Saturday March 13th 2010 at Plas y Brenin
Stephen Fletcher is organising the the Annual Dinner for 2010 and will be contacting all members by post shortly with the latest news, plans for the event and arrangements for booking.
The 2010 Annual Dinner will be held at Plas y Brenin on Saturday March 13th. This is a welcome return to the club's traditional practice of alternating the annual dinner between venues in the Lakes and North Wales. Following the loss of the hut this year and the recent poor attendance at both the AGM and the 2009 Annual Dinner, the committee hope that all members will make the effort to attend this dinner. Please put this in your diaries now.
For those new and prospective members who perhaps haven't attended an annual dinner before, it is a glittering social occasion where members and their friends, partners and spouses, can catch up with old acquaintances, meet new members and generally socialise with club members that they do not usually meet. This is also when the club makes it's annual awards to recognise those members who have contributed to the life of the club both in terms of both outstanding technical excellence and sheer embarrassment. If you know someone who deserves an award and would like to nominate them, please read this previous article.
Plas y Brenin has been chosen to ensure that all members and their guests have access to a range of appropriate accommodation to suit both their budget and desire for comfort. The facilities at Plas y Brenin are of a high standard, suitable for partners and spouses. There is a bar with views of the Snowdon Horseshoe, drying rooms and extensive dining facilities.
There is also a Youth Hostel and plenty of camping around Capel Curig, of which the closest are Garth Farm and Bryn Tyrch Farm.
For all enquiries regarding the Annual Dinner, please contact Stephen Fletcher, don't forget that if you do not have e-mail, his telephone number is on the membership card.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Pre-Christmas Drinks 2009
3pm Sunday 20th December 2009
Meet in the Crown Hotel, just outside the south-east entrance of Lime Street Station, on the corner of Lime St. and Skelhorne St. This is convenient for any one travelling by train and is just a few minutes walk up the hill from the Queens Square bus station.
As last year, we will tour some of the city centre pubs in search of good beer, so if anyone has any requests or suggestions, send them in to Andy Gee.
If anybody also fancies getting some climbing done, then Awesome Walls is open from 10am. For all those wanting to drink heavily afterwards, it is accessible by train for the bargain price of just £1 return on Sundays until Christmas. For more details contact Andy Gee.
Meet in the Crown Hotel, just outside the south-east entrance of Lime Street Station, on the corner of Lime St. and Skelhorne St. This is convenient for any one travelling by train and is just a few minutes walk up the hill from the Queens Square bus station.
As last year, we will tour some of the city centre pubs in search of good beer, so if anyone has any requests or suggestions, send them in to Andy Gee.
If anybody also fancies getting some climbing done, then Awesome Walls is open from 10am. For all those wanting to drink heavily afterwards, it is accessible by train for the bargain price of just £1 return on Sundays until Christmas. For more details contact Andy Gee.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Formby Ramble
The meet on Sunday was attended by KenF, Ian and Gail, Les, Carol, Roger and AndyG. Your trusty news editor did his bit for the environment and travelled by train from Warrington. It is an interesting ride up the Merseyrail Northern Line past the Seaforth docks, through Bootle and Crosby, and on into the apparently rural areas of Hightown and Formby.
The weather was bright at first but it started raining heavily as the train approached Freshfield Station. However, after a brisk walk down Victoria Road to the meeting point in the National Trust car par by the Squirrel Reserve, it had eased off and there was renewed optimism for the rest of the day.
We waited a little while longer to ensure that there were no more latecomers and then set off to try and find our planned route across the dunes. There are a huge number of paths in the area and they are not all marked on even the large cale Ordnance Survey maps.
We waited a little while longer to ensure that there were no more latecomers and then set off to try and find our planned route across the dunes. There are a huge number of paths in the area and they are not all marked on even the large cale Ordnance Survey maps.
Eventually, we found our way across the dunes and back to the outskirts of Formby where we followed St. Luke's Church Road through the woods to Alexandra Road. Here the route turns towards the beach and it was here that we faced our stiffest test as mountaineers.
The ascent of the dunes prompted much jocular discussion of safety, appropriate rope-work and self-arrest in the event of a fall.
The dunes are in fact quite high at this point, compared to the rest of the land roundabout, and afford good views back to the Liverpool skyline and also parts of North Wales.
Upon returning to level ground, it was time for a quick walk along the beach, past Formby Point, before locating our next path back into Formby to find the pub for lunch.
Fortunately, this path was provided with a ramp!
There was a brief shower of rain as we followed a public footpath through the back streets of Formby and we eventually found our way to the Freshfield Hotel where we stopped for lunch. The Freshfield Hotel is a Greene King pub and they had a good selection of real ales, both well kept and correctly served. The food was also good, with the chips receiving much praise for being crisp and properly cooked. With the addition of live musical entertainment provided by KenF, it was a most excellent lunch.
After lunch, the route continued to the north, near to Woodvale Aerodrome before crossing the railway line and following the Fishermans' Path through the woods and over the so called Formby Hills.
This is just one of many unidentified thorn bushes which were particularly conspicuous on account of their brightly coloured berries.
Returning to the beach, it was time for a final bracing stroll along the sand in the late afternoon sunshine before turning inland for the final leg of the journey. The route across the dunes took us past the reserves which are supposedly inhabited by natterjack toads although none were in evidence probably due to the time of year.
All in all a surprisingly interesting walk through a wide variety of terrain and including some special animal habitats. The weather was much better than forecast and, with the exception of a few brief showers, generally bright and sunny.
The weather was bright at first but it started raining heavily as the train approached Freshfield Station. However, after a brisk walk down Victoria Road to the meeting point in the National Trust car par by the Squirrel Reserve, it had eased off and there was renewed optimism for the rest of the day.
We waited a little while longer to ensure that there were no more latecomers and then set off to try and find our planned route across the dunes. There are a huge number of paths in the area and they are not all marked on even the large cale Ordnance Survey maps.
We waited a little while longer to ensure that there were no more latecomers and then set off to try and find our planned route across the dunes. There are a huge number of paths in the area and they are not all marked on even the large cale Ordnance Survey maps.
Eventually, we found our way across the dunes and back to the outskirts of Formby where we followed St. Luke's Church Road through the woods to Alexandra Road. Here the route turns towards the beach and it was here that we faced our stiffest test as mountaineers.
The ascent of the dunes prompted much jocular discussion of safety, appropriate rope-work and self-arrest in the event of a fall.
The dunes are in fact quite high at this point, compared to the rest of the land roundabout, and afford good views back to the Liverpool skyline and also parts of North Wales.
Upon returning to level ground, it was time for a quick walk along the beach, past Formby Point, before locating our next path back into Formby to find the pub for lunch.
Fortunately, this path was provided with a ramp!There was a brief shower of rain as we followed a public footpath through the back streets of Formby and we eventually found our way to the Freshfield Hotel where we stopped for lunch. The Freshfield Hotel is a Greene King pub and they had a good selection of real ales, both well kept and correctly served. The food was also good, with the chips receiving much praise for being crisp and properly cooked. With the addition of live musical entertainment provided by KenF, it was a most excellent lunch.
After lunch, the route continued to the north, near to Woodvale Aerodrome before crossing the railway line and following the Fishermans' Path through the woods and over the so called Formby Hills.
This is just one of many unidentified thorn bushes which were particularly conspicuous on account of their brightly coloured berries.
Returning to the beach, it was time for a final bracing stroll along the sand in the late afternoon sunshine before turning inland for the final leg of the journey. The route across the dunes took us past the reserves which are supposedly inhabited by natterjack toads although none were in evidence probably due to the time of year.
All in all a surprisingly interesting walk through a wide variety of terrain and including some special animal habitats. The weather was much better than forecast and, with the exception of a few brief showers, generally bright and sunny.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
December Ramble
Formby Coastal Walk - Sunday 6th December 2009
Please note that this is a rescheduled meet. Sue Noyce was initially organising the walk but Sue is having problems with her hands at present (could be a trapped nerve) and she is unable to drive. Hopefully she will feel well enough to make an appearance.
At this time of year it's a problem keeping mountain fit, as the weather can be relentlessly foul. The winter walks allow some good exercise and even in bad weather there is the bolt hole of the pub for lunch.
Start 10 am prompt at the bottom of Victoria Road through the red squirrel reserve (Grid reference 274083). The Freshfield railway station is an obvious landmark and the road runs directly westwards from here to the car park.
The walk wanders south through the dunes and after a mile emerges onto St. Luke's Church Road. A way back to the beach is via Alexandra Road (views of Bootle cranes and Liverpool architecture). A pleasant beach walk northwards yields to an access point at Blundell Avenue and paths lead us to the Pub (The Freshfield Hotel 01704 874 871 noted for real ale). 5 miles.
After lunch, the route continues northwards by the railway line path, then crosses the railway line (care – an accident blackspot) onto the Fisherman's path back towards the beach. Then it's a coastal walk back to the car park. Total 8 miles.
[Don't forget that you can view an enlarged version of the map by clicking on the picture above.]
All enquiries to the meet coordinator, Ken Fyles.
Please note that this is a rescheduled meet. Sue Noyce was initially organising the walk but Sue is having problems with her hands at present (could be a trapped nerve) and she is unable to drive. Hopefully she will feel well enough to make an appearance.
At this time of year it's a problem keeping mountain fit, as the weather can be relentlessly foul. The winter walks allow some good exercise and even in bad weather there is the bolt hole of the pub for lunch.
Start 10 am prompt at the bottom of Victoria Road through the red squirrel reserve (Grid reference 274083). The Freshfield railway station is an obvious landmark and the road runs directly westwards from here to the car park.
The walk wanders south through the dunes and after a mile emerges onto St. Luke's Church Road. A way back to the beach is via Alexandra Road (views of Bootle cranes and Liverpool architecture). A pleasant beach walk northwards yields to an access point at Blundell Avenue and paths lead us to the Pub (The Freshfield Hotel 01704 874 871 noted for real ale). 5 miles.
After lunch, the route continues northwards by the railway line path, then crosses the railway line (care – an accident blackspot) onto the Fisherman's path back towards the beach. Then it's a coastal walk back to the car park. Total 8 miles.
[Don't forget that you can view an enlarged version of the map by clicking on the picture above.]All enquiries to the meet coordinator, Ken Fyles.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Camping at the Hut
Following some hard work by Trevor and Will the hut annexe is available again for use. The doors have been re-hung and secured, and the water supply restored. It is now possible to camp at the hut and have access to a proper toilet and a hot shower.
Members wishing to camp are asked to pitch their tents in the usual place, i.e. on the cleared areas behind the site of the David Imrie Hut. A camping fee of £2 per person per night should be paid to our treasurer, Ken Hollis, in the usual way. Ken's details are published in the membership card. The camping fee is required to cover the cost of gas used for the shower and materials used for the repair of the annexe.
Anyone wishing to camp at the hut should contact either our chairman or Andy Gee for full details of keys and access arrangements.
Members wishing to camp are asked to pitch their tents in the usual place, i.e. on the cleared areas behind the site of the David Imrie Hut. A camping fee of £2 per person per night should be paid to our treasurer, Ken Hollis, in the usual way. Ken's details are published in the membership card. The camping fee is required to cover the cost of gas used for the shower and materials used for the repair of the annexe.
Anyone wishing to camp at the hut should contact either our chairman or Andy Gee for full details of keys and access arrangements.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
November Ramble
Parbold to Heskin Green Sunday 15th November.
Please note that this is a rescheduled meet.
Meet at the lay-by opposite the Fairy Glen (just west of the Dickinson Arms) on the A5209 near Parbold Hill. Grid Reference 516109. To get there turn west at Junction 27 on the M6 and drive west for one and a half miles. Lay-by is on the right after the Dickinson Arms junction.
A pleasant walk northwards using footpaths to Heskin Green. Return via the ruined windmill on Harrock Hill. After all this rain it is probably muddy - good waterproof boots recommended.
Please note that this is a rescheduled meet.
Meet at the lay-by opposite the Fairy Glen (just west of the Dickinson Arms) on the A5209 near Parbold Hill. Grid Reference 516109. To get there turn west at Junction 27 on the M6 and drive west for one and a half miles. Lay-by is on the right after the Dickinson Arms junction.
A pleasant walk northwards using footpaths to Heskin Green. Return via the ruined windmill on Harrock Hill. After all this rain it is probably muddy - good waterproof boots recommended.
Rambles Rescheduled
Please note that the final two rambles of this year have been rescheduled.
1) November - Les Berry's ramble, that should have taken place on 1st of November, has been moved to Sunday 15th of November and will now be in the Parbold area. More details...
2) December - Sue Noyce's ramble along the Formby Coast that was planned for Sunday 13th of December is now on Sunday 6th of December and will be led by Ken Fyles. More details...
Any queries regarding the rambles should be sent to Ken Fyles.
1) November - Les Berry's ramble, that should have taken place on 1st of November, has been moved to Sunday 15th of November and will now be in the Parbold area. More details...
2) December - Sue Noyce's ramble along the Formby Coast that was planned for Sunday 13th of December is now on Sunday 6th of December and will be led by Ken Fyles. More details...
Any queries regarding the rambles should be sent to Ken Fyles.
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