CAMBRIDGE RAMBLING CLUB (Associated with HF Holidays)
WINTER NEWSLETTER 2009
Future Activities
18th January 2009, Sunday B Walkers New Year Lunch. A new venue, The Black Bull at Balsham. As previously, there will be a 5 mile walk led by Miranda and Helen followed by lunch at 1pm. Cost £16 for a 3 course meal inc. coffee and a tip. To book please contact John Andrews 01223 843717.
27th - 29th March 2009 - Coach weekend trip to the Forest of Dean. We currently have 44 places booked for the Speech House Hotel weekend. We are able to take 50+, but please book quickly as the last few places`are likely to be snapped up! We expect to allocate single rooms to all those who have requested them, although if we have a heavy demand these cannot be guaranteed as single occupancy at this hotel takes up a double or twin room and means that other members may not be able to come.
The coach will leave Ely at 10.15 am on Friday 27th March, and St Johns Innovation Centre (SJIC), Cowley Road, Cambridge at 11 am sharp, returning by approx 9 pm on Sunday 29th. The total cost is £155 for the weekend which includes 2 nights Dinner, Bed and Breakfast at the Hotel which is set in the heart of the forest, the return bus journey, and of course lovely walking! Anyone booking now should send a cheque for £155 to Chris, payable to the club. If you have already sent a deposit, please mark your diaries to pay the remaining £125 by January 31st 2009 at the latest. We still need leaders for the A and C walks, and any volunteers would be welcome. Chris will be happy to help with ideas to those that may not know the area. Please let Chris know your car registration number if you intend to park at the SJIC - or call him if you want more information, (01353 665596).
25th April 2009, London Walk. 2 walks exploring amongst other gems, Little Venice, Regents Canal and Regents Park areas. For full details send SAE to Audrey, after 1st March.
17th May 2009, Oxfam Walk, Chilford Hall. Details to follow in next newsletter.
12th July 2009, Summer Outing. Details to follow in next newsletter.
7th - 14th September 2009, Lake District Week, Longthwaite YH, Rosthwaite. 27 places reserved in 2 and 4 berth rooms, allocated on first come first served basis. Self catering will be available if required. Overnight cost for room only will be £20.50 per night in 2 berth rooms and £18.00 per night in 4 berth rooms. Please note that this does not include transport which is undertaken personally. Anyone staying in a B&B is welcome to join the walks, and take evening meals at the hostel. To secure a place please send to David a deposit of £50 payable to Cambridge Rambling Club.
6th - 8th November 2009, Coach Weekend, Cotswolds. We have reserved all rooms at Dumbleton Hall Hotel, nr Evesham, a beautiful 19th century Cotswold stone manor house, set in 19 acres of gardens. Cost for 2 nights B&B plus dinner on Saturday and coach is £140, single supplement £30. All rooms are en-suite. There is plenty of shared accommodation left, but only a couple of single rooms available. The hotel is insisting on a non refundable deposit by the end of March. To secure a place please let John have a cheque for £20 payable to C R C by 15th March at the latest. To enable those who are working to come on the trip, we plan to leave Cambridge at 6.00pm.
26th - 28th March 2010, Coach Weekend, Brompton-by-Sawdon nr Scarborough. We have reserved 50 places in twin, en-suite rooms at Wydale Hall, a retreat and conference centre of the Diocese of York. Set in 14 acres of grounds on the edge of the North York Moors, with good access to moorland and coastal walking. Cost for 2 nights dinner B&B, including packed lunches will be £89 for a twin room and £104 for a single. It is too early to obtain a quote for the coach but total cost should not exceed £125 for a shared room and £140 for a single. Reserve your place by sending a non-refundable deposit of £30 per head to David, with cheques payable to Cambridge Rambling Club.
Hostel weekends & longer trips. Hostel trips are relatively informal affairs, with weekend walks on Saturday and Sunday and overnight accommodation on Friday and Saturday. Trips a long way from Cambridge are often for 3 nights or more. 'A' walks are guaranteed, with around 6 hours walking; 'B' walks depend on a volunteer leader - please do offer! Travel is normally in cars and we try to arrange car sharing. All bookings are handled by Jill Tuffnell, with cheques payable to 'E G Tuffnell'. Please book well in advance as the full balance must be paid at least 8 weeks before the trip. If you can offer to drive or want a lift - please let Jill know. And you are very welcome to book your own B&B or hotel and join us on walks.
* Blaxhall YH near Snape, Suffolk coast, Friday 6th to Sunday 8th February 2009. We have sole use of this hostel - just £25 per person for the weekend. Self-catering and very comfortable, with nearby pubs in Snape village. 'B' walks available. There are still places available.
* Lincolnshire Wolds, near Louth, Friday 13th to Sunday 15th March 2009. We have booked in for 2 nights at Brook House Farm at Scramblesby close to the Viking Way. We have SOLE USE of this self-catering hostel for the weekend - a new area for the Club to walk. Cost £30 per person. There are 22 places available. See www.barnbreaks.co.uk
* NEW TRIP to Castleton YH in the Peak District, Easter - Thursday April 9th to Monday April 13th 2009. An opportunity to explore the wonderful countryside on the northern edge of the 'White Peak', close to Mam Tor and Losehill. We have booked 12 places for 4 nights; meals available. Cost £17 per person per night for accommodation, (£68 for 4 nights). There are 2 x two-bedded rooms available - check with Jill if you would like to reserve one.
* Bala, north Wales - Bala Bunkhouse. Thursday 30th April to Monday 4th May 2009. We have reserved 14 beds at this comfortable self- catering bunkhouse just 1.5 miles from Bala, close to the beautiful Arenig, Aran and Berwyn hills. The cost is £58 for 4 nights, including bedding. For those who have paid £20 deposit can you please pay the balance due (£38) by 15th February 2009. We can book a further 6 beds if there is sufficient interest. See www.balabunkhouse.co.uk
* Backpacking trip to Yorkshire/Lancashire, Friday 22nd to Thursday 28th May 2009. The 2009 inter-hostel walk includes parts of the Calderdale, Bronte and Pennine Ways. 3 days light backpacking plus 2 day walks. Our trip starts near Hebden Bridge and includes 2 nights at comfortable Mankinholes YH, (self-catering plus nearby pub), a walk over to Haworth YH on Sunday (meals available) for 2 nights, a walk to small Earby YH (self-catering), then a final night back at Mankinholes YH. It is possible to travel here by public transport. Glorious countryside and wonderful villages. We have booked 15 places. The total cost for accommodation is £100 - so can those who have already sent £20 deposit please pay the balance (i.e. £80) by 10th March at the latest.
* Beer YH, Devon coast close to Dorset - Thursday August 6th to Monday August 10th 2009. There is excellent walking on the coast path and also inland from Beer - so this is a very good base for a summer hostelling trip. The overnight bed cost is £17. Please send a deposit of £20 per head to reserve a place, with the balance (£48) payable by the end of May. Meals are available at the hostel, with plenty of pubs and restaurants nearby in the village.
* Blackboys, East Sussex - 'The Glade' hostel (former YH): Friday 16th to Sunday 18th October 2009. The Club is renting the entire hostel for an autumn weekend, (2 nights), so there is plenty of space and we will be able to access the hostel during the day on Saturday. Blackboys is close to Ashdown Forest and excellent footpaths such as the 'Vanguard' Way. The hostel is self-catering. The cost is £20 a night (i.e. £40 for the weekend). Please send a deposit of £20 to secure a place.
News and Notices
Wednesday 'B' News from John. Our best wishes go to Kathy who has been unable to walk with us for some time due to longstanding back problems, and recently a wrist injury; and also to Ailsa after her very unfortunate accident. Congratulations to Ruth on reaching her 87th birthday. Ruth has decided to retire from regular walking with the club after so many years. She will be missed and we wish her well for the future.
Wednesday 'C' News from Sheila. What a lovely surprise to learn that our American friend Anne Childs is to marry again. We look forward to seeing her in 2009. Six relatively 'new' members i.e. Elizabeth, Maureen, Kate, Sue, Carol and Josie have now led walks for the first time for which I am very grateful, even with the 'Blip'! We ALL ought to get back in the habit of doing a head count and have a back marker! Derwent of course remains our 'mainstay' as a leader. I hope that my hospital visits will resolve my leg and heel problems as I do so want to get back to a 'longer' walk if possible. Wednesdays are for me and no doubt a lot of you the best day of the week! Kate and Sue are thinking of having a Xmas lunch on their walk on 17th December at The Tree Stapleford. This would replace the Saffron Walden walk.
Annual General Meeting, 29th November. The current committee members were re-elected except that Chris is standing down after five years as our coach weekend organiser. We extend our sincere thanks to Chris for organising these trips, all to superb locations. David will continue to organise the Spring coach weekend and Lake District week. Thanks also to Roger who steps down after completing three years as an ordinary committee member and to Rita who returns after a break of seven years. A total number of 44 members attended and were entertained by Tony Caldwell who spoke on his experiences trekking in the Annapurna area of the Himalayas. Over £56 was raised in support of Leukaemia Research in addition to the £100 donated by the club.
* Insurance. It is inevitable that for some reason members are not able to go on a trip with the Club, for which they have paid in advance. We strongly recommend that members have adequate insurance cover. Please ensure this includes short trips e.g. weekends.
* Accident Reporting. For insurance purposes it is essential that any significant incident or accident that might lead to a claim against the Club be reported. Typical examples are: Any head injury, bone fracture or other injury requiring medical treatment; damage to property e.g. livestock or farm equipment, due to a member's negligence. It is the leader's responsibility to ensure that a report is made and sent to John Pym, President. John will give advice on what information is required.
* HF Holidays The Club has become a lifetime member and as such receives a number of benefits which include: Group discount rates and packages including great rate holiday insurance, £50 per annum to support production of our programme/newsletter, free publicity for our club on their website and in their UK Country Houses. For further information please contact John Pym. * Subscriptions. Due now, no change at £4. Please set up a standing order- forms on website or from Simon. *Committee Meeting. The next meeting is on Tuesday, 17th March 2009 at the Wesley Church, King Street, Cambridge at 7.30pm. *Next Newsletter. Any items of interest, including adverts, should be sent to John Pym by 20th March.
A very merry Christmas to all members and wishing you all good health and an enjoyable New Year of walking. John Pym President.