Chelmsford YHA Group

CYHA News

The Monthly Newsletter of Chelmsford YHA Local Group

June 2006

Posh Digs & Fancy Teas


Wilderhope Manor hostel

Another month of activities passes and we get to notch up a visit to the fabulous Wilderhope Manor: A gorgeous National Trust property, all stone flags and wooden panelling, sited in the rolling green fields of southern Shropshire. A beautiful house in a beautiful location and very, very posh! See Dave & Sue’s articles for the low down on our Bank Hoilday activities.

May also saw us nipping up to St Ives (Cambs not Cornwall!) to help warm up James & Marion’s new house with a local walk followed by a scrummy home-made tea. See Marion’s tribute to her rapidly disappearing scones below.

Brown Clee Hill

Jim’s cycle evening ride to The Duck helped write another chapter in the legend of the CYHA cycling rain dance. With all the cycling we’ve got planned this summer, that’s one tradition we hope to break!

And May’s not over yet, as I write this we’re doing our last minute preparations for the Scotland trip. As parts of Scotland have been experiencing twice their normal rainfall, compared to our drought in the south east, I’m hoping for a reversal of fortunes – at least for a week or two. So I shall be keeping my fingers crossed.

                                                       Ali


 


WILD IN WILDERHOPE


The Wrekin from Wenlock Edge

Our May Day holiday trip was to the often  overlooked hills of Shropshire in the 16th century Wilderhope Manor just outside Longville-in-the-Dale near Church Stretton.

The hostel is one of the most spectacular I’ve stayed in, with a grand dining hall and common rooms and an impressive spiral staircase. The outside façade was very impressive and the subject of many photos on Saturday morning.

On the Saturday, a fine sunny day, the group decided to walk along Wenlock Edge which passes the hostel - some went north east to Much Wenlock and another (me included) went south west hoping to find a pub. The Edge was a bit too wooded for the best views but when we did clear the tress we did have some lovely views of the surrounding hills.

Brown Clee Hill

The walk was quite a haul even without much climbing,  and was hampered by the somewhat unclear routes on top which led us of course across some rough terrain. However we did find a pub at Upper Affcot were we had a few Shropshire Lads each (note this is a beer and not indicative of anything raunchier!). The beer however impaired our navigational skills as we made our way back to the hostel below the ridge mainly along country lanes. This enabled us to have a fine view of where we had walked before.

Next day the attractions of the Long Mynd attracted those of us addicted to the call of hills and a spot of climbing. When we were here last we had a bit of rain so this was the opportunity for some of us to climb the Mynd in good weather. Splendid view all round. Somehow we ended up in a pub again to have some more Shropshire Lads where we met the D Plummer group who had been up Caer Caradoc.

The Lawley from Caer Caradoc

Although I have been to this area before I am always struck by the beauty of the area and the fine views of hills in all directions. It is a much neglected area and one I hope we’ll visit again soon.

Dave J.

 



May’d It!


The usual suspects

May Day, and six intrepid souls set out for Caer Caradoc.  A steep climb, and blustery conditions left us a little puffed, but not as puffed as the couple vainly chasing their dog as it pursued anxious sheep.   After a short stop to admire the views, we descended to find a warm, sheltered spot.  Here we watched belts of rain sweep towards us, each veering away just in time to save us from a dowsing, leaving us to enjoy pleasant sunshine.  Whilst some climbed back up to look for the hill fort we had missed, others took advantage of the sunny aspect, stretching out against the grassy slope, to enjoy a snooze. 

May-pole dancing

With ‘Sue’ The Lawley enticingly before us it wasn’t long before we were moving on again.  We walked through a deliciously green meadow, the hedgerows glistening with May blossom.  The cows on the far side of the field seemed as content with their world as we were with ours.  The climb up The Lawley was steep enough, and as we reached the top to walk along the ridge the wind picked up, painfully freezing our left nostrils.  Arriving at a pole marking the top, it seemed appropriate to celebrate May Day with traditional dancing.  No Dave, we meant Maypole dancing, not pole dancing.  Still, nice try.  Not to be outdone, we had another go at the ‘knot game’, linking hands and trying to unravel ourselves from the human tangle we had created.  Agreement was that if anybody slipped off the side of the hill, we would let go, so that not all were lost.  We truly are all heart!    

May blossom and the Lawley

We descended The Lawley, this time with the wind freezing our right nostrils.  Our route took us back through the cow field, and this time the ‘ladies’ were close enough to spot that one was not - a lady.     Safely back in the emerald meadow, I realised I had forgotten my walking pole, necessitating a walk back past all those bovine beauties.   Cows I don’t mind, but I was less than enthusiastic about passing so close to their male companion.  Mike bravely volunteered to share the risk, and with cows and bull following too closely for comfort (phew, made it!) we retrieved the pole. 

Summit of The Lawley

Reluctant to do further climbing, and with thoughts of ‘refreshments’ now occupying us, we made a somewhat circuitous navigation around Caer Caradoc, to arrive back in Church Stretton.  The only word to describe our feelings on discovering that pub hours were different on May Day is dis-May!   So, with pub hospitality denied us, and John unable to take his pub photo, nothing for it but to leave for home.  Sorry John, but word is that ‘some’ people found themselves a nice curry house instead!

Sue



Ten Fruit Scones

Ten fruit scones, looking so fine

Dave J went past, and there were only nine

Nine fruit scones, sitting on a plate

Mike had a look, and there were only eight

 “Ummm” sighed Trudi, “These are heaven!”

And soon there were only seven.

Carol’s eyes opened wide, her lips she licked,

And before too long there were only six

Cress was next, needing sustenance for a long drive

And by sleight of hand there were only five

Only five scones left, Sue wished there were more

Because when she left the table there were only four

Ali couldn’t decide what would go best with her tea,

Then she spotted the scones and there were only three

John cut some cake and wondered if he could manage a scone too,

I guess he did, because when he left there were only two

George followed on, rubbing his tum

And after that there was only one

Dave P looked around and did a quick sum

He rushed to the table and then there were none.

Marion

 



I’m Cycling in the Rain, What a Glorious Feeling

Cyclists at Little Bardfield

Tom and I cycled form Saffron Walden; Kevin cycled from Harlow, and others arrived by car from all corners of Essex to meet in Thaxted. “The weather’s brightening up” I said, but it seems that all our events in this part of Essex are met with wet weather, and it started raining soon after we set out, and got steadily worse.

But there was some shelter: a visit to a teashop in Finchingfield, a phone box in Little Bardfield (we could only get 7 of is in there), and a pub in Thaxted. And as always, spirits remained high, and we all enjoyed the ride.

Dave P

 

 

Chelmsford YHA T-shirts

Burgundy Polo shirt

We still have a stock of T-shirts printed with the group logo. Quality Fruit of the Loom - proven on mountains around the world!

T-Shirts (100% cotton) £4.60:

Navy Blue (M, L, or XL); Bottle Green (XL)

Polo Shirts (short sleeve + collar) £7.50: Sky Blue (M); Burgandy (XL); Bottle Green (XL); Navy Blue (L or XL)

Sweatshirt £9.25 (long sleeve): Black (XL)

Please contact Dave P if you’d like one of these. It may be possible to get some more printed if there’s sufficient demand.

Please send any comments on these pages to Dave Plummer