Category: Featured Meets

Please enjoy watching this short video of the extensive work now completed at Craigallan. Gareth Llewellyn gives you a tour of the new flooring and kitchen that will hopefully be enjoyed by members and friends for decades to come. A huge thank you to Gareth for project managing a very successful refurb Helen Pritchard President

Good afternoon,   Here are some teasers for our May meets:   Spring really takes off in May, so the Rucksack Club calendar is packed with activities to encourage us all to get out and enjoy the mountains: Taking advantage of the bank holiday weekend, we have a camping trip over the wild hills of the Ben Alder Forest, both north and south of the Bealach Dubh. We start from the remote railway station at Corrour on Saturday 2nd, then head north east to Beinn Eibhinn for our first ascent (of many…) The following weekend we’re off to our great hut in North Wales, Beudy Mawr, with climbing in mind.  Another weekend, another country – this time (15-17 May) we’re in England, the Duddon Valley to be precise, to enjoy the Lake District from our superb hut, High Moss. This is a joint meet with the Wayfarers.  Just a week later and we’re back to Scotland, this time taking advantage of Craigallan, our wonderful hut in Ballachulish, to give us a springboard for tackling the great ridges of Ben Nevis, not to mention trying out the new kitchen.  Finally in May, we’re back to High Moss to coincide with the[…]

Carole Smithies writes: Regret to say that John Russell, who joined the Club in 1959, died yesterday the 16th of April. His funeral will be held on Tuesday 5th May 2:30pm at Altrincham Crematorium; Rucksack Club members are invited. Please let Carole or John’s son Nicholas know if you will attend, contact details in the Handbook.

This year’s Gogarth Meet is taking place on 20 & 21 June – no doubt it’s already in your diary (…and of course it will be if you’ve got a copy the 2026 Rucksack Club Calendar 🙂 ) ‘Got away with it!’ was the headline from the 2025 edition, when despite a dodgy forecast 92 members, family, friends and guests came together for the traditional BBQ on Porth Dafarch beach – more in hope than expectation. The rain held off, a good time was had by all, and I didn’t end up with a van full of soggy sausages. We even got some climbing done! Fingers crossed for better weather this year, especially as we’ll be hosting some of the visitors from across the world who are attending the BMC’s International Meet – I’ve promised the best crag on the planet and the friendliest club! Beyond that it’s the same old formula that has served us well for the last twenty plus years. Come equipped with a rack & rope; a bike; kayak or pair of binoculars; or just a tube of factor 50 and a bucket and spade – whatever you need to ‘Get Out There!’ and work up[…]

  The outdoor world bursts into spring in April, so the Rucksack Club is geared up for a busy month: Easter in the Rucksack Club traditionally means Scotland and this year is no exception; we convene at Mill Cottage near Feshiebridge with the Cairngorms at our feet. The following week (10-12 April) is our President’s Meet, which this year will be at the Gritstone Club’s hut by Thirlmere, The Smithy. This will give great access to central Lakeland.  A week later and we’re back in the Lake District, this time with a joint meet with the Midland Association of Mountaineers at our own capacious hut in the Duddon Valley, High Moss (see photo). Finally in April (24-26), we return to the Fell and Rock Club’s Brackenclose hut, where we had a highly successful meet last year.  With kind regards          Andrew Beckett          Meetstaff Editor

Carole Smithies writes: I regret to say we have just heard that Roger Booth died on the 19th March.  Roger joined the Club in 1961 and he was our President in 2005-6. Roger’s funeral service will take place at Stirling Crematorium on Wednesday 8th April at 12.30pm.   His family say that any Club members who wish to attend will be most welcome as the Club was a very big part of his life.  [No black please.]  Refreshments will be available afterwards. The service will also be streamed. Family flowers only please.  Donations, if so desired, to Skye Mountain Rescue or Dementia Research UK. If you intend to go, please let me know so I can inform Roger’s family or, I can provide on-line streaming details. And finally, Roger’s family would be very glad to have some input for the funeral from Club members.  So, if you have anything you’d like to include, please get in touch with me in the first instance. Contact details in handbook.  

The video of Adam Gouldsworthy’s excellent presentation: To the End of the World: From Aconcagua to the Patagonian Andes is now available via the Virtual Meets Gallery Link to Virtual Meets Gallery This brings the the collection up to a whopping 53 videos! Other gems recently added are: A tale of two treks – Helen and Rae Pritchard Winter Climbing the perfect antidote to a comfortable life – Andy Stewart Mount Kenya – Mark Jenesson and Richard Clegg Pabbay and Mingullay – Mark Hounslea and Khumbu Himalayas – Andy Barlass and Joe Fisher The Scoop and other Hard Rock ticks – Dominic Oughton, Bill Deakin and guests Alaska Expedition Alpinism – Adam Bowman Friends in high places – Will Rupp

March is another busy month for the Rucksack Club, with a meet every weekend: We begin (6-8 March) with a visit to the Midland Association of Mountaineers’ Glan Dena hut in Eryri for a planned 18-mile walk around the sites of historic former Rucksack Club huts in the area: Cwm Eigiau, Tal y Braich Uchaf, and Tyn‐y‐Shanty. The following weekend (13-15) the venue changes to our own hut in the Scottish Highlands, Craigallan, for winter walking and climbing – or whatever the weather permits. This is a joint meet with the Karabiner Club.  The next weekend (21-22) we have a gargantuan walk in the traditions of the Rucksack Club pioneers. This will take us from Colne to Rowsley, timed to celebrate the centenary of its first completion. The pioneers started at 4.15p.m. and finished at 7.45p.m. the following day – with very sore feet! We’ll do well to match their pace.  Finally in March (27-29) we return to Craigallan for another chance to enjoy winter conditions, this time with the emphasis on walking. The attached photo is of the Glan Dena hut.  Best wishes          Andrew Beckett          Meetstaff Editor