Author: Andy Llewellyn

I am in course of pulling together the outdoor programme for next year.  The last 2 years have obviously been something of a disaster and although meets are thankfully now happening again attendance on most meets has not been anything like pre Covid levels. It would therefore be great if 2022 is a bumper year both in terms of the number of meets organised and attendance.   Please get in contact with me (details as per handbook) to arrange a meet, everybody can be accommodated.  It would be particularly good to hear from members of the former Anabasis Mountaineering Club as organising a meet is a great way for us all to get to know each other.  Many thanks Andy Llewellyn            

Our 3 fantastic huts are not often used mid-week. As we emerge from the shadow of Covid why not take the opportunity to use one of our huts during the week and organise an ‘informal’ meet.  It’s so easy to do. Anybody interested should approach the individual hut warden to book the hut for the number of places required / or to the maximum occupancy currently agreed. Then if anybody else makes an enquiry via the hut warden seeking use of the hut during the same period the warden will direct that person to the member who has made the meet booking. The meet coordinator will no doubt want the meet to be advertised, if so they can send me details which I will put on the website meet calendar and send out a web post. I can also arrange for the notice to go out via our social media.  Please note that the meet coordinator has the discretion to set the terms for their meet, where they could choose, for example, to include a requirement for full vaccination and/or a negative Covid test. Our huts are empty for significant periods of time so if you are free and want[…]

John Llewellyn    We are very sad to advise that our Dad, John, passed away last Friday the 25th of June.  He was an Honorary Member, Past President and member since 1958.   The funeral service will take place at Cypress Chapel, Stockport Crematorium on Thursday 8th July at 2.15 p.m.   Numbers are very limited but if you would particularly like to attend the service please let Andy or Gareth know asap. Alternatively the service will be available via web-link so again please let either of us know if you would like the details when we have them. An order of service will also be sent with the web-link. Contact details as per handbook.   Andy & Gareth On behalf of the Llewellyn Family

Friday 24th September  –  Monday 27th September 2021 ( Bed nights of 24th, 25th and 26th)   Weekend meet in the Cheviots – Mounthooly Bunkhouse, College Valley, Kirknewton, nr. Wooler NE71 6TU. Coordinator: David Nightingale Mounthooly Bunkhouse is set at the head of the magnificent, remote College Valley in the Cheviot Hills, on the English – Scottish border.  The opportunities for a great day out start immediately from the doorstep. The bunkhouse is approx. 4 km from both Cheviot summit (815m), the Pennine Way and also Hen Hole crags which offers wild and atmospheric rock climbing, across most grades. Mountain bike routes can also be explored in local forests. This is one of the nicest bunkhouse locations you could wish for and it is well appointed with a comfy lounge, two shower/bathrooms, large kitchen, hot water and wood burning stoves. I shall be providing a delicious communal ‘Masterchef’ standard meal for all on the Saturday night and organising some light-hearted after dinner entertainment. Hut OS Map Ref: NT 882 226. For more info visit: www.college-valley.co.uk/accommodation/bunk-house/ I’ve booked the whole bunkhouse for the bed nights Fri 24th, Sat 25th and Sun 26th and am offering 18 places on the meet, at[…]

Join us for a 10-mile loop over the hills of the Radnor Forest, including Bache Hill, Black Mixen and Great Rhos, all Nuttalls, and the shapely Whimble. These may not be spectacular hills but they give a quiet moorland walk with long views; they rise above all around for some distance. Start near the Monument in New Radnor (SO213607), where there is parking by the roadside, at 10:00. We propose to limit the number to 12. Please let Andrew Beckett know if you would like to come, having read the guidance on meets on the website. Please also confirm that you are happy to abide by whatever restrictions may then be in force.

Saturday 8th May. Wharfedale Wander, Yorkshire Dales. Co-ordinator: Dave Woolley A walk of 20 miles starting from Conistone in Wharfedale starting at 0830hours. Park just west of the village before the bridge. I intend to walk out to Malham Tarn (avoiding the hotspots of the cove) and then head over to Arncliffe, on to Kettlewell and returning via the limestone pavements. Numbers will be restricted to 12. Please read and comply with the Covid guidance available on the website before booking on the meet. Booking via my details in the handbook. Outside refreshments may be available………… Saturday 22nd May. Kinder 3 Trigs from Bowden Bridge, Hayfield Co-ordinator: Will Meredith    Route will be about 16 miles setting off at 8.30 from Bowden Bridge car park then Sandy Hayes Trig, Fairbrook Naize, drop down to Snake Rd, up to Kinder East Trig, drop to Barber Booth, up to Kinder Low Trig, back to finish.  Route based on a recent Dark Peak fell runners lockdown challenge.   Please read and comply with the Covid guidance available on the website before booking on the meet. Booking email is different to the handbook so please use willmered@gmail.com or call me on mobile as per handbook.  

Bleaklow Meet Saturday 17th April Co-ordinator Andy Llewellyn.   A walk of 20 miles starting from Birchen Clough car park (GR 108915) at 8.45 a.m.  I intend heading onto Bleaklow via Alport Moor, thence to Bleaklow Head, Bleaklow Stones, Grinah & Barrow stones before heading back via Alport Castles. It is a reasonably sized parking area and intend to start walking at 8.45 a.m. I am hoping that there will be sufficient parking available but propose to restrict numbers in the group to 12 in total. So, if you would like to join me, please email or text me on the details as per handbook. Before contacting me, could you please read the guidance about Meets that is on the website and confirm that you are happy to comply with the regulations which can be found here   North East Lakes Walk – The Dodds. Wednesday 28th April 2021 Co-ordinators: David Nightingale and Betty Hamer Join us both for a 10mile (16km) hill walk exploring The Dodd’s fells lying just south of the A66 Penrith to Keswick road.  Our circular route will start near Dockray and take us into Glencoynedale, up onto Stybarrow Dodd, Watson’s Dodd and Great Dodd and possibly Hart[…]

Hopefully you will have seen that meets have now recommenced but on a somewhat restricted basis, with The President coordinating the first walking meet last weekend and Mike Hartley a climbing meet this Saturday. In addition midweek climbing meets have also started again. There is an underlying meets programme (as detailed in the handbook) but unfortunately due to the current restrictions this still can not go ahead as originally planned. Where possible meet coordinators are converting weekend meets to single day, local climbing or walking meets. As we move towards the end of June more restrictions will hopefully be relaxed and we can then revert to something nearer the originally planned programme. In the interim I am looking to try and organise two meets each weekend, ideally one climbing and one walking meet. But to do so I need more volunteers to coordinate meets. Therefore please let me know ASAP if you would be happy to organise a meet. No need for specific details as yet, we just need to agree a date and type of meet, full details can be provided nearer the time.  So please do get in touch with me and let me know what meet you[…]

Mike Hartley has kindly agreed to convert his originally planned ‘Wet camp’ meet into a days climbing meet next Saturday to be held at  Great Close Scar, Yorkshire Dales. The full details are held in the Members Only Documents area of the Website, which can be accessed here. Please note you will need to be logged in to access this information. The Meet information is in Document 5 [One Day Meets – Walking & Climbing], but please also read the other 4 Documents].