Future Activities for 2005/6

· 1 May – Sunday: Bartlow 3-Counties Charity Walk from Bartlow sports field

Registration from 9.00am and departure from 10.00am for this 13 mile charity walk for Addenbrooke’s Breast Cancer Unit and Bartlow Church Restoration Fund. Food available. Special permission means the walk has unique access to private land. Dogs welcome. More information from: Graham Howat (grahamhowat@hotmail.co.uk).

· 15 May- Sunday: Oxfam Sponsored Walk

This annual walk raises about £50,000 with over 1000 walkers. It will start and finish at Wimpole Hall, with new 4, 9 and 13 mile routes, which can be combined to make 26 miles, if you are really keen! More details at www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/events/cambridge/index.htm .

Whilst the organisers want sponsored walkers, they have a very difficult task to recruit over 100 marshals and stewards. They are wanted for a few hours, half a day or even the whole day. This duty can be combined with one of the shorter walks - for more details, please contact Simon (Wed. A walker) ASAP on 01223 526157.

· 21 May- Saturday: London Walk- led by Audrey Osbourne

London Walk- Kew Gardens Station to Hammersmith Station. After very successfully leading the London Walk for nearly 20 years, Ron Bailey has decided to retire, and this year the walk will be led by Audrey Osbourne. We will visit Kew Green, Strand-on-the-Green, Chiswick House and gardens, Hogarth’s House and Kelmscott House. For further details send SAE to Audrey.

· 25 June- 2 July: Trip to France Sorry! Full up.

· 26 June- Sunday: Summer outing- Suffolk coast and countryside.

Walking between Snape Maltings, a unique collection of granaries and malthouses (and a concert hall) beside the river Alde and the curious but attractive little town of Orford on the Suffolk coast. A picturesque area, noted for birds and wildlife. Ten and thirteen mile walks or a shorter stroll. Easy going. Coach leaves Harvey Road at 8.30am. sharp, returning to Cambridge by 8.00pm. To book, please send cheque for £11, payable to Cambridge Rambling Club, to George, (01223 301615).

· 2-9 September: Lake District Week

Places still available in 4 and 2 bedded rooms at Butterlip How Youth Hostel in the centre of Grasmere. Cost £14.50-£16 per person per night, bed only. Programme of walks and theatre outing(s). To book contact George (co-organiser with Pamela, 01223 301615. B&B- stayers welcome to join walks and take evening meals at the hostel. Shared transport to Grasmare.

· 30 September- 2 October: Coach weekend to Church Stretton, Shropshire

Bookings are still open for our autumn ‘coach’ weekend at the 3 star Long Mynd Hotel, Church Stretton. This is a lovely walking area, close to the Stiperstones and set on the Long Mynd. The weekend comprises Friday –Sunday B&B and Saturday dinner. The cost is £112 per head. Single rooms may be available at an extra cost of £10 per head per night. The coach will leave the Innovation Centre off Cowley Road Cambridge at 6pm on Friday 30^th September, and will stop on the way for refreshments. We hope to provide a full programme of 3 walks per day, and again Chris would be glad to hear from anyone willing to lead at any level, (01353 665596). To book a place, please send a deposit of £15 to Carol by cheque, payable to Cambridge Rambling Club. Balance payable by the end of July.

Note about cancellations: Please note that the Club cannot refund any money to a member having to cancel. If there is a waiting list then plainly adjustments can be made. We would recommend that members take out their own holiday insurance, which usually covers cancellation.

Hostel Weekends

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! 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. You are very welcome to book into a nearby B&B and join us for the walks.

Backpacking (part of) the Herriott Way – Friday 27^th May to Wednesday 1^st June (Bank Holiday)

The next ‘back-packing’ trip uses hostels is in the Yorkshire dales, walking in Wensleydale and Swaledale on the ‘Herriott Way’. All reserved places are now full – but if you want to book for yourself we are staying at Hawes (Fri and Sat), Keld (Sun) and Grinton (Mon and Tues). For waiting list please contact Jill.

Crowden in the north Peaks – Friday 15^th to Sunday 17^th July

Crowden YH is a fully renovated hostel in the beautiful Longdendale Valley in the north Peak District. We have booked two nights in the middle of July. Full meals available. We have 16 bookings so far – please check availability with Jill if you want to come.

Lulworth Cove, Dorset, Thursday 4^th to Sunday 7^th August

We have now taken 18 places at Lulworth Cove YH, situated on the wonderful Dorset heritage coast, for 3 nights in early August. We will try and get more places if there is a demand. Again, please check with Jill.

Bath – Friday 14^th to Sunday 16^th October

The last visit to Bath YH coincided with ‘Foot & Mouth’ – so walking was restricted to old railway lines and lanes. This time we hope to explore the delightful network of paths through the beautiful Cotswold countryside. As a group we have to book on a B&B basis – cost £16.30 per person per night. ‘B’ leader sought.

Kemsing – North Downs, Friday 11^th – Sunday 13^th November

Kemsing YH is on the North Downs in Kent, near Knole House. It is due to be sold off by the YHA next spring – so this is your last chance to visit. The countryside in autumn is wonderful! We will be walking parts of the North Downs Way national trail and the Pilgrims’ Way. The overnight bed cost is around £11; food available. ‘B’ leader sought.

Wells-next-the-Sea ‘Rent-a-Hostel’ Friday 3^rd to Sunday 6^th February 2006

Several members missed out on this year’s ‘rent-a-hostel’ trip to the Chilterns as demand was so high – so please book early for next winter’s visit to the north Norfolk coast. This is luxurious hostel accommodation – and we have it to ourselves!. Excellent walking along the heritage coast and in the grounds of Holkham Hall. Cost: £20 per person for 2 nights, (self-catering only, but pubs nearby). Offers of leaders for ‘B’ walks, please, to Jill.

St Briavels, Forest of Dean, Friday 17^th to Sunday 19^th March 2006

This is advance notice of a rare opportunity to visit the ancient St Briavels Castle YH near the River Wye next spring. There is marvellous (and somewhat hilly) walking along nearby Offa’s Dyke, Tintern Abbey etc. The hostel now only takes booking on a B&B basis – probable cost around £17 per person per night. Please send a £10 deposit now and the balance will be confirmed in a future newsletter. ‘B’ leader sought.

News and Notices

· It is with sadness that we report the deaths of Valerie Arndt and Gladis Nightingale; both were members of the Club. With this notice we send our deepest condolences to their families

· Discounts at stores: Just to remind you that your membership of the Club entitles you to some discount at Open Air, Blacks, Millets and Country Walking.

· Newsletter: Items for inclusion in the next newsletter should be with Walter by 11 July.

· Committee Meeting: Next meeting will be on 13 July at Jill’s house.

· Walking holidays and accommodation in Tuscany. We have received a letter from Mr. K. G. Dodd of Sudbury in Suffolk telling us of accommodation he has to rent in Tuscany. If you are interested he can be contacted on 01787 319131 or e-mail: kenneth.dodd@tesco.net

Incident or accident reporting

For insurance purposes, it is now necessary to report to Angela Gardiner any significant incident or accident which might lead to a claim for damages being made against the Club.

Typical examples are:

1)       Any head injury, bone frature or other injury requiring professional medical treatment.

2)       Damage to landowner’s property (eg. livestock or farm equipment) due to member’s negligence.

The following details (as and when appropriate) must be recorded as soon as possible after an incident or accident and forwarded to Angela.

1)       Name, age and contact details of the injured person or details of damage to third party property.

2)       Time and place of incident or accident.

3)       Any initial actoin taken.

4)       Names of two witnesses and their contact details.

5)       Name and contact details of walk leader

6)       Full description of circumstances, including any threats made.

7)       Who is considered responsible and whether blame has been apportioned.