Chelmsford YHA Group

Programme

Wednesday Meetings, Weekends Away & Other Events

June 2010

Saturday 29th May to Sunday 6th June

Scotland week

Duart Castle and The Isle of Mull

We're planning to visit the Isle of Mull, renowned for landscape, wildlife, beaches and hills.

Proposed itinerary:

  • Saturday 29th May: Drive to Scotland, stopping for one night at New Lanark hostel. This hostel is a former millworkers house with river views in the beautifully restored 18th century cotton mill village nestled in the spectacular south Lanarkshire valley in southern Scotland, close to the Falls of Clyde.

  • Sunday 30th May: 3 hour drive from New Lanark to Oban. Ferry at 1600 to Craignure on the Isle of Mull (arrives 1646). Five nights at Glenaros Lodge. This independent hostel is near Salen in the centre of the Isle of Mull, making it an ideal location from which to explore the island.

  • Mull is superb for walking with both high and low-level, scenic, coastal and mountain walks. Climb Ben More (3,169ft) and enjoy magnificent coastal walks. Possible boat trips to Iona (St Columba Abbey and Nunnery), Staffa (Fingal's cave), Ulva and other islands. Scenic wonders include the Carsaig Arches and MacKinnon's Cave. We can also visit historic castles, the Mull Railway and the Tobermory distillery.

  • Friday 4th June: Ferry back to Oban, to spend two nights at Oban hostel. The hostel is on the seafront with panoramic views across the bay.

  • We'll have a day to explore Oban, or perhaps take a day trip to the islands of Kerrera or Lismore, or for Munro baggers Ben Cruachan is nearby.

  • Sunday 6th June: Return to Essex.

Total cost of the trip will be around £300 including accommodation, petrol contribution, ferry and all meals. This trip is now fully booked


Wednesday 2nd June

Invictus at the Cramphorn

Dave & Helen

Invictus is a film about the transformation of the South African rugby team into a beacon of hope for a united nation. The film is showing at the Cramphorn Theatre, Fairfield Road, Chelmsford (Box Office 01245 606505), but be sure to book early as these films tend to sell out fast!


The Cricketers pub, Danbury

Wednesday 9th June

Danbury Geocaching

Cress

Meet at the National Trust car park for Danbury Common (near The Cricketers PH) at 7:30pm for an evening of geocaching. Geocaching is a bit like a treasure hunt, but you use a GPS instead of X to mark the spot.

If you have a GPS please bring it along, but if you don’t come anyway and join in the fun. We’ll pop into the pub later for a bit of a thirst quencher about 9ish.

Directions: Take A414 east from Chelmsford, turn right opposite the Bell Inn in Danbury (Well Lane), left at the end, car park is on the left after ¼ mile, just beyond junction with Penny Royal Rd; grid ref for your GPS: TL779046, see map.


Wednesday 16th June

Committee meeting

Join us for trip planning for the spring and all the best in local walks. Everybody welcome!


The Viper pub

Wednesday 23rd June

Midsummer Cycle Ride

Jim

Meet at The Viper, a delightful country pub on the road between Mill Green and Highwood (grid ref TL640019, see map), at 7:30pm for a lovely cycle ride and a bit of refreshment.


The Church at Ulting (Tom)

Sunday 27th June

Canal Walk

Dave P

Join us for a walk through the heart of Essex, from Heybridge Basin along the Blackwater and the Chelmer canals to Chelmsford, the county town. The walk is approximately 14 miles end-to-end.

We’ll probably stop for tea in the afternoon at Paper Mill lock, and finish with a pint at The Old Ship, but please bring sandwiches for lunch.

Meet at the Heybridge Basin Daisy Meadow car park (grid ref TL870069, see map) at 10:00am (Heybridge Basin is signposted from the B1026 between Heybridge and Goldhanger). We’ll leave most of our cars at Heybridge Basin, and organise lifts to Chelmsford, to walk back to Heybridge.



West Park Pitch and Putt

Wednesday 30th June

Pitch & Putt

Dave J

An evening of something vaguely resembling golf! Meet in the car park of West Park Pitch and Putt, Waterhouse Lane, Chelmsford at 7.30pm if you want a game, or 9pm at the Black Bull pub in Rainsford Road if you just fancy a pint. Cost: approx. £4.


Note: Unless otherwise stated, Wednesday events start at 8.30pm at the YMCA in Victoria Road, Chelmsford

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