Weekends
& Holidays 2010
Please click the links below to view reports
and photos:
Patterdale,
Ullswater (Lake District) -
15 to 18 October
Please
click here to view the hotel website
Please click the links below to view the photos
Photos above by Pat
Wilson
Please
click here to view additional photos by Martin Housley (external
web link)
Please
click here to view additional photos by Penny Smith (external
web link)
Loch
Achray, Scotland - 28 August to 1 September
Please
click here to view the hotel website
Please click the links below to view the photos
GENERAL
1.
View from Loch Achray hotel
2.
Outside the hotel
DAY 1, C WALK
3.
Loch Earn from the Glen Ogle railway trail
4.
River Dochart, near Killin
5.
Falls of Dochart
6.
Killin Centre
DAY 2, C WALK
7.
Woodland above Callander
8.
Bracklin Falls
9.
New bridge near Bracklin Falls
DAY 3, B WALK
10.
Loch Katrine
11.
Gang of Three
Photos by Pat Wilson
Lots and lots of Lochs, even one called Loch
Drunkie(!) and in the middle of them all the Loch Achray hotel,
well-seasoned in handling large groups and even willing to
take on walkers.
Off to the wilds of Killin and hurricane conditions
on the tops where, on the Tarmachan circuit, even the sturdiest
were shaken but not quite stirred. Lower down winter gear
was also donned and trail bike trials as well as 'open access'
land (aka ankle-breaking yomping) were being negotiated .
Determined to explore all modes of transport one group followed
the Glen Ogle rail track and ended up at the stunning Falls
of Dochart.
As if we hadn't had enough excitement the next
day dawned hot and sunny. Legs and arms appeared and the air
was permeated with a mixture of suncream and midge repellent.
Was this Scotland or had we taken a wrong turning? No, the
accent was right and so was the porridge.
Furthermore we were about to experience the intricate web
of the Scottish transport system in the Higlands as a coach
driver became a minibus driver, local drivers offered their
cars and a taxi was commandeered. Several Bens and Glens and
Falls were conquered in the process and Rob Roy's grave gave
a fitting start for one group.
A different form of transport appeared on the
third day in the form of the Loch Katrine Ferry which seemed
to spend the day transporting one group or another from one
end of the Loch to another. This enabled a close inspection
of the Loch and its wildlife(no, not the human variety) Loch
Achray was also inspected as was the Glen Finglas reservoir.
More Bens were conquered, Ledi and Vane in particular and
a breakaway group had the temerity to conquer two more. Where
will it all end?
Altogether a very enjoyable few days in a well-run
hotel with unbelievably good weather and stunning scenery
- not forgetting the Highland cattle. There was something
for everyone - even the tortoise at the back, who made the
best of her circumstances and adapted accordingly. And let's
not forget the dancing which brought several potential 'Strictly'
entrants to the fore and gave the rest of us the chance to
enjoy ourselves. We might even know how to do the 'Slosh'
now!
Thanks to all the leaders, including the unofficial
one, who had unexpected problems brought about by the Forestry
Commission, poor signing, high winds, pathless routes and
all the usual suspects. Thanks in particular to Diane Taylor
whose idea it was and who worked very hard to make the holiday
the success it was.
Report by Diane Exley
Coniston
Coppermines Youth Hostel - 21
to 23 May
PARTY STRIKES GOLD IN COPPERMINES VALLEY ! ! !
A warming orb in the sky Friday, Saturday and Sunday!
Full advantage was taken of these near perfect conditions.
On Saturday both 'B' and 'A' parties reached Swirl How via
Levers Water and Prison Band. 'A' group put in Grey Friar
before following the others along the ridge to the Old Man.
Having managed to catch Norman's group up for a second time,
this old man thought he could descend from Goats Hause, until
an Oliver Twist character asked for more, pointing at Dow
Crag......We duly enjoyed its rocky top, the ridge to Buck
Pike and the steepish drop to Blind Tarn. A 'needs must' section
of the Walna Scar track brought us to Cove Bridge and from
here a 'circuitous beeline' was taken back to the hostel.
(7hr 45 min).
Meanwhile, the 'B's were enjoying the sun at The Sun and
toasting Norman's Conquest!
Sunday was even hotter! Yvonne led the 'A' party up Wetherlam
and, after an interesting descent, to an idyllic lunch spot
in tree-shaded Greenburn Beck. The return leg was via Tilberthwaite
and its slate quarries. (6hr 45min). I am told that Mark led
a splendid 'B' walk (@7hr), again in the Tilberthwaite area,
whilst a small 'C' group strolled lakeside twixt Coniston
and Torver.
New signs abound in the Lake District warning that the path
on the map may not coincide with where it is on the ground!
We found proof of this on both days. On Sunday, Yvonne's spot-on
map reading led into a bog, whereas the sheep bereft of map
had a track on a rib of dry ground and along which humans
now walk.
Similarly Norman's planned route from Levers Hause to Seathwaite
Tarn, although clearly shown on the OS map, is not discernible
on the fellside. (Nobody complained when he said they'd have
to miss out Dunnerdale!)
As to the Youth Hostel itself, Coppermines provided opportunities
not available at Boggle Hole. Companies pay exorbitant prices
to send people on training exercises to gauge their reactions
to certain situations........
Take a hostel not geared up to provide a cooked meal for a
full house at a set time with cramped, cluttered living conditions
lacking 'a woman's touch'
- add two front men, largely invisible and probably without
a Michelin star between them
- stir in the spotted mash
- and, lo and behold, for a fraction of the cost, Penny's
unknowingly set it up for real.
How did we react? Ask the people watchers! - but even I recalled
many and varied little acts of kindness as I reflected on
the stay, sitting in the sun with a mug of coffee in hand
and enjoying the views after breakfast on Sunday.
Report by Jack Wood
Organiser's comments:
I confess the weekend was the usual delightfully quirky mixture
of brilliant scenery and fantastic walking with organisational
chaos! It started well with too many men (I'd mis-counted),
solved by creating a mixed dorm. Mick will now be a legend
in the club for satisfying three women all weekend - well,
they all looked very cheerful in the morning! He also deserves
a prize as Chief Dishwasher Stacker. He and Julie could run
Fawlty Towers better than John Cleese any day!
I shall announce the date for next year's YHA weekend in the
next Newsletter so you can add the date to your holiday planners.
Penny Smith
Gilsland, Cumbria
(Hadrian's Wall) - 26 to 29 March
Please
click here to view the hotel website
Away to the land of Slaggyford and Twice Brewed went 38 stalwarts
ready to defend the borders from allcomers. The Gilsland Spa
Hotel, with a history dating back to the fashionable habit
of taking the waters, gave us a warm welcome and fed us very
well.
Surrounded as we were by the evidence of Roman occupation,
what could we do but follow in the steps of the legionaries.
And so on Saturday all parties ascended Hadrian's Wall. 'A'
and 'C' parties gave it a bit of a go with an interesting
zigzag by the 'A' party to put the miles on and a historical
trip to Vindolanda by the 'C's. 'B' party stuck it out, steadily
losing people as they went and, in fact, losing the leader
at one point. The cry of 'Is this the last hill?' went up
many times before they eventually descended. But all good
things come to an end and they landed thankfully in the Twice
Brewed pub to meet up with the 'C' party who had kindly taken
on a lost 'B' sheep who had mistakenly stumbled from the bus
too early. 'A' party, streaming from pub and teashop at Greenhead,
completed the set. Battered by the strong wind and the occasional
shower there were plenty of red faces on show.
'C' party loved the Wall so much that they tackled another
part the next day, cunningly walking with the prevailing wind
instead of against it. Why didn't we think of that? Avoiding
the treacherous bog near the hotel, they measured their steps
from Gilsland to Great Chesters via a welcome stop at Walltown
Visitor Centre for a coffee and from there to the metropolis
of Haltwhistle (not as small as it sounds). For the 'A's and
'B's it was a day of Ways and Trails; Pennine, Maiden, South
Tyne and plenty of Roman Roads and disused railway tracks
into the bargain, not to mention the amazing Victorian viaduct
at Lambley which stunned us all with its sheer size and architectural
excellence. 'A' party felt the need to escape to the hills
after this and looped off over the moors only to be rewarded
by a heavy soaking and a few mud baths. 'B' party fared no
better. Imagining a gentle stroll by the river, they instead
found themselves struggling with mud, tree roots and heavy
rain until, passing through the POW camp near Featherstone
Castle, they found the road into Haltwhistle and the real
ale pub.
Monday saw the scattering of the troops to sightsee, visit
friends and family, walk in small groups or join the 'official'
walk from the hotel planned so that there was an easy escape
if the promised deluge arrived. 11 people went up to the Popping
Stone, back to Gilsland and up to Hadrian's Wall as far as
Birdoswald Fort. They returned just before the rain started
- luckily, they beat it.
But this is not the end of the story. Evening entertainment
was provided for us and many hidden talents such as Irish
Jig dancing and the art of sloshing? were displayed on the
dance floor, not to mention the ever-vigilant photographer
ready to immortalise a rash moment. We were, unfortunately,
not eligible for the ballroom dancing or the bingo and we
missed the morning games but you can't have everything, can
you?
As usual many thanks to the organisers, John and Moya for
their careful planning, fund of walks and Patagonian views
and to all the leaders and backups who bravely took the map
in hand and led us into the unknown.
Report by Diane Exley
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