Nuneaton Hill Walking and Mountaineering Club

Report awaiting.

Marvelous Malvern’s to the rescue.

Nuneaton Mountaineering and Hill Walking Club’s planned camping  trip to Wasdale in the Lake District had to be cancelled due to extremely wet and windy conditions in Cumbria, and was replaced by a day trip to the Malvern Hills. This proved to be a very good move, because as soon as the group arrived at the parking spot  in Chase End Street the rain stopped, the sky cleared, giving us a dry if a bit breezy start to the walk.

The walk started at the south end of the Malvern’s and progressed north over Hangman’s Hill, British Camp and the Hereford Beacon (338m), crossing the A449 and continuing over Black Hill, (308m) Pinnacle Hill (345m) and Perseverance Hill (325m) to the Wyche cutting. For our return we took the lower path to the  east of the hills to call in at the Holy Well before climbing back up to the ridge and retracing our steps back to the A449 at the car park for British Camp. From here we again took the lower path to the east to reach the quarry near The Gullet, up over Midsummer Hill with its remnants of Hill fort still in evidence and down to Holly bush. After crossing the road we returned to the car via Whiteleaved Oak.

The walk was 14 miles long with lots of ups and downs but we were extremely lucky with the weather, which was pleasantly warm and dry with the sun making an occasional appearance. We were all sad that we had not made the Lakes but we made the best of it with a great day walk which we all agreed was very enjoyable.

What a superb weekend, with warm sunny weather, great walks, fantastic views and good accommodation.

Various options were chosen by those able to get away on Friday morning, including a walk on the Glidders and  a bit of a scramble on Moel-y Gest before arriving at the bunk house in Abersoch. The Bunkhouse was part of a large three storied semi-detached town house with 3 bedrooms, kitchen , dinning room and comfortable sitting room.

On Saturday we did a 15 mile coastal path circular walk, starting at Abersoch and going south around the headland and then back across country. The path was well signposted and undulating, over the walk as a whole we gained 552m of elevation and, as we started and finished at sea level, also lost 552 m of elevation. The weather was very warm and sunny and there were spectacular views both out to sea and over the rest of the peninsular. On the beaches we found masses of dead jelly fish, some dinner plate size, which deterred any one from taking a paddle.  On returning to Abersoch we had time for a quick well earned drink/ ice cream before returning to the house for a group dinner.

From the cliff path on the Saturday we could see some very prominent hills further up the coast and these were our destination for the Sunday walk.  The weather was sunny but there was a brisk cold wind. The Yr Eifl (564m) walk started at the car park some way up the hill, so we had a bit of a head start. This area has lots of interest with ancient forts and settlements to investigate. Over the 41/2 mile walk we climbed 341 m to the top and were rewarded with fantastic 360 views of the peninsular.

We met at the village hall car park in between Upper and Lower Brailes at 9 am to start the walk, half of which is in Warwickshire the other half in Oxfordshire.  The walk over undulation countryside, afforded spectacular views over the surrounding countryside, and great views of the red kites as they sored overhead. The route was mainly on well maintained footpaths, a bit muddy in places, took us south from Brailes to the small village of Great Rollright, where there was a market in progress in the village hall and for a donation we got ourselves a nice cup of tea.  From Great Rollright we turned west through some woodlands before turning north, through some lovely villages and  picturesque countryside back to Brailes and the cars. It was the first time that any of us had been to this area and we all agreed that it was good walking country and had enjoyed the walk.

The distance was 14.58 miles with 435m of elevation and took us 5.5 hours.  We were lucky with the weather blue skies and sunny for most of the day.

The Glencoe Mountain Cottages had been hired for this trip and after negotiating a bit of a bumpy track from the road to the cottages, proved to be an excellent base to explore the surrounding mountains. At the beginning of the week there was plenty of snow and the weather dawned bright and fair. On the first day we were able to walk from the cottages, up Gleann Leac-na Muidhe and up the slopes of Munro Sgor Na h-Ulaidh as far as the col (798m).

There were 11 club members on the trip and over the following days we split into groups according to what we wanted to do that day. Some went high, climbing Meall Mor (676m), Buachaille Etive Mor, Stob Dearg (1022m) Sgorr a’ Choise (663m) and  Sgorr na Ciche,  the Pap of Glencoe (742m), others chose lower level walks through the forests, where red deer were spotted, or to Inchree to see the spectacular waterfalls and watch the birds and red squirrels at the feeding station near the car park. On Monday  afternoon a group had a strenuous but enjoyable time at the indoor ice climbing wall. There was some thing for everyone.

Unfortunately storm Erik brought high winds and rain on Thursday night washing the snow off the lower slopes and turning the stream running past the cottage, into a roaring torrent, so Friday was a “tea shop day”, not that we had not indulged after walks earlier in the week. We drove to Port Appin and were lucky enough to see an otter catching and eating crabs on the jetty.

The cottages were warm and comfortable, and well kitted out, the weather and snow conditions deteriorated at the end of the week but that is Scotland in February, everyone who went on the trip had a great time and were able to get out and about, so all good.

On Saturday 13th October 2018 we drove to Tealby, the start of the Tealby, Walesby, Claxby and Normanby-le-Wold Walk. This roller coaster route over Lincolnshire’s highest Wolds is, according to the information on the route guide, the County’s classic hill walk.

The weather was windy but very warm as we left the village of Tealby and headed over way marked paths and tracks to reach the mediaeval village of Walesby , here we stopped to take a look at All Saints church, a church who’s mediaeval interior has survived, and to admire the  modern stained glass window depicting Christ with C20th ramblers and Cyclists before moving on down to the ‘new’ village of Walesby. From Walesby we picked up The Viking Way for a short time before diverting left to the village of Claxby and yet another interesting church. Once inside St Mary’s church the misalignment of the nave and chancel becomes very obvious. The church looked very festive as it was being decorated for harvest festival. leaving Claxby and walking up a very steep footpath we reached the highest point on our walk and the down into Normanby-le-Wold to again pick up the Viking Way for our return to Tealby and tea and cake at its vintage tearooms.

The route had a lot to interest the walker from great views, including Lincoln cathedral, and the Humber Bridge, pretty villages with interesting old churches, and a large heard of deer.

The weekend of 8 – 10 June was spent in the Lake District a very popular venue for our club. We stayed at High House a spacious bunkhouse in Borrowdale. The weather had been very warm and dry and on the Friday night we sat outside around a small bonfire in the fire circle to chill out and plan for the following day. Unfortunately we got up to rain on the Saturday morning but this did not spoil our plans as various groups left for their walks.

As is normal, when we are away for the weekend, we all joined together for a group meal and a few drinks, on the Saturday evening and to plan for the following day.

Isle of Arran 1st – 8th September 2018

We hired three self catering holiday cottages in the village of Corrie for our club holiday.  14 club members and guests made the journey to this beautiful Isle and were well rewarded with excellent weather, great walks and cycle rides, with spectacular scenery and well equipped and very comfortable accommodation. What more could we want.

The cottages were very well equipped, warm and comfortable, two of them with sea views, the third about half a mile away was on the path to our first mountain Goat Fell (874m) the highest peak on Arran. Several of our members had taken their bikes and chose to cycle rather than walk on some days as there are some good, if hilly routes on the island. As with all our trips individuals have a choice on what the wish to do each day. Amongst the walks we did in the week was Sannox to Lochranza walk also known as Cock of Arran, this walk ends at the Islands Whisky Distillery from where you can catch the bus back to Corrie. Being a mountaineering club we also tackled some of the islands bigger mountains, and took a boat trip to Holy Island, a Buddhist Community owned island, dominated by the rocky Marilyn Mullach Mor (314m). With walking, cycling, sightseeing and the occasional tea shop there was plenty to occupy us throughout the week

Although windy at times the weather was warm and sunny for most of the week so we were able to get out and about to explore this beautiful and interesting island. The only slight downside was on the day we left one of the ferries serving the island, was out of service and some of us had to drive a little further than planned to use the ferry at Lochranza to get back to the mainland.

Club members headed for southern Snowdonia for a winter walk on 
the very popular Cadair Idris near to Barmouth.
Apparently this is the second most popular mountain in Wales after
Snowdon, and for good reason, as there are a variety of landscapesit has some attainable routes and on a good day a fantastic view
of mountains and coastline form the summit.
The route started at the popular Minffordd car park and up to the level of Llyn Cau.  From there the Minffordd path was followed up the ridge to Craig Cwm Armarch and on to the 893 metre summit of  Cadair Idris.  
Despite the poor weather forecast and temperatures barely getting above freezing all day there was very little snow on the mountain.It was frosty and there were light snow showers but visibility wasexcellent.  
From the summit the view of Barmouth far below and the railway
bridge over the Afon Mawddach made the trip worth it for this one experience. Lunch was taken in the summit stone shelter and a 
circuit was completed by going out to Mynydd Moel and then
descending back to the car park.  A most enjoyable day but in a
cool breeze not one for hanging around too long.

This walk had been programmed for the previous week but was 
postponed due to extreme weather conditions.

Our club trip to Loch Lomond, Scotland in early
February had some very snowy but fine days.On one
such day four of our more intrepid walkers,Chris, David, Mo and
Les set off for Ben Vane 915 metres in what proved to be
mountaineering conditions.
Ben Vane had alluded our members on previous occasions due to deepsnow conditions but this was a very fine day and there was an easytrack to the base of the mountain.Temperatures were how ever belowfreezing with a forecast for -6 C on the summit plus the wind 
chill effect.
Initially there was a path which ascended steeply over
increasingly frozen rocky ground.  From the half way stage the
mountain was plastered with snow, layered in slabs and care had tobe taken to asses the avalanche risk.  Crampons and ice axes weredeployed as the ground steepened.
There was lots of step kicking and there was some easy scrambling over and around rock steps. Towards the top the wind picked up andcare was needed on the icy surface as the slope steepened. 
Visibility however remained good. As the route up was so steep a
safer descent was made down the north ridge and then down easier
snow to the Loch Sloy dam.  A top day.

A photograph of our members David Foster, Mo
Rushton and Les Ball on the slopes of Ben Vane, 
Loch Lomond, Scotland on 9th February 2018.