CAMBRIDGE RAMBLING CLUB

NEWSLETTER

No. 3/03 – Autumn 2003

 

FUTURE ACTIVITIES

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

This weekend is now full; but if you wish to be put on the waiting list in case of any cancellations, please contact Carol Gautrey as soon as possible. As a reminder, the total cost is £85, which includes the coach and the ferry crossings. The coach will leave St Johns Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, on Friday 17 October at 12 noon sharp. You must inform Carol of your car registration number, if leaving your car at the Innovation Centre. For anyone who has not yet paid in full, the balance of £70 should now be paid without delay.

 

Sat. 22 November – CEILIDH with The Crofters

Arrangements for this barn dancing evening have now been finalised by Angela Gardiner, and tickets are available from her and from the programme secretaries at £11, which includes a cold buffet. Doors will open at 7.30 pm, 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. The band will be playing from 8 to 11pm. Early booking is recommended, as the numbers are limited.

 

Christmas & New Year Lunches

 

Wednesday ‘A’ – the Christmas lunch will be held at the ‘George & Dragon’, Elsworth, on 17th December at 1.00pm. There is a choice of menu, at either £15 or £10.50. Please contact John Pym for full details on 01480 380285. A deposit of £5.00 should be sent to John by 30th September.

 

Wednesday ‘B’ – will enjoy a New Year lunch on Wednesday 13th January. More details from Rod Barton (01223 871574).

 

11th January 2004 - New Years Lunch for Sunday Walkers

Details to be announced later by Tony Palmer, (01223 350605), and in the next Newsletter.  Meanwhile please note the date.

 

19-21 March 2004 – Kettlewell

The Club’s spring trip is to Kettlewell, in the lovely Yorshire Dales National Park, and we will be staying at Scargill House. Total cost is £96 per person. Departure by coach is on Friday 19 March at 9am promptly, from St Johns Innovation Centre, Cowley Road. As we have only been allocated 9 single rooms, together with 20 double rooms, an early reservation is recommended. Please send Carol Gautrey a deposit of £20 to ensure a place on the trip; cheques payable to Cambridge Rambling Club. Please also inform Carol of your car registration number, if leaving your car at the Centre. The balance of £76 will be due by 23 January 2004.

 

Lake District Week, Grasmere – Sunday 5th – Sunday 12th September 2004

Twenty-six places have been reserved in 2 and 4 bedded rooms at Butterlip How Youth Hostel, in the centre of Grasmere village. Current costs are £15/£13.50 per person, per night, bed only – but this will increase in March next year. Bespoke walks, theatre outing if there is a demand. To book, please send a £5 (returnable) deposit, payable to Cambridge Rambling Club, to George Brewster, 12 Chedworth Street, Cambridge CB3 9JF, tel (01223) 301615, who is co-organising with Pam Landshoff. Please check with George if you want book for less than the full week. Anyone wanting to stay in B&B is very welcome to come on the walks, but will have to make their own bookings.

 

October 2004 – Cromford by Matlock, Peak District

This venue is still being investigated by Les and Norma. Watch this space!

 

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.

 

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. Please check availability of places with Jill before sending any money.

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. ‘A’ walks are being organised by Simon Barnes, but we would welcome a ‘B’ leader too. 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. We hope to be able to offer three walks each day, to suit all requirements. Cost £18.00 per head for the weekend. Self-catering – with a pub nearby.

 

Slimbridge YH, Cotswolds, Friday March 5th to Sunday 7th, 2004

An early spring trip to Slimbridge YH has been arranged – with a wildfowl lake in the hostel grounds to attract birdwatchers! We will be walking part of the Cotswold Way and visiting some of the beautiful villages in the area. The overnight cost is £10.25. Hostel meals available and a pub in the village.

 

Shropshire Back-packing Trip, Late May Bank Holiday Weekend, Friday 28th May to Tuesday 1st June 2004

Just advance notice of an inter-hostel backpacking trip next spring, walking the Long Mynd and part of Offa’s Dyke path, visiting Wilderhope Manor, Bridges and Clun hostels. At this stage, a deposit of £5 per head will secure a place.

 

NEWS AND NOTICES

AGM on Tuesday 18 November

This will take place as usual at the Friends Meeting House in Park Street at 7.45pm. All members are welcome to attend. This is your opportunity to hold your committee to account! There is a vacancy for a Committee member as Walter Shelton completes his two years in post. Please contact Dieter or Angela Gardiner if you would like to talk about volunteering!

 

Abergavenny Weekend on 14-16 March

This was a most enjoyable coach weekend based at Ty’r Morwydd House. The food and accommodation were very good, as were the A and B walks and the weather. The longer walk on Saturday included a climb up the Sugarloaf and on Sunday went along part of Offa’s Dyke Path.

 

Summer Outing on 13 July

A very pleasant coach outing was organised by George and Muriel Brewster around the Stour and Orwell estuaries. George led a 12 mile walk across the Shotley peninsula, while Margaret Rishbeth led a similar shorter walk, generally along the same route. Other members were led by Ron Bailey on “the Harwich experience”.

 

Backpacking Accident

Club members who know Beth Lavelle will be upset to hear that she broke her leg on day 1 of the Club’s backpacking trip in Staffordshire. After negotiating a very badly maintained boggy footpath through a wood, by (and often in!) a stream, Beth slipped on a narrow muddy section of the path. Luckily she was able to get to a lane and help. An X-ray at a hospital casualty unit confirmed our worst fears – and Beth says that 8 weeks later she is just beginning to recognise the shape of her foot again! We have complained to Staffordshire County Council about the terrible state of the path and have been told that contractors are being sent in to sort the problems out. Hopefully this means no-one else should experience the same problems.

 

Cambridgeshire Local Access Forum

The recent ‘Countryside & Rights of Way Act’, which is best known for the powers of access it has given to the public to large tracts of upland Britain, has a number of other provisions. One of these is the requirement for every local authority responsible for rights of way to establish a ‘Local Access Forum’. The Forums must include people who represent users as well as owners and managers of the countryside. One of the main functions of the Forums is to advise on a ‘Rights of Way Improvement Plan’ for each area. Other work involves advising on access issues and priorities and responding to the draft ‘access maps’ being prepared for the region. Club and Ramblers Association member Jill Tuffnell has been appointed to the Cambridgeshire LAF and will keep us informed of its work

 

Flat to Let

Victoria Bursa has a flat in Prague which she would like to let to CRC members. For details phone Victoria on 01223 294399 or 0771 9646286.

 

Flat to Rent :

Morzine, French Alps. Modern 2 bed apartment overlooking River Dranse. Excellent walking at all levels, GR5 1 hour up valley. Available from March 2004. Details/booking from Ross or Ellie 01223 247128.

 

Committee Meeting

For committee members, the next meeting is on Tuesday 11 November at 19.45 at Dieter’s house, 12 Romsey Road.

 

Next Newsletter

Items for the Newsletter are very welcome, and should be passed to Dieter by 7 November 2003.