Author: Andy Llewellyn

I’m still intending to depart from Hobson Moor Quarry at 7.30 a.m. this Saturday 29th Feb. However I have slightly revised the route as it seems appropriate that the Etherow Watershed should finish at Etherow Country Park (which is just outside Marple). This makes little difference to the distance and timing, and is hopefully a more pleasant last 5 miles, but does have the disadvantage that we don’t finish walking where we left the cars at Hobson Moor! I have therefore enlisted help in the form of 2 ‘willing’ drivers to ferry us back to our cars. Please confirm your attendance, if you have not already done so, in order that I can ensure we have sufficient capacity to get us all safely back to the start. Many thanks Andy Llewellyn Contact details as per handbook

Due to the appalling forecast for this weekend the walk on Saturday has been cancelled. Andy Llewellyn Outdoor Meets organiser.  

After a great meet this year in Knoydart with a number of ‘big’ hills in the area (and in truth it wasn’t actually an island) next year I’m intending to head for Colonsay. It is a lovely small island, about 10 miles long and 2 miles wide. Rugged coastline with some beautiful sandy beaches. The highest hills are just over 300 feet high, but there are 22 of them, so if you did all of them in a day it’s the equivalent of 2 Munros. https://colonsay.org.uk/ I have secured some really nice accommodation which although described as a ‘backpackers lodge’ as you can see from the link (https://www.colonsayholidays.co.uk/backpackers/) it is much more like self catering. The cost is £80.25 each for the 3 nights. Travel is from Oban on the Friday afternoon returning on the Monday afternoon. Dates September 11th-14th (note a month earlier than this year). If you would like to come along please contact me on the usual details as per handbook. Andy

I have started compiling the next outdoor meets programme which runs from May 2020 to April 2021. So potential meet co-coordinators out there please get in contact with me now to book your slot. New ideas for meets are always welcome just as much as re-runs of old classics. The meets programme needs to be completed and ready for the handbook by the end of the year so don’t delay get in contact now – contact details as per handbook. I look forward to hearing from you. Many thanks Andy

Unfortunately I have had to postpone the Colne Rowsley walk. I will sort out a new date for the walk in the Autumn and will confirm asap. Helen Pritchard has kindly agreed to organise a replacement walk on Saturday 6th April. This will be a ‘local walk’ of 15 miles or so. Please contact Helen directly for more information; details as per the handbook.  

Please note that the following two meets have swapped dates. The new dates are as follows: March 9th – Walking meet. Coordinator Andy Howie April 6th & 7th – Colne Rowsley. Coordinator Andy Llewellyn Please also note that the meet on 15th December ‘Bradfield Dale revisited’ has been postponed until next year. If anybody would like to organise a replacement meet for the 15th December please let me know asap on: andy.lou64@virginmedia.com    

Next year’s island meet will not quite be on an island, but almost. I’m booking the Knoydart Foundation Bunkhouse at Inverie for 3 nights. It holds 26 and at the moment I have 18 ‘on board’. We get there by ferry from Mallaig which has a number of sailings each day to and from Inverie. If there are 8 more interested in joining the trip I can book the whole bunkhouse which would be at a cost of £15.50 per night each. So if you would like to come along (and perhaps bag those 3 remote Munros) please let me know asap on email: andy.lou64@virginmedia.com Thanks Andy    

I am in course of pulling together the next meets programme and would be delighted to hear from anybody who would like to coordinate a meet for the Club. Good progress has been made to almost complete 2019 so ideas for winter and spring meets in 2020 would be most welcome. Hut meets, walking meets, winter mountaineering meets ….whatever you fancy …. Please contact me on: andy.lou64@virginmedia.com I look forwards to hearing from you. Thanks Andy