Recent Events | Nuneaton Hill Walking and Mountaineering Club | We meet every Thursday at Attleborough Liberal Club

Bala Weekend report 2016

Posted on February 25, 2016 by eileen

On the weekend of the 15th-17th January 2016 10 members stayed at the Bala bunkhouse in Snowdonia.

The bunkhouse is a converted 18th century building, accommodating up to 26 people in the bunkhouse and two annexes. Thankfully we had it to ourselves otherwise it would have been very crowded. It was very cold when we arrived but we soon got it warmed up with the aid of the calor gas heater provided. The bedrooms were above the living area accessed by an outside staircase – a feature that the web site omitted to mention, which made going to the toilet in the night a rather chilly experience, the toilets being on the ground floor.

As it was a snowy weekend we were keen to get out. Louisa set off with the purpose of walking the length of Bala lake and onto the Arans. Colin, Keith, Michele and Helen climbed an increasingly snowy Arenig Fawr 854m. Walking through deep snow was tiring and we had the added challenge of a stiff breeze and whiteout conditions on the top. A third group walked directly from the bunkhouse on lower slopes but the going was made difficult by snow and thick heather. Everyone got back to the now cosy bunkhouse to enjoy a group meal and social evening.

Posted in 2015, Accommodation, Hill Walking | Comments Off

Programme 2015

Posted on February 25, 2016 by keith

5-9th February 2015	Lochearnhead Scotland	Colin
13-15th February 2015	Pete’ Hut Snowdonia.	Dave P
13-15th March 2015	Blea Tarn Bunkbarn Langdales Lake District	Anna
11th April 2015	Snowdon	Martyn
9th May 2015	Aran Fawddwy	Martyn and Mo
12-14th June 2015	Camping Hartland Devon	Matt
10-12th July 2015	Camping Eskdale, Lake District	Keith K
7-9th August 2015	Camping Black Mountain, Wales.	Eileen
12th September 2015	Mendips	Colin
September 2015	Backpacking in Scotland	David
10th October 2015	Dark Peak Derbyshire	Colin
13-15th November 2015	Novemberfest. Hubberholme, Yorkshire Dales	Colin

And there’s much more than this going on. Visit us on a Thursday at Attleborough Liberal Club, Bull St Nuneaton for impromptu activities, or ring Eileen on 024 76739012 or Steve on 07849430372 if you can’t get down.

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Programme 2014

Posted on February 25, 2015 by keith

7th December 2013	Stiperstones Walk Shropshire	Keith K
10 – 12th January 2014	Eagles Bunkhouse Penmachno North Wales	Steve
20 – 24th February 2014	Climbers Bunk house, Glen Clova, Scotland	Steve
20-24th February 2014	North Wales, Gwynant Valley.Pete’s Hut	Dave P
15th March 2014	White Peak Derbyshire.	Dave P
4 – 6th April 2014	Camping, Buttermere, Lake District	Colin
10th May 2014	Black Mountain Wales.	Martyn
TBC	Backpacking trip to Scotland.	David
20-22th June 2014	Camping, Cader Idris	Matt
11-13th July 2014	North Wales 300 Challenge and other walks. Camping Cae Gwyn	Keith H
8-10th August 2014	Camping. Dorset Coast.	Keith and Michele
12-14th September 2014	DPC Hut, Stoney Middleton Peak District.	Eileen
14th October 2014	Llangollen Day Walk	Eileen
7-9th November 2014	Novemberfest, Glan Dwr, Capel Curig, Snowdonia	Colin
6th December 2014	Abberley Hills. Day Walk	Keith K

Posted in 2014, Programme | Comments Off

Bunkhouse/Hostel Review

Posted on November 17, 2012 by colin

Loch Earn Log Cabins, Lockearnhead, Stirling FK19 8PU – February 2016

These cabins are holiday accommodation the site being run by Hoseasons Holidays and therefor very comfortable and well equipped. There are various sizes, we had 2 x 6 bed, comprising one double room, and two twin bedded rooms in each, and a 4 bed chalet with one double and one twin bedded room. All towels and bedding is provided and beds made up, electricity payable through a meter (£1 coins). Booking out of season is very reasonable. (we paid £55 each for the week). In a great location for walking or sight seeing. 10/10

Bala Bunk House, Tomen y Castell, Llanfor, Bala Gwynedd, LL23 7HD – January 2016

A converted 18th century building which can accommodate up to 26 people in the bunk house and two annexes. If full could be very crowded. Heated by calor gas heaters. Kitchen and social area and toilets on the ground floor, with the bedrooms above, accessed by a stone staircase on the outside of the building – a feature their web site omitted to mention, these are uncovered and get slippery in winter, also not very convenient if you need the toilet during the night. This said the bunkhouse was well equipped and comfortable and in a good location. 5/10.

Skirfare Bridge Barn, Kilnsey, Wharfdale, England. November 2012.

Good location and accommodation for up to 20. Parking next to barn, bedrooms of various sizes and drying room downstairs and kitchen/dinning room/lounge upstairs. Warm and cosy. Kitchen a little small but no problem when group cooking and it was a tight fit getting 20 around the table. Just enough bathrooms/toilets. Would certainly use this location again. 9/10

Kinloch Castle, Isle of Rum, Scotland. April/May 2012.

We stayed here for a week and there is not much alternative on Rum. The castle was under extensive repair at the time and workmen were using the hostel facilities, which in any event were inadequate for the number of people using them. The bedrooms were spacious and there was a nice lounge called the Reading Room. Sadly the courtyard bar was closed and the kitchen, storage and dining facilities were very limited. We had to negotiate with another group as we had to take it in turns to cook and sit down to eat. There were also too few bathrooms and you had to be alert otherwise you would miss your chance. There was the castle dining room but despite the shortcomings our group meals provided better food and much better value. Having said that we had a good week and I would use the bunkhouse again. 6/10

Culdees Bunkhouse, Loch Tay, Scotland February 2012.

From the outside it looks like it could do with a bit of a tidy up but it’s OK inside and there is a warm welcome. Four bunkbeds per room, kitchen a bit small and cluttered if the place is busy but the lounge is spacious and comfortable. Other parts of the accommodation are also open to guests. Plenty of parking nearby. The place grows on you. 7/10

Posted in 2012, 2013, Accommodation | Comments Off

2013 Programme

Posted on November 16, 2012 by colin

This is now published up to November 2013. A mixture of day trips, weekends and longer jaunts throughout the Great Britain as suggested by our members and decided at our six monthly planning meeting.

There is much more going on though as impromptu trips are arranged on Thursday evenings at our club. Keep in touch to find out what else is coming up.

If you fancy climbing Jebel Toubkal, the highest mountain in Morrocco or visiting the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland then let us know as these are some of our aspirations for 2013.

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Programme 2012

Posted on November 15, 2012 by colin

Sept. 13th – 17th 2012	Camping / bothying, Knoydart, Scotland.	David F
Sept. 21st – 23rd 2012	Pete’s bunkhouse, Nant Gwynant, north Wales.	Dave P
Oct. 6th 2012	Clwydians. Day walk.	Michele
Nov. 9th – 11th 2012	Novemberfest. Skirfare Bridge, Yorkshire Dales.	Steve
Dec. 8th 2012	Peak Districk day walk.	Dave P
Jan. 11th – 13th 2013	George Starkey hut, Patterdale, Lake District.	Colin
Feb. 7th – 11th 2013	Corran bunkhouse, Scotland.	Steve
March 9th 2013	North Wales day walk. Location TBA.	TBA.
April 19th – 21st 2013	Camping Kentmere area, Lake District.	Steve

Posted in 2012, Programme | Comments Off

Bothying

Posted on November 6, 2012 by keith

Replace the tent with fuel for a fire, walk to a hut hidden away in the hills and you have… Bothying.

These shelters in the hills are open to all hill walkers but don’t expect any mod cons. Take a warm sleeping bag, some fuel if you want a fire a candle or two and hunker down for the night.

We arrived at Allt Scheicheahan in the southern Cairngorms at lunchtime having walked in from Blair Atholl. After a quick bite to eat we left our stuff in a safe place and headed off for the remote Munro of Beinn Dearg. Less than two hours later we were on top where it was misty and cool.
Back at the bothy our friends arrived at 7:30pm and we all got something to eat and found places to sleep on the platform above. There was soon a roaring fire, the odd mouse too, but we all survived the night.
The next day while we descended to Blair Atholl the others set out to backpack the much more distant Munros beyond the River Tilt.

We have also used the bothies at Dulyn, Penrhos Isaf and the summit shelter on Cadair Idris.

Posted in Bothying | Tagged Bothying | Comments Off

Programme 2011

Posted on November 27, 2011 by keith

January 14^th – 16^th	Winter Skills Course. Snowdonia, Llanberis area. The course instructors are booked for this event. Accommodation details TBA. See David.
February 19^th – 22^nd	Scottish Highlands. Braemar or Tyndrum area. Bunkhouse long weekend. Details TBA. See Matt.
March: 12^th .	Dark Peak walk with Colin
April 8^th / 9^th/ 10^th,	Camping ,Climbing and walking. Wasdale with Steve.
May: 7^th,	Scramble/walk. Snowdonia with Les.
12^th/13^th/14^th/15^th/16^th	Scotland, Backpacking and Munro Bagging with Matt and David.
June: 10^th/11^th/12^th	Camping/Camping Barn/Walking. Rhinogs with Steve.
July 9^th	Walking, Moelwyns with Anna.
August 12^th/13^th/14^th,	Camping/Camping Barn/Walking. Malham with Matt.

Saturday 17th September PLYNLIMON
Anna
Day walk in mid Wales at the source of the Rivers Wye and Severn.
There is a hill as well.

Saturday 15th October CLWYDIANS
Eddie
Day walk on Eddie Logan’s home patch near Flint/Mold, north Wales.

October TBA SCOTLAND
Matt
Another Scottish spectacular with the usual suspects. See Matt or
David for details.
When, where and how to get there open to debate. Warm sunshine not
guaranteed.

Fri 11th – Sun 13th November GRASMERE
Steve
The ever popular Novemberfest. Top bunkhouse. £20pppn. Places
filling quickly. Get your deposit in ASAP.

Saturday 10th December LATHKILLDALE, WHITE
PEAK Dave
Popular river valley walk near to Youlgreave, Derbyshire.

Fri 13th – Sun 15th January BRECON
Michele
Good recommended bunkhouse accommodation in south Wales.

Thurs 16th – Mon 20th February GLEN SHEE,
CAIRNGORM Matt
A long winter weekend in the Cairngorm. Can you afford to miss it?
As last year, individuals may wish to adjust the arrival and
departure dates to suit.

March
Day trip TBA

April TBA NANTLE
RIDGE Colin
Rhyd-ddu weekend (No definitely not ‘That’ bunkhouse).
In 2012 Easter Day is April 8th. Views on which weekend I should go
for will be gratefully received.

AND DON’T FORGET
CNICHT ON JULY 9 (SEE ANNA)
MALHAM ON AUGUST 12-14 (SEE MATT).

AGM October 2011

And there’s much more than this going on. Visit us on a Thursday at Attleborough Liberal Club, Bull St Nuneaton for impromptu activities, or ring Andrew on 01827 717 648 or Steve on 07849430372 if you can’t get down.

Posted in 2011, Programme | Tagged 2011, Programme of events | Comments Off

Posted on October 10, 2011 by keith

Posted in Welcome | Tagged contacts | Comments Off

Programme 2010

Posted on November 27, 2010 by keith

Feb 11^th
-14^th Scottish
Highlands. Onich.

Corran
Bunkhouse. Contact Matt. Now taking deposits.

March 6^th
Sowdownia
– Carneddau

All
the 3000 ft peaks in one day! Contact
David

April 10^th
11^th Lakes
– Wasdale.

Camp,
climb and walk in Wasdale with Steve.

May 8^th Snowdonia.

Scrambling
with Anna.

May
(Whitsun) Highlands
– Lochnagar.

Backpacking
trip. Dates TBA. See Matt.

June 12^th
13^th Corris.
North Wales.

BBQ
at the Coventry MC hut with Ann & Mike.

June 19^th
20th Canoeing
on the River Wye.

No
prev. exper. needed, but you need to be a competent swimmer. All kit provided. See Andrew for details.

June
20th Cadair
Idris.

Summer
Solstice. Come and greet the new dawn with David.

July 10^th
11^th Mid-Wales

Camping
with Colin.

August
14^th Peak
District

Climb,
walk, bike with Keith & Michelle.

September 18^th Black
Mountains day walk with Anna.

October 9^th North
Wales. Scrambling in the Snowdonia area with Keith.

November 26^th –
28^th Novemberfest!
Bunkhouse weekend in Yorkshire, Wensleydale area. Details TBA

See
Matt.

December 11^th Walking
in Shropshire with Colin.

January 14^th – 16^th Winter
Skills Course. Snowdonia, Llanberis area. The course instructors are booked for
this event. Accommodation details TBA. See David.

February 19^th – 22^nd Scottish Highlands. Braemar or
Tyndrum area. Bunkhouse long weekend. Details TBA. See Matt.

Other Events – All welcome!

AGM Thursday, October 21st, 2010

TBA Summer
2012? Walking Hadrian’s wall. See
Keith Hilton if interested.

And there’s much more than this going on. Visit us on a Thursday at Attleborough Liberal Club, Bull St Nuneaton for impromptu activities, or ring Andrew on 01827 717 648 or Matt on 024 76 758322 if you can’t get down.

Posted in 2010, Programme | Tagged 2010, Programme of events | Comments Off

Nuneaton Hill Walking and Mountaineering Club