justify 3 or 4 (or was it 5 for some) tea-shops? We thought so as we had slogged around at least 3 or 4 miles that day!!
Sunday saw church, an hour or so around Stow, lunch and an afternoon wandering around Bourton-on-the-Water. We split up so that some could visit tea-shops while others went to the model village, Bird World, a craft fair or the shops. Everyone enjoyed a weekend away and many thanks to Julie for keeping the group occupied and amused.Brian Clark - Chippenham
BATH 30 March - 1 April (Easy)
This was a re-organised event, the original plan being to stay at Slimbridge but, with foot and mouth a few miles away, Bath seemed the best alternative venue. Three of us plus Margaret, our leader, attended the event and we were very glad we did; being grateful to Margaret for not cancelling the event.
Saturday gave us the opportunity for a riverside walk through Bath, later transferring to a disused railway line, still open for walking and cycling. Andy didn’t seem too downcast that the walk gave him severely limited opportunities to use his mudometer (see previous Newsletter). We decided to have supper at the hostel, which has good facilities and pleasant decor, having been refurbished recently.
The 11am service at Bath Abbey was, for me at least, a great experience. Group opinion on this varied! Oddly enough, I was originally the least keen to attend that particular place of worship. The sermon at least got us thinking and the choir sang beautifully. Last but not least, (well, other than the usual end-of-event cup of tea ) was a very good guided tour of the city lasting a couple of hours. Bath really is a lovely city and this enabled us to see things we might otherwise have missed. It seemed an appropriate way to finish an enjoyable weekend.Peter Whale - Rugby
CASTLETON 30 March - 1 April (Moderate)
Hopes of climbing the Shivering Mountain - Mam Tor - were dashed by Foot and Mouth and subsequent footpath closures. However, this did not depress the spirits of the 16 folk who came to Castleton.
On Saturday morning, instead of being on the heights, we explored the depths of Treak Cliff Cavern where Blue John stone was mined long ago. After lunch in the village, Nick led a 5 mile walk along bleak country lanes to Bradwell. A steady drizzle drenched us; tea in Hope revived us.
70 lively boys from an Under 10s Rugby Club shared the hostel with us on Saturday night. Some of our group had a hostel meal, others went to the Castle Inn. A few of us enjoyed a game of Jenga (with a giant set) last thing.
Sunday saw us at Eyam. A stained glass window at the church tells the story of how the plague reached the village in 1665. After the morning service, we had another short walk (again on tarmac) to Folow, where we had lunch on the village green, before continuing along Eyam Edge and past Mompessan’s Well. Here provisions were left for the villagers during the plague (the money was purified in vinegar).
Tea at Eyam Hall concluded a varied and enjoyable weekend, well organised and led by Nick and Irene. It was good to be there.Stephen Bennett - Leeds
CONWY 12-16 April (Easy & Hard)
Despite the foot and mouth crisis about 20 members attended the event held at one of the most luxurious hostels in Britain, a former Convalescent home. From the dining room there were superb views of the estuary and harbour from one side, and of the Conwy valley from the other side.
Good Friday saw three cyclists set off on a hard ride of over 40 miles and 5,000 feet of ascent. Joan Kinnings had to cut the ride short due to lack of recent practice - perhaps she wanted more time to prepare for the fellowship meeting which she took in the evening! The walkers caught a train to Llanwrst and walked on minor roads to Tal-y-cafn, where some caught the train back, the others walked back to the hostel.
Saturday saw a more distinct split between easy and hard walkers. The easy walkers looked round Plas Mawr, a 16th century house in the town in the morning and Bodnant Gardens in the afternoon. The hard walkers did a circular walk from Llanwrst which finished with the purchase of a giant cheese cake which was divided up by Phil’s Swiss army knife.
On Easter Sunday morning we attended the Methodist Church which was full to overflowing - the service included the reception of four new Church members. In the afternoon we did a forest walk south of Betws-y-Coed round Llyn Elsi reservoir. On Monday we did a short walk to Llyn Sarnau to the south-west of Llanwrst following which some walked round the 13th century walls of Conwy before starting home.
Many thanks to our leaders, Peter and Anne Arnold, for organising our walks despite the restrictions caused by the foot and mouth crisis which meant the closure of the footpaths in North Wales over Easter.Roger Winterburn - Dewsbury
TRULEIGH HILL 12-16 April (Easy-Moderate)
We were very grateful to the Warden for letting us use the hostel while it was officially closed due to foot-and-mouth disease; and to John for planning some good walks and other activities for us whilst the public footpaths were closed. On a sunny spring evening, the view from the hostel was stunning. We also enjoyed watching sheep and lambs in a nearby field, but these were later removed.
We started by remembering what Easter is really about, at the all-age Good Friday service at Bishop Hannington Church, which included some lively drama. After this, we were ready to set off for our first walk. We were very glad to leave the industrial area where we had parked and were soon walking along the beach heading for Brighton. As we neared the centre of Brighton on the promenade path we enjoyed the atmosphere of a busy sea-side town. This was followed by a visit to Brighton Pavilion before returning to our cars by bus. Later, we celebrated Melanie’s birthday (a chocolate cake was produced after our meal!) and spent the evening playing board games.
After being joined by some day visitors in Brighton on Saturday morning, we travelled by bus to Newhaven from where we walked back along the beach. This was not as easy as it sounds, as we had to pick our way across large rocky boulders. We were very relieved to reach the end of this section and to finish the walk on the sea-front. We all worked up a good appetite for our evening meal at an Italian restaurant.
On Sunday we attended an interesting service at Worthing Tabernacle, followed by a peaceful walk, mostly along the sea-shore, to Littlehampton. That evening, in one of the dormitories, we gathered together to hold a service, during which some people shared what Easter meant to them.
Amberly Working Museum was well worth a visit on Bank Holiday Monday before returning home from a very enjoyable Easter break.Alison Tabor - Leighton Buzzard
HAWORTH - AGM 3-7 May (All)
Well, what a reunion! After months of not being able to do much CRC-wise, we finally got the chance to return to the countryside and re-establish contact with fellow walkers. Bookings were down on previous years, but nevertheless 62 people made it to Haworth for the AGM and 20th anniversary weekend. The weather was dry and sunny, and even quite hot at times and whilst we didn’t have complete freedom to roam the countryside, we were able to walk along lanes and canal towpaths and even into some woods and moorland. Some people came for the cycling.
The Youth Hostel is a grand old place, with an impressive staircase and fairly spacious dormitories. The members’ kitchen was not so spacious, but if you timed it right, you could get in and out without too much bother, i.e. by breakfasting at the crack of dawn and making your packed lunch the night before.
The AGM was swift and interesting and two new committee members were elected - Duncan Parsons as Events Co-ordinator and Geoff Payne as Treasurer. On the Sunday evening, we had a service of thanksgiving for CRC on its 20th anniversary and, in a tribute to the founder, Dave Scott spoke of how the club had become an oasis for many people, providing an outlet for recreation and making friends. Afterwards we had cake and fireworks.
After walks around Haworth, Bolton Abbey and East Riddington Hall on Monday, we went home completely re-energised. All-in-all, it was an excellent eweekend. Thank you Robert and everyone else involved with the organisation.Christine Sherriff - Arlesey
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