Weekends & Holidays 2011

Please click the links below to view reports and photos (as available):

Mold (North Wales) - 25 to 28 March

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Please click the links below to view the photos

(Pics 1 to 7 Saturday, 8 Sunday, 9 to 11 Monday)

Photos above by Pat Wilson

Please click here to view additional photos by Alan Kemmenoe (external web link)

The name Mold does not immediately bring a pleasant picture to mind. Something to do with fungus and being damp. This proved to be prophetic. However, the Beaufort Park Hotel welcomed us cheerfully on Friday night and settled us down to our weekend. In the morning, driven by the Four Girls (although mysteriously a man appeared the next day) all three parties struck out blindly in the havering mist - some to plunder the moors, others to follow the trail of leadminers and lime-kiln blasters. Hills, lambs and ponies loomed briefly and towards the end of the day the sun made a shy appearance before vanishing again. The views were no doubt breathtaking.

Offa's Dyke, built to keep the English in their place, failed miserably on Sunday. Streams of enthusiastic DoE Gold Standard participants, runners, dogs and walking parties galloped down the hill towards us and we were still going uphill! Appropriately, a final rest at an ancient burial ground brought us to the last , long downhill (except those who masochistically added a few more hills) and a pub all prepared for us with cups and saucers set out. Our reputation had clearly not gone before us!

On Monday we were at Loggerheads - but not in a quarrelsome way. Amazingly, the sun was out and we could see all the wonderful colours of spring. While some explored the gorge, others went further afield to seek out quarries, buzzards and newborn lambs not to mention an outdoor pursuits enterprise. A final visit to the café gave everyone the energy to motor home.
Many thanks to all the leaders whose skills of navigation were sorely tested but who won the battle in the end. Also many thanks to John and Moya for undertaking the planning and organisation of the weekend.

Report by Diane Exley

Dufton (Cumbria) - 20 to 22 May

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Photos above by Val Stoneman

Please click here to view additional photos by Penny Smith (external web link)

Weymouth (Dorset) - 21 to 27 August

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Please click the links below to view the photos

Photos above by Pat Wilson

Please click here to view additional photos by Penny Smith (external web link)

Keswick (Cumbria) 3 nights - 14 to 17 October

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Please click the links below to view the photos

Photos above by Pat Wilson

Please click here to view additional photos by Penny Smith (external web link)

Please click here to view additional photos by Alan Kemmenoe (external web link)

Please click here to view additional photos by Martin Housley(external web link)

The promise of blue skies and beautiful views fuelled an air of excitement at the Keswick Country House Hotel as a large party of DalesRailers gathered there on Friday.
A warm welcome and plenty of nourishing food and drink left everyone ready for the off next day. Groups large, small and minute disappeared towards the shining fells to test their mettle. Near vertical ascents and marshy ground did not deter them as, lemming-like, they crested the tops only to descend again. Strange business, but some people never learn. Aching limbs notwithstanding, the pattern was repeated on Sunday in almost sun (Don't mention Borrowdale!), the majority conquering Skiddaw in some form or another and living to tell the tale, albeit with limited breath.
Not that the fells were the only attraction. The lure of so many walking gear shops drew everyone into Keswick 'just for a look', but a suspicious number of large bags(plastic not human) made their way up the hill to the hotel as a result.
Monday threatened wind and rain and suddenly everyone had very important things to do at home. Gazing in awe and wonder at the heights they had so recently scaled, they packed up their cars and made their various ways back to base with feelings of wellbeing and achievement speeding them on their way.
Many thanks to the leaders and their helpers who all contributed to the success of the weekend and grateful thanks to John and Moya for the overall organisation and oversight.

Report by Diane Exley

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