Programme

Friday 28^th April to Monday 1^st May

Bank Holiday Weekend in Shropshire

Dave J

We'll be staying at Wilderhope Manor for three nights. This hostel is a 16th century National Trust-owned manor house, with oak spiral staircases, timber-framed walls and grand dining hall. Set in extensive grounds on Wenlock Edge in the Welsh Marches, there's plenty of walking in the Shropshire Hills.

Total cost about £70. This trip is now full.

Wednesday 3^rd May

Pub Night

Cressida

Nice pub, good beer – join us at The Boars Head, Billericay Rd, Herongate, (off the A128 south of Brentwood, see map). And there might be a quiz later in the evening!

Wednesday 10^th May

Committee Meeting

We will be trip planning for late Summer and organising Wednesday evening activities for July.

Note that the YMCA is not available for this evening, so we'll be meeting at Dave J's house

Sunday 14^th May

St.Ives Walk & House-warming

James & Marion

James & Marion have invited us to their new home in St Ives (Cambridgeshire). A walk along the River Great Ouse will take in picturesque villages and a working watermill. There is a pub, but please bring sandwiches for lunch. Afterwards everyone is invited back to their house for tea and cake.

Meet at 10.30am at the Cattle market long stay car park. (from A14 J26 follow A1096 to St.Ives. After crossing the river, the car park is by Waitrose on the left, just after the roundabout, see map). Please let them know a few days before if you’re planning to come.

Wednesday 17^th May

Evening Cycle Ride

Mike

A short cycle ride from Chelmsford, through the park to Writtle and Highwood, to one of our favourite haunts, The Duck at Newney Green. Meet in the Coval Lane car park (near the fire station, just off Waterhouse/Rainsford Lane, grid ref TL700069, see map) at 7:30pm and remember to bring lights as it’ll be dark on the way home (total ride about 8 miles).

Sunday 21^st May

Sunday Cycle Ride

Jim

After the warm up on Wednesday, join Jim for an 18 mile cycle ride (easy all road cycle) taking in the quaint Essex villages of Thaxted, Finchingfield and Great Bardfield with their windmills, teashops and numerous pubs. Bring sarnis as it will be difficult to guarantee a pub lunch. Meet at the village car park in Margaret Street, Thaxted at 10:30am (turn right following P & WC signs). Contact Jim if you need to discuss bicycle transport.

Wednesday 24^th May

Quiz

Ali

Join us for a short trivia quiz plus the final preparations for the Scotland trip.

Saturday 27^th May to Sunday 4^th June

Scotland Week

Tom

Five nights at Braemar hostel followed by three nights at Broadmeadows.

Braemar hostel is an impressive former shooting lodge in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. This comfortable hostel claims it has probably the best drying room in Scotland! Visit nearby Balmoral Castle (The Royal Family summer residence), and Royal Lochnagar Distillery.

Hostel is situated at the southern end of the village on the A93.

Broadmeadows is a small hostel near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders, close to the Southern Upland Way. This was the first SYHA hostel, opened in 1931. From the hostel you can climb to the Three Brethren cairns, a fine viewpoint on the Southern Upland way. Also visit the ruins of Newark Castle and Yarrow Kirk, and walk over the hills to Traquair House, Scotland's oldest inhabited castle, with its brewerey and museum.

From Selkirk, take the A708 for 8 kms. Turn (right) up track before the telephone box in Yarrowford for 1.25 km.

This trip is now full. Total cost of the week will be about £190.

Wednesday 31^st May

No Meeting

As quite a few of us are sampling the delights of Scotland there is no meeting planned this week.

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

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