June 2005
Reports
On Friday evening we enjoyed drinks and nibbles
provided by Stella whilst
On Saturday morning there were complicated
arrangements which involved meeting people at roundabouts and leaving one car
in a remote lay-by, but Lorraine had it all worked out and we enjoyed a lovely
walk in The Sandstone Hills, with wonderful views. In one place we could see two castles at
once. A light snowstorm in the afternoon
made everything very picturesque.
On Sunday we walked into the city centre along
the walls and “The Rows” (of shops) and we saw
Thanks to
Leader
Report Irene
Singleton
Arts 4 Ministry
Five of us met on Friday evening at Debz Strong’s house. After a meal we shared in some icebreaking activities.
On Saturday we became half a dozen, joined by Jess from the local church, all ready and eager to learn. Soon we were involved in improvisations - words were flowing quick and fast:
chocolate, sausages, purple, aspidistra! Imaginations working overtime in impromptu sketches. Where did the morning go?
After a break
for fresh air followed by a lovely meal, we encouraged each other in the
preparation of a small sketch for Sunday morning worship. ‘
Thanks to Debz
and Shirley for their hospitality, and to
Make sure you do not miss the next Drama Workshop.
Leader Debz
Strong
Report Mary
Griffin
Matlock 4
- 6 February Easy/Moderate
The weekend based on Matlock Youth Hostel was the first Heather Griffiths had led, which she did with grace and efficiency. Eight of us were in residence, loined by four local walkers on Saturday.
The event began with a three-course dinner at 6.30 provided by the Hostel, and a stroll into town.
Saturday’s walk, about 10 miles long, took us to rolling farmland and picturesque villages, and was interesting, beautiful and satisfying. After dinner five of us set off in search of a country pub, and found two - one with excellent local ale and loud live music, the next quieter but with meltingly high temperature. We stripped off as far as decency allowed.
On Sunday we went to a local Anglican church for their monthly “all-age worship”. As usual, it seemed to me (a Baptist) that if Anglicans do something, they do it well. ‘Twas a good service.
After a packed lunch at a car- park table in Cromford, we began a shorter walk, though it took longer than expected. I left the others at 3.30, accompanied back to Cromford by one other, feeling that friendships had been made or strengthened and that “a good time was had by all”.
Leader Heather
Griffiths
Report David
Young
What a trip - “Brilliant; Wild, wet and windy; Great food and accommodation; Where are we going next year?” - things people said at the end of a week’s mountaineering here in the Highlands of Scotland. On the first day we climbed a Munro, Beinn a’Chaorainn, for some the only major peak climbed all week. Then it was out with the ice axes in style, one in each hand at times as we tackled the classic Curved Ridge on Buachaille Etive Mor, the playful Pinnacle Ridge on Carn Dearg Meadhonach, the delightful Dorsal Arete and more Pinnacles on Stob Coire nan Lochan, and the riotous Raeburns Gully on Creag Meagaidh. Thanks to John and Kate for another well led event.
The climbing teams — Julian, Neil and Peter led by guide Chris Ensol.
John and Kate
led by guide John (from
Andy,
John Penrose has
just won a photo competition, his picture taken during this CRC week in
Leader John
Penrose
Report Duncan
Parsons
Glen Roy 19
- 26 February Winter Hill
Walking
A group of
hard-core walkers got together to go to Glen Roy in
On Monday
morning we met our two mountain guides.
We were taken up the gondola at the ‘
On Tuesday the
climb included the cheeky looking
Thursday took us
to the Nature Reserve around Creag Meagaidh.
At the end of the glen beyond a beautiful frozen winter lake we saw the
mountain pass that Bonnie Prince Charlie had passed through in 1145 on his way
to the
The last day
brought with it cloud above 2000 feet and the guides advised that it would not
be the best day to climb
Leader Grant Syred
Report Helen Schlotel
Badby 11 - 13 February Art and Music
Badby has been described as one of the prettiest villages in the country. With its thatched collages and green it is not difficult to see why. The youth hostel with its thatched roof created the perfect setting for an art and music weekend.
19 people gathered to share their creative gifts and perhaps find undiscovered talents. For musicians and singers, Saturday began with Pachabel’s canon followed by a piece from Stainer’s Crucifixion. After that some musicians divided to concentrate on folk music. The range of talent was truly incredible and throughout the morning the hostel was filled with the most beautiful variety of sound.
In the meantime Sarah was leading the art group in the dining room. Here too people were creating some amazing pieces of art work. Sarah made everything look easy and encouraged even the most reluctant of people like myself to join in and have a go. Under her guidance latent talents were discovered! An assortment of cards were produced and displayed around the dining room. Someone commented it was like a popular person’s birthday!
On Saturday afternoon we braved the cold but sunny weather to enjoy
a walk to nearby
Sunday again was bright and cold. Some of us attended the local church in Badby where we were given a warm welcome. Olive’s singing during the service nearly raised the roof and was much admired by the locals. We stayed for coffee and a chat afterwards.
An enjoyable and inspiring weekend. Thanks to Phil and Sarah.
Leader Philip Nalpanis
Report Jane Merrifield
Rhayader 17 - 20 February Moderate
This was the first time that I had visited Mid Wales. It turned out to be less barren than I expected. The hostel was a private one but compared well to others that I had been in.
Friday dawned clear and the lower walk enjoyed a good trip over some
of the neighbouring hills. A strong wind
soon got up. Noses turned red, icicles
appeared on eyelashes and the hills were alive with the sound of chattering teeth
(not music). The highest hill in the
area goes by the grand sounding name of Drygarn Fawr and being over 2000 feet I
suppose it can just be classified as a mountain. It is largely a giant bog with a few rocks on
top. We decided to give the whole thing
a miss on the Saturday and instead amidst wonderful sunshine did a magnificent
valley walk. There are a number of
reservoirs in this part of
Sunday was equally sunny and after our own service we did a shorter but interesting valley walk starting at another reservoir, ending a very successful weekend.
Thanks must go to Pauline for a splendid meal on the Friday night and also to Verna, who having apologized that she was no preacher, promptly gave a very thoughtful and helpful talk on the Sunday morning. Last but not least a big vote of thanks must go to Sue for very efficiently organizing absolutely everything except for building the hostel in the first place. However a warning must be sounded here. As a child Sue must have been thrown into a vat of yoghurt as every time I was about to eat mine, Sue announced that we were setting off again. She obviously has a deep loathing of the stuff!
Leader Sue Edwards
Report Colin Tompson
Bretton 4 - 6 March Moderate
From Middleton Dale valley we drove up lanes narrow and steep; traversed crunchy snow fields on foot under bright moon light; warmed ourselves later round the hostel living room fire.
On Saturday, bright and early, we walked towards the east over Broad Low and Eyam Moor then down to Highlow Brook. We continued through a sweet smelling wood, and into a soft snowy breeze.
The route spanned the moors - Offerton, Shatton and Abney - making a
circular tour. Skies cleared later
affording beautiful views. We passed
through pleasant villages, Great Hucklow and Foolow, and finished with the
climb back up via Eyam Edge. Dinner at
the Barrel Inn, Bretton was enjoyed by all.
Sunday afternoon offered a “Walk of Edges” starting with
Curber Edge and moving on over the moors to Nelson’s Monument on Sirchen
Edge. Further south, at the Robin Hood
Inn we turned north east, passed through some trees, visited
Leader Ian Parfitt
Report Jane MacCorkindale
Biaxhall 11 - 13 March Easy
Blaxhall Youth Hostel now goes on my list of favourite hostels as it is very spacious and comfortable. It was modernised in 2000, 50 it no longer has the outside toilets that I remember from my previous visit there 20 years ago! It has all mod cons, and has a lovely, homely feel to it. Added to that, we had friendly helpful wardens, who gave us excellent meals.
Although it was pouring with rain on our arrival on Friday evening, we awoke on Saturday morning to bright sunshine, which stayed with us all weekend. Saturday’s 8 mile walk, which started from the hostel, took us through Tunstall Forest, along the Alde Estuary, and past Iken church (with its thatched roof), where we sheltered from the wind for our lunch. Then we continued along the estuary to Snape Maltings, with its art galleries, craft shops and very tempting tea rooms.
On Sunday morning we received a very warm welcome at
-
the rest of us would not have
known! I returned home feeling that I
had enjoyed the wild, spacious scenery of the
-
Thanks to Robin and Glenys for leading the weekend.
Leader Robin Richardson
Report Alison Tabor
Easter
Events
Keswick 24 - 28 March Moderate/Hard/Scrambling
About 25 of us arrived for some Easter Lake District hill-walking, staying at the Keswick Convention Centre.
On Good Friday, the plan was to ascend Great Gable via the Gable Traverse. It was decided on reaching Sty Head that it was too misty and wet to go up the traverse so instead we took the pedestrian route up Great Gable. This was my third time up Great Gable, and also my third time without a view from the top. We returned over Green Gable and Base Brown, choosing a descent from Base Brown that involved some scrambling. In the evening, Peter and Ann led us in an Easter meditation.
On Saturday in what was the best walk of the weekend both in views and scrambling, we went up Blencathra via Hall’s Fell. Attempting to keep to the crest of Hall’s Fell the whole way, which most of us did, provided some fairly exposed sections in places. We descended via Sharp Edge, where there was somewhat less choice about whether to keep to the crest. The walk finished early enough to allow those inclined to, to watch an England World cup qualifier on the TV at the Convention Centre, and others to sample the Sticky Toffee Pudding at Rembrandt’s.
In the evening, Geoff Spiller gave a very interesting
presentation/slide show on his trip as an observer to a TEAR Fund project in
On Easter Sunday morning, we went to various churches around Keswick, followed by going Doddling in the afternoon (Great, Watson and Stybarrow).
Many thanks to Dave for his hard work in organizing a very enjoyable weekend including some interesting and varied meals.
Leader Dave Scott
Report Mark Helie
Truleigh Hill 24 - 28 March Easy/Moderate
(Truleigh Hill - Truly Marvellous)
23 brave souls found their way to Truleigh Hill YHA despite a
questionable weather forecast for the next few days! Perched on top of the
On Good Friday our first hike soon found us sitting in a field under an old oak tree singing hymns, praying and listening to words of wisdom from those inspired to share. The service of praise and thanksgiving was punctuated by additional songs courtesy of skylarks singing high in a blue sky.
After lunch, we were met by the challenge of the ‘Devil’s Dyke’. Its name seemed most appropriate since its gradient was deceptively steep and ever increasing right to the top. Reaching the watering hole at the summit was exhausting for all of us except the legendary 87 year old Doreen, who as usual appeared to scamper up without any difficulty, leaving many struggling in her wake!
Saturday, another dry and sunny day, saw us start out from the
‘Jack and Jill’ windmills near Ditchling. Our circular walk on the surrounding hills
included a visit to the monument to Sikhs and Hindus, who died fighting for
After church on Easter Sunday we drove to Findon. Our walk commenced at the bottom of Cissbury
Ring, from where we hiked across the
Monday was a more leisurely event.
We headed from the hostel to the beautiful
Truleigh Hill - truly marvellous! Thank you Lord.
Leader Julian Marsh
Report Ian
20 of us made the trip which included 5 new members and there was plenty of room at the hostel which was once a Victorian mansion. A choice of two walks was offered every day ranging between 7 and 12 miles with the incentive of a tea shop at the end.
Good Friday saw us having lunch at Top Withins, the inspiration for
Emily Bronte’s ‘
Over the next two days the walks took us across fields with dry stone walls, gentle streams with clapper and pack horse bridges, and daffodils. We even witnessed a sheep that had just given birth. On our travels the villages of Oxenhope and Wycoller (an excellent tea shop) were visited.
On Easter Sunday the Anglican and Baptist churches served as our
places of worship. The theme of the
sermon was ‘what is resurrection faith?’ Afterwards we had a delightful lunch on
Some members took up the offer of short walk on Monday whilst others
decided to beat the Easter Rush, Many thanks to Elaine and Liz (who
unfortunately injured her knee and could not walk) for organising this splendid
event, and Jane and
Leader Liz Nichols and Elaine
Richmond
Report Peter Edwards
Slaidburn 28 March - 2 April Moderate/Hard
Between the grey mill towns of Lancashire and the Yorkshire Dales is
the
The village had a certain uniqueness! That is to say it encapsulated much of the good old days of village life, such as a friendly atmosphere and general sense of being lived and worked in. The youth hostel had obviously once seen better days as an inn, and one could even see where the bar was. However, if you wanted a drink you had to step across the road to the ‘Hark to Bounty’. Although run by a volunteer warden who baked delicious scones (or was it her teenage daughter?), hostellers also had use of the village shop across the road, which sold all manner of things like wine, postcards, and pies. No doubt the youth hostel helps to boost the village economy.
The name ‘Hark to Bounty’ was bestowed by the local parson, who had a dog called Bounty. He was drinking in the pub prior to a hunt, and Bounty seemed to be barking his head off louder than the other hounds. ‘Hark to Bounty!’ he exclaimed with pride, and the name stuck. We had our dinner there on the last night, including the world famous ‘Bounty Banana’, which is a banana wrapped in ham and baked in the oven covered in cheese sauce. No doubt it will catch on elsewhere in the future.
Thanks (again) to Jane for leading this event with such patience and good humour.
Leader Jane Wood
Report Stephen David
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