Programme
Wednesday Meetings, Weekends Away & Other Events
March 2002
Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd March 2002
Llanddeusant Hostel, Wales
A weekend at this recently refurbished, remote hostel near the Black Mountain in the western part of the Brecon Beacons National Park, South Wales. Llanddeusant hostel is a 200-year old former Inn, with an open log fire in the lounge, situated next to a 14th century church overlooking the delightful Sawdde valley. There are excellent walks from the door of the hostel, including the spectacular Bannau Brycheiniog (2632ft), as well as lower lever walks to lakes, Iron Age forts, Roman camps etc. Dinefwr Park and Castle Woods Nature Reserve close by. Carreg Cennen Castle is 9 miles, and Dan-y-Ogof caves 12 miles.
Deposit £20 please. Total cost expected to be less than £45 each, including food and petrol.
Wednesday 6th March
Pub Night ~ The Three Elms
A drink at The Three Elms public house in Chignall St James. To find it, leave Chelmsford on the A1060 (Rainsford Rd/Roxwell Rd), turn right at lights into Chignall Road, after 1 mile turn left (Mashbury Rd), signposted Chignall St. James. The Three Elms is on the right after another mile. (Grid ref TL675097, see map)
Wednesday 13th March
Committee Meeting
Planning Wednesday events for May. More ideas for walks and weekends always needed. Everyone welcome.
Sunday 17th March
Walk - Hatfield Broad Oak
A
pleasant 8 mile walk along the Pincey Brook valley between the
charming villages of Hatfield Broad Oak and Bush End, and along the
Flitch Way into Takeley.
Meet at 10.30 at the car park in Hatfield Broad Oak, grid ref TC545166, see map. Lunch will be at The Green Man, Takeley Street (see sample menu). Please let Dave know if you're coming.
Wednesday
20th March
Slide Show ~ Australia
"Tie me Kangaroo Down, Sport"!
Hop along on Wednesday evening to view some of the best scenes Western Australia and the Northern Territories has to offer. There'll be wildflowers, dolphins, a convict prison and plenty of rockscapes.
Wednesday 27th March
Mountain Navigation & Safety
Lorna has been volunteered to hone our hill walking skills, just in time for our trip to the Lakes. Please bring compasses and maps for us to practice with.
Thursday 28th March to Tuesday 2nd April (Easter)
Blencathra, Lake District
Spend Easter near Keswick in the North East corner of the Lake District.
Change of Venue: Unfortunately the Matterdale Centre which we had booked for the Easter weekend is closed for the time being due to electrical problems. Instead we have been lucky enough to find space not far away at the Blencathra Centre near Threlkeld. We have booked the Lonscale Self-Catering Hostel which is in the grounds of the Blencathra Centre, run by the Field Studies Council in partnership with the Lake District National Park. The Centre is dramatically situated 300 metres up on Blencathra mountain with panoramic views of England’s highest peaks.
Lonscale Hostel is a very comfortable detached building and is centrally heated with 22 bunks in 10 rooms with wash basins, male and female washrooms, showers and toilets, a common room, drying room and kitchen with two electric cookers, fridge and freezer.
Blencathra and Skiddaw can be climbed from the hostel and further north are the lonely and unfrequented hills “Back o’ Skidda”. To the west is the Coledale Horseshoe and, to the south, St John’s in the Vale and Thirlmere give western access to the Dodds Ridge and Helvellyn.
The
Salutation Inn in Threlkeld is 1½ miles from the hostel, and
Keswick is about 3 miles away.
How to get there: Leave the M6 at Junction 40 (Penrith) and follow the A66 towards Keswick. About 3 miles before Keswick, take the first turn right to the village of Threlkeld, go through the village, pass the Horse & Farrier pub, turn sharp right onto Blease Road which climbs steeply for a mile to the Blencathra Centre. Lonscale hostel is on the right beside reception. Grid ref: NY 302 254 see map. Use the bottom car park, below the hostel. If you need to contact us there in an emergency, FSC office number is 017687 79601 .
Duvets & pillows are provided; you'll need to bring a sleeping bag or sheets and a pillow case.
The Centre is available for 4 nights, arriving on the Thursday and leaving on Easter Monday. The cost will be about £14 per night (including food) plus £28 to the petrol fund for those sharing lifts from the Chelmsford area, making £84 for the 4 nights.
Deposit £20 please to book your bed.
The 22 beds will be allocated to the first 22 people paying deposits, so please don't delay if you want to be sure of a place.
Some
of us are also planning to stay at
YHA
Langdale (High Close) hostel on the Monday night and go home on
Tuesday - please indicate if you are interested in this option.
£10 extra deposit to book this extra night please.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, Wednesday events start at 8.30pm at the YMCA in Victoria Road, Chelmsford
Please send any comments on these pages to Dave Plummer