Programme

Wednesday 4^th May

Pub Night: The White Horse

Dave J

Join Dave at the White Horse in Great Baddow High Street for evening drinks, plus the chance to exercise your brain cells at their popular quiz. The pub also does nice food if you’re in the mood for a treat. Quiz starts at 9pm.

Wednesday 11^th May

Committee Meeting

We’ll be looking at walks and Wednesdays for August, plus trips for the Autumn – feel free to join us.

Sunday 15^th May

Clacton Walk

Steve

Meet at the Hazelmere Rd Car Park (TM194157) at 10:30am for a 10 mile walk taking in the promenade, sea views, the new Gunfleet Sands Windfarm, Holland Haven Country Park, the amazing sea defences, and the countryside around Great Holland. The plan is for lunch at The Ship, Great Holland. Please let Steve know if you’re coming so he can confirm numbers with the pub.

Wednesday 18^th May

Bluebell Walk, Little Baddow

Ali

Meet at the Generals Arms, Little Baddow, at 8pm for a short (~3 miles) walk in the local woods to admire the bluebells, followed by a drink at the pub ~9pm. We will attempt to set off promptly, but please bring a torch (just in case).

The Generals Arm, The Ridge, Little Baddow, CM3 4SX. TL781071. See map

Saturday 21^st  May

London Walk & The National Gallery

Lily

Have a day in the big smoke with a bit of culture thrown in. Meet in the Sainsbury wing at the National Gallery at 2pm and hopefully we can join one of their free tours (nearest tube – Embankment).

If you’d like to do a walk in the morning, meet Dave & Ali at High Street Kensington underground station at 10.30am for a 4 mile walk through the Royal Parks.

Wednesday 25^th May

Slide Show: Volcanoes and Jungles

Doug

An opportunity to hear about, and view  pictures, of Doug's recent  trips to the volcanoes and jungles of Ecuador and Costa Rica, including a week's cruise in the amazing Galapagos Islands,  encountering wildlife in fascinating close-up, as he wandered by baby seals, boobies and albatrosses,  giant tortoises, iguanas basking in the sun, and hawks feeding, all indifferent  to human proximity

Saturday 28^th May to Sunday 5^th June 2011

A Week in Scotland - Isle of Arran

Jim

We plan to spend most of the week on the Isle of Arran, staying at Lochranza Hostel.

Surrounded by hills and opposite a thirteenth-century ruined castle, this lochside hostel has recently been fully refurbished. There are spectacular mountain walks, including Goat Fell (874m) the island's highest peak. The finest low level trek on the island, the Cock of Arran trail, starts and finishes at the Hostel. Arran has many other activities on offer including off-road biking, pony-trekking and watersports, and we can also visit the nearby distillery.

Estimated cost for the week is £310 (including hostels, meals, ferries and petrol contribution). This trip is now fully booked.

Itinerary:

• Saturday 28^th May: Drive to Newton Stewart. Minnigaff SYHA, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire. Directions: From A75 follow signs for Newton Stewart. Look for Minnigaff signs by the bridge. Turn into the road by the "Cree Inn" and the Hostel is 650 yards on the left. Postcode DG8 6PL; Grid ref NX411663.

• Sunday 29^th May: Ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick (Arran). (Check-in: 1445hrs, Sailing: 1515hrs). 6 nights at SYHA Lochranza hostel. Directions: From Brodick, turn right onto main road and follow directions for Lochranza (14 miles). Postcode KA27 8HL, Grid ref NR 935504.

• Saturday 4^th June: Ferry from Lochranza to Claonaig, drive to Glasgow to stay at SYHA hostel. Directions: From M8 J17, signed Dumbarton, merge left onto the A81. Turn left at the first set of lights and right at the next set of lights onto Woodlands Rd. Follow the hostel signposts. 8 Park Terrace, Glasgow, G3 6BY, Grid ref NS 575662.

• Sunday 5^th June: Drive home.

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

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