Cambridge Rambling Club - Summer 2006 Newsletter

 

Future Activities

 

·         4 May 2006 – Thursday evening walks

Spring has sprung! First walk is 4 May, starting from Hildersham at 6:30 p.m., led by Mary, tel: c 353402. Walks every Thursday evening thereafter during the summer. See programme.

 

·         Sunday 14 May 2006- Cambridge Oxfam Sponsored Walk.

This annual walk raises about £50,000 with some 1500 walkers. It will start and finish at Chilford Hall with new 4, 8 and 15 mile routes, which can be combined to make 21 or 26 miles if you are really keen! Whilst we want sponsored walkers (more details at www.oxfam.org.uk/walk.) we also have a difficult task to recruit over 100 marshals and stewards for a few hours, half a day or even the whole day. This role can be combined with one of the shorter walks. For more details please contact Simon on 01223 526157 or sra.watkins@ntlworld.com as soon as possible.

 

Ÿ         20 May 2006: The London Walks

Two walks led by Audrey Osborne and Margaret Stephens in the Richmond, Petersham and Ham areas.

Walk 1: Includes a riverside walk, fabulous views from Richmond Hill, a walk in Richmond Park, Pembroke Lodge and Ham House.

Walk 2: The same as Walk 1 but longer in Richmond Park to include Pen Ponds and the Isabella Plantations.

For further details, please send SAE to Audrey Osborne, 31 Howard Road, Cambridge, CB5 8QT.

 

·         2 July 2006: Summer Outing.

Norfolk coastal path, finishing at Cromer (with teashops to snare the unwary). A popular area with easy terrain. Ten or thirteen mile walks or a shorter stroll. Coach leaves Harvey Road at 8:30 sharp, returning to Cambridge by 8:00 p.m. To book please send a cheque for £12pp, payable to Cambridge Rambling Club, to George Brewster, 12, Chedworth St., Cambridge, CB3 9JF.

 

·         July-August 2006: Austrian Tyrol

Soelden (1377m) is a scenic popular village in the Otztal. There are many peaks up to 3000m within walking distance of the village. Accommodation in an old farmhouse renovated with fully equipped kitchen including microwave, dishwasher and satellite TV. Five bedrooms (2x3 and 3x2) suitable for 10/12 people. Cost about 20 Euro per person per night. For more information contact Derek Clark tel: 01763 249441 or browse www.soelden.com

 

·         1 September to 8 September 2006 (Friday to Friday): Lake District Week.

Book now for the popular week at Butterlip How Youth Hostel, in the centre of Grasmere. Costs; £15.50 per person per night bed only (£17.50 for 2-bedded room). Lifts possible. Programme of walks and possible theatre outing(s) organised by Pam Landshoff. To book contact George Brewster, 12 Chedworth St., Cambridge, CB3 9JF. Those members staying in B&B are welcome to join walks and to take meals at the hostel.

 

Ÿ         29 September to 1 October 2006: Coach Weekend to the Esplanade Hotel, Scarborough

There are 11 twin rooms and 1 double room still available. As a reminder: The coach will leave the St Johns Innovation Centre off Cowley Road, Cambridge at 4:30 p.m. on Friday 29 Sept, returning on Sunday evening. The cost will be £112 per head to include the coach, two nights’ bed and breakfast plus dinner on the Saturday night. Reserve your place by sending a non-refundable deposit of £30 per head to Chris Browne. Single members may of course stay on a same sex-sharing basis. Full balance must be with Chris Browne by 31 July 2006 at the latest.

 

·         Coach weekend 30th March to 1st April 2007 to the Forest of Dean

A further coach weekend has now been arranged at the fantastic Speech House Hotel, which is set in the heart of the Forest of Dean. We have been lucky enough to negotiate a substantial discount for bed, breakfast and evening meal for the above 2 nights. The coach will leave Ely at 12.45 am on the 30th March 2007, and St Johns Innovation Centre at 1.00 pm, returning from the hotel on the evening of Sunday 1st April. We have booked the whole hotel, and have the following accommodation: -12 Single Rooms - no supplement; 14 Twin Rooms; 5 Double Rooms. The total cost including the coach will be £141 per person.   This is bound to be a popular weekend, and booking will be strictly on a first come first served basis, based on the receipt of a deposit. Please send a non refundable deposit of £30 per head directly to Chris Browne as soon as possible to confirm your place. For further details of the hotel, please go to http://www.thespeechhouse.co.uk/index.html

 

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 be ‘B’ walks if a leader volunteers – and Chris Browne has offered to lead when he is booked on a hostel weekend. 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.

 

Conwy, North Wales coast, Thursday 27th April to Monday 1st May 2006 

The Club’s quota of beds has been taken, but you are welcome to book individually and join us on the walks. ‘A’ and ‘B’ walks on offer.

 

Backpacking the South Downs – Friday 26th May to Wednesday 31st May 2006  

Not all places that the Club originally booked for this five night backpacking trip along the South Downs have been taken up – so it may be possible to come if you don’t mind making a few phone calls to book yourself in! The itinerary starts at Arundel on the Friday night, moving to Truleigh Hill on Saturday, the remote (and picturesque) Telscombe hostel on Sunday, Alfriston on Monday and Blackboys, (soon to be closed) on Tuesday. We return on Wednesday. Train travel possible.

 

Alstonefield, near Dovedale, Peak District – Friday 14th July to Sunday 16th July 2006

We have been very lucky and have booked the whole of this very nice, newly converted hostel which is situated above Dovedale for the middle weekend in July, giving the Club sole occupancy. The 20 beds are arranged in 4-bedded rooms, each en-suite. There are two lounges and kitchen areas. Although the hostel is self-catering, there are two pubs within walking distance in the nearby village. The cost for the weekend is £25 a head. ‘B’ walks available.

 

Ingleton, Yorkshire Dales National Park, Thursday 3rd to Sunday 6th August 2006

It is many years since we last visited Ingleton YH – close to Ingleborough and in one of the most scenic parts of the Yorkshire Dales. We have booked 3 nights (Thursday to Sunday) – although it may be possible to extend your stay if a longer break is required. Overnight charges are £13.95 a night. Please send the accommodation cost to Jill.

 

Hastings, Friday 13th to Sunday 15th October 2006

Hastings is also on the YHA’s closure list – so this could be your last chance to visit! Set in some acres of land about 3 miles outside Hastings, the hostel is close to coastal paths as well as near historic Rye and Winchelsea. Bed night charge is £13.95 per person per night.

 

Salisbury,  Friday 10th to Sunday 12th November 2006

Salisbury is a beautiful city and we can walk straight from the hostel either north to ‘old Sarum’ or along the downs. Walks in Cranborne Chase are also possible. You can even avoid the M25 on a Friday/Sunday by travelling by train. B&B only – with pubs and restaurants close to this city centre hostel for an evening meal. The cost is £17.50 B&B per night. There are two twin rooms available – cost £39.50 a night.

 

Sheringham Rent-a-hostel, Friday 26th to Sunday 28th January 2007

We have been very lucky to book Sheringham YH for the last weekend in January 2007. We have sole use of part of the hostel (the rest is closed for the winter) – and can take up to 40 people. There will be some staff on duty – including a licensed bar! The charge is again a very reasonable £20 per person for the weekend. ‘B’ and ‘C’ walk leaders wanted!

 

News and Notices

 

·         Club e-mail system: We now have close to 100 members on the club ‘round robin’ e-mail system and we are using it more for urgent announcements and updates. Would members who would like to be in the system let Chris Browne have e-mail addresses or revisions at browneace@screaming.net. Similarly any members wishing to bring items to the club’s attention please e-mail details to Chris.

·         Collecting club subscriptions by standing order.

The club is negotiating with its bank to set up a system to collect subscriptions by Standing Order from 1 November 2006. This will reap savings for all. Once the club is clear that such a system will function efficiently, it will go ahead. It will probably mean that we will ask you to fill in a form that we will send out with the next newsletter at the end of the summer. You do not have to pay this way, but it will reduce our administration burden greatly.

·         Long-term Club members will be sad to hear of the death of David Williamson, a regular Sunday walker in the 70s and 80s. David was 78.

 

Bargain Corner

 

1.       Blue/green rucksack medium size good condition with Ramblers logo. FREE contact Nancy Smith, 38 Alpha Road, Cambridge CB4 3DG.

2.       Lady’s walking boots size 41: £40 contact Myrtle 01223 420336.

3.       Etrex GPS £75 contact Diana after 1 May on 01223 709643

4.       Simon Watkins has 22 club badges for sale at £1 each, contact him if interested.

5.       Silver Coast central Portugal, luxury 3 bedroom apartment overlooking castle in market town of Pombal. £350 per week. Contact Mark or Noemia Rigby on 0208 7854623