Category: Member Posts

I’m pleased to confirm that I’ve arranged access to the historic Cwm Eigiau hut, now under the stewardship of the Rugby Mountaineering Club, as part of the meet. Cwm Eigiau was the first Welsh hut of The Club, opened in 1912, and it will be a real privilege to step inside and reconnect with this important part of our Club’s history. My thanks to RMC for kindly granting us access. I’m looking forward to the visit. Any further bookings by next Wednesday 4th March please. tomgregg81@yahoo.co.uk 07968106919

There are three big trees VERY close to Beudy on our neighbour’s land. One fell down recently (fortunately the right way). I have written to to the neighbours twice but there has been no reply. The properties on either side of Beudy are vacant. I am worried about the condition of the trees. The local authority is not interested because it does not affect the highway and the National Park has not responded to any of my requests. I know it’s the owners responsibility but they do not seem interested. I want an inspection carried out out by a qualified arborist. Do we have any in the Club willing to have a look? As a side issue, there are some major overhanging branches that need attention and again I would appreciate some advice. Please let me know if you can help.

Hi all, There has been a lot of interest and this meet is now full up (including the reserve bunk spaces in the lounge) with a good spread of Rucksack and Karabiner members. But please still let me know if you are interested as if people drop out I can then offer spaces to those who have expressed interest. Here’s hoping the kitchen refurb will be finished!! Cheers, Gareth (I’m Gareth R Williams in the handbook, note the R!)

A very belated Happy New Year from me and Beudy! Here’s how things stand for the next couple of months. Thom Hall is in this weekend with a party of 8, then it’s two successive Club Meets – Andy Quicke (14/15) and Mike Zeidan (21/22). Contact them for further details. Things are pretty quiet then until mid March when Bedford MC have booked 11 spaces. Our old friends the OBEC club have have booked the whole hut for the weekend of 28/29 March, which means they have been coming to Beudy for over 50 years now! April is busy. There are 10 (plus the 3 overspill) spaces available for the Easter weekend and 6 (plus 3) available on the weekend of 18/19 April. In May, there are 7(plus 3) spaces available on the Early Bank Holiday weekend, then it’s Andy Stewart’s meet on the 9th/10th. The hut is fully booked the following weekend (16/17), empty at present on the Spring bank Holiday long weekend of 23-25 May. There are 6 (plus 3) spaces available on the last weekend of 30/31. So – it’s reasonably busy. Maybe it’s the full fibre broadband, maybe it’s the dual air fryer, but really I[…]

The chimneys were swept last week by an approved contractor as part of the standard maintenance routine. The sweep reported that the lounge stove was in a very poor condition, so much so that he issued a warning notice about it. The stove has been removed from the flue and I will be collecting it in the next few days. Obviously, it and the hearth should not be used – there is a notice from the sweep fixed to the stove. In the meantime, if you want to use the lounge but are feeling cold in there, do as we do ‘oop North and put another jumper on! The dining room stove is working fine. I’ll update you when the damage to the stove has been assessed. It may be capable of repair. If not, a replacement will be sought.

There’s plenty of activity in the Rucksack Club this February, not only making good use of all of our huts but with a sun rock trip too: We end January and begin February (30-1) with a caving meet based at Matlock, a fixture that has become a hardy perennial.  Our fabulous Duddon Valley hut, High Moss, deserves a little help with maintenance each year, so we have a working meet scheduled for the weekend of 6-8 of the month. These working meets have built up a devoted following, being warm, friendly and productive occasions.  But for those who can forego the camaraderie of the working meet, one of our number has organised a sun rock trip to the Costa Blanca (7-14 Feb). There is a villa booked north of Altea… Back in the UK, an enthusiastic recent member has organised a running and walking meet for the weekend of 13-15 Feb. This will be based at Beudy Mawr, our hut in the heart of Eryri.  Beudy Mawr will be in use the following weekend also (20-22), when we have a ‘do-as-you-please’ meet.  Finally in February (27 Feb – 1 March), our Scottish hut, Craigallan, will be busy for winter climbing[…]

GOOD NEWS! There are still places available on my meet at Beudy Mawr next weekend. We had great conditions last year with frozen ground and Snowdonia shrouded in a thick blanket of cloud – all except Snowdon & Grib Goch – which is where we were!!! A sacrifice has once again been made to the weather gods (I accidentally burnt my veggie burger at lunchtime yesterday – does that count?) so excellent wintery conditions assured. Contact as per the handbook, let me know by Tuesday next week please.

I am not yet in the handbook, so here are contact details in case anyone would like a copy of my book ‘Into the Mystery, Camera in the Wild’, so well reviewed by Ian Charters in the current Meetststaff. intothemystery@posteo.net website robbeightonartprints.net, where there is a link to buy the book.

Forget joining a gym, giving up alchohol or even going vegan, the only resolution for 2026 that is worthwhile is to complete the Marsden-Edale on the 10th January! The annual winter challenge of 22 miles across the finest of the Dark Peak, pioneered by The Rucksack Club around a hundred years ago, has been a yearly event for the last 80+ years! Now is your chance to continue this tradition, to stretch those legs and burn off the Christmas & New Year excesses. The last couple of years have been done in perfect weather and in great company – let’s make the 2026 M-E another one to remember. No more making excuses to yourself that it’s just too complicated to get to/from the start/finish – get on WhatsApp or the phone and talk to each other, organise lifts, share taxis… If you can get to/from the airport for your holidays, then you can manage to get to Marsden and back from Edale!  Here are a few photos from last year: The details: Start – 7:45 at the end of Wessenden Rd (GR SE048107 OS South Pennines OL 21 map) – finish at The Ramblers in Edale. The route I’ll be[…]