CAMBRIDGE RAMBLING CLUB

NEWSLETTER

No. 2/03  – Summer 2003

DRAFT

 

FUTURE ACTIVITIES

Sun. 18 May – Oxfam Walk

Walks of 7, 14 and 21 miles start from Wimpole Hall.  They all well signed and marshalled, so no map reading is required.  Refreshments will be provided en route, and tea at the end.  There are free buses from Cambridge to Wimpole.  For sponsorship forms: phone 01223 563388 or visit www.oxfam.org.uk/walk. 

Oxfam also need marshals, so please volunteer if not walking: call 01223 414954, Jerry Carr-Brion.

 

6-12 July – Isle of Arran

Dave Harrison and Mike Gilchrist are organising a week of walks on this lovely island off the SW coast of Scotland.  Mike has a number of A, B and C rambles planned.  Contact Dave for suggestions for making your travel and accommodation arrangements, or first visit our Website and click on Trips Away.

 

Sun. 13 July – Summer Outing

There will be walks of varying lengths, using Suffolk coast and heath paths, along and between the lovely estuaries of the rivers Stour and Orwell; there is a separate option of visiting Harwich and the town’s Heritage Trail.  The coach leaves Harvey Road at 8.30am sharp, returning by 7.30pm.  To book your place, send a cheque for £8.50 to George Brewster, 12 Chedworth Street, Cambridge CB3 9JF (tel: 01223 301615) payable to Cambridge Rambling Club.

 

30-31 August – BBQ in Aldeburgh; Suffolk walk

Colin Andrews is having a late birthday BBQ on Saturday 30th, starting at 7pm, at his house at 179 Saxmundham Road, Aldeburgh (Tel: 01728 454949).  There are B&Bs available in or around Aldeburgh.  The walk on Sunday starts from Snape Maltings, so there is no Harvey Road pick up.

 

17-19 October – Club Coach Weekend, Isle of Wight

As the last trip to the IoW proved so successful, Les and Norma Thomas have arranged the autumn club weekend at the Sun Holidays (UK) hotel in Shanklin.  The cost is £85 and includes coach and ferry crossing.  The coach will leave St John’s Innovation Centre, off Cowley Road, at 12 noon sharp.  To ensure a place, please send Carol Gautrey a deposit of £15 payable to Cambridge Rambling Club.  You will also need to inform her of your car registration number, if leaving your car at the Centre.  The balance of £70 will be due by 15 August.

 

Sat. 22 November – CEILIDH with The Crofters

Another chance to do some barn dancing to this popular band, at the Bayer Cropscience Sports & Social Club in Hauxton (5 miles south of Cambridge on A10).  The S&S Club is at the end of the lane opposite the factory.  Doors will be open at 7.30pm and the band will be playing from 8 to 11pm.  Further details in the next Newsletter; meanwhile note the date in your diaries!

 

HOSTEL TRIPS

Unless otherwise stated, hostel weekend trips involve walks on Saturday and Sunday with overnight accommodation on the Friday and Saturday nights. Trips a long way from Cambridge are often for 3 nights or more. ‘A’ walks are guaranteed and involve around 6 hours walking. There will only be ‘B’ walks if a leader volunteers – please do come forward so we can advertise well in advance. Help with routes is available. We normally travel in cars, returning Sunday evening. All bookings to Jill Tuffnell with cheques payable to ‘E G Tuffnell’. Please book early as the full balance is due 2 months before the trip and it may be difficult to secure a place late on. Also offers of cars and requests from those seeking a lift. For hostels providing food, breakfast costs £3.50, evening meal £5.10, and packed lunches are £3.10 (regular) and £4.00 (large). Please add to your booking if wanted. You are very welcome to book into a nearby B&B and join us for the walks.

 

Peak District Backpacking – Friday 23rd May to Wednesday 28th May – Bank Holiday

Starting and finishing at Ilam Hall, this trip visits 5 hostels in the less well known Staffordshire/Derbyshire border area. There are a couple of places available. The full overnight cost is £53.75. Meals only available at Ilam and Gradbach hostels – but most hostels have pubs nearby. Balance now due for those who have paid a deposit. Contact Jill for late bookings.

 

Whitby YH – Thursday 24th July to Sunday 27th July

With excellent walking along the coast to Staithes and Robin Hood’s Bay, plus the North York Moors close by, this trip offers a variety of scenery. Overnight cost is £10.25; meals available at the hostel but the Whitby fish & chips are a must!

 

Winchester YH – Friday 12th September to Sunday 14th

Our last attempt to visit Winchester YH – a National Trust Mill which makes up in atmosphere what it lacks in comfort – coincided with the early weeks of Foot & Mouth. So this time we hope to explore the excellent downland walking nearby. It is also feasible to travel by train, with Network South East discounts applicable. Overnight cost £10.25.

 

Arundel YH, Sussex – Friday 7th November to Sunday 9th

Situated close to the village of Arundel, walking on the South Downs is the chief attraction. One excellent walk is linear to Chichester with return by train. Overnight cost £11.50. Hostel meals available.

 

Rent-a-Hostel at Blaxhall YH, near Snape, Suffolk, Friday 30th January to Sunday 1st February 2004

Yes – it’s a long way off, but the early notice might encourage walks’ leaders to come forward and offer a choice of rambles. Recently refurbished, we will have sole occupancy of this cosy hostel close to the Suffolk coast. Cost £18.00 per head for the weekend. Self-catering – with a pub nearby.

 

NEWS AND NOTICES

Club Weekend in Abergavenny

Thanks largely to the fine weather and good leadership, we enjoyed a splendid weekend of rambles around the Black Mountains.  Some of the walks were quite demanding, including the Sugar Loaf and parts of Offa’s Dyke Path.

 

Insurance on Away Trips

Members are reminded that when the Club arranges an away trip, it cannot accept responsibility for any failure or cancellation not covered by the transport or accommodation company concerned, eg if it results in a member not being able to participate in the trip.  It is therefore up to members themselves to arrange for any insurance cover they require.

 

New ‘Access Forum’ for Cambridgeshire

Many of you will be aware of the new ‘Countryside & Rights of Way’ Act which is mapping England & Wales by region, identifying moor land and other land such as commons which can be opened for public access. A lesser known feature of the Act is the creation of ‘Local Access Forums’ in each county, which will bring together a wide range of people with interests in the countryside, including walkers, horse-riders, conservationists, farmers and land-owners. As well as discussing how well the County Council is fulfilling its statutory responsibilities, each Forum will consider the new maps of Open Access Land and a new ‘Rights of Way Improvement Plan’ which must be developed. A number of Club and RA members have applied to join the Forum – with selection being made by the summer.

 

Footpath maps on the Web

The County website now has available all its footpaths.  Click on:  www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk and search under Map of Cambridgeshire Paths.  There are the usual copyright restrictions, ie use only permitted for non-commercial purposes.

 

Vacancy for Treasurer - Carol Gautrey announced at the last AGM that she wishes to retire this year.  Anyone offering to take over should have access to a computer.  Please contact Carol in the first instance for more information.

 

Committee Meeting -   The next meeting is on Wednesday, 16 July at 19.45 at George Brewster’s house, 12 Chedworth Street, Newnham.

 

Next Newsletter - Items for the Newsletter are very welcome, and should be passed to Dieter by 8 July 2003.

 

Discount shops - Simpers, off Newmarket Road, offers 10% discount off walking equipment with your membership card.

 

Big Summer Walk Booking Form – 7th and 8th June

We are joining with the Cambridgeshire Ramblers Association on the first two stages of their ‘Big Summer Walk ‘ – a coach-assisted linear walk from Cambridge to Peterborough spread over three weekends in June. Full details are in the RA walks programme. Saturday 7th June:  10 and 14 mile walks from Lammas Land, Cambridge to Wimpole Hall. Sunday 8th June: 10 and 14 mile walks from Eltisley to Wimpole Hall (the reverse direction is due to parking problems in Eltisley!) As we are using coaches to get to the start of the walk so you must book ahead to guarantee a place – it’s pot-luck if you just turn up on the day. Please fill in the attached booking form. ‘A’ leader both days is Jill Tuffnell. The ‘B’ walk on Saturday is led by David Elsom (01223 842074); on Sunday the ‘B’ leader is Paul Sackin (01480 434198).

 

Parking on both Saturday 7th June and Sunday 8th June is at Wimpole Hall. Coach departs at 9.30am both days. Pick up possible at Harvey Road at 9.00am. Cheques payable to ‘Ramblers Association, Cambridge Group’. Please send to Jill Tuffnell, 62 Beche Road, Cambridge CB3 0AP by Monday 19th May.

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I would like to book ….. coach places on Saturday 7th June at £3 per person.                Total cost……..

I would like to book……coach places on Sunday 8th June at £3 per person.                                 Total cost……..

 

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