Recent National Events

Listed below are details of National events organised in the last 12 months.

CONISTON, LAKE DISTRICT 7 - 8 April 2009

To make the Easter weekend break longer we have booked the Tuesday and Wednesday nights prior to the weekend at Holly How Youth Hostel in Coniston. All levels of walking routes, including the Old Man of Coniston, lead from the hostel's door. You can sail, canoe or cruise on the lake made famous by Donald Campbell's Bluebird, climb a classic Lake District crag or try pony trekking. John Ruskin's home and museum and lots of Arthur Ransome connections are nearby

Travel Information: For Sat Nav users the Postcode is LA21 2DD. From the M6, J36, take the A591, then the A5095 then left onto the A593 into the village. The hostel is on the right hand side before you reach the village centre. Parking is available at the hostel. The nearest rail station is Oxenholme then bus/taxi.

Accomodation: The group has reserved spaces at the Youth Hostel for the two days walking break. The weekend will start with dinner on Tuesday evening (access to the hostel is from 5pm).

Meals: All meals are included in the price which also covers the cost of arranging the break. Individual YHA membership is not required because the Club has Group Membership.

Walks: There will be a led walks offered on both days. If the group number is only small it may be decided to walk as one group.

Organiser: Ian

ELTERWATER, LAKE DISTRICT 9 - 13 April 2009

We have booked the Easter weekend at Elterwater Youth Hostel in the Lake District. Converted from Elterwater's oldest farm, this property is superbly located for the Langdale fells in a popular but peaceful village. Accommodation is comfortable, warm and friendly, the food is good and the pub and village shop are close to hand. There are outdoor activities for all levels, with easy access to the Cumbria Way, road and mountain biking trails and crags for rock climbing.

Accommodation
The group has reserved spaces at the Youth Hostel for this four day walking break. The weekend will start with dinner on the Thursday evening (access to the Hostel is from 5pm).

Meals
All meals are included in the price which also covers the cost of arranging the break. Individual YHA membership is not required as the club has group membership.

Walks
There will be led walks offered on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with choice of grades.

Travel Information
The nearest rail station is Oxenholme then bus/taxi.

For sat-nav users the postcode is LA22 8HX.

From the M6 J36, take the A591 then the A5095, left onto the A593, right onto the B5343 and into the viallage. There is no parking at the hostel, parking in the village.

Organiser: Louise

PORT ST MARY, ISLE OF MAN 23 - 30 May 2009

This year, the Club will be visiting the Isle of Man, giving a week of led walking with your Footprints friends along its dramatic coastline - the part nearest to our accommodation has been likened to the Cornish coast. There is also the island's highest mountain, Snaefell, at 621m (2,036ft) for a more energetic walk and trip down by its own mountain railway.

The Island: It has a lot to recommend it with, apart form the above attractions, starkly beautiful hills, 17 glens in both coastal and hill areas, the haunting waterfalls of the Dhoon and Glen Maye and remote sandy beaches and hidden coves. On a clear day, it is possible to see Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England from the top of Snaefell. Plenty of scope for many enjoyable walks.

Accomodation: We will be staying in the same guest house, the Mallmore in Port St Mary, where the Club stayed 10 years ago. We have booked, 5 single rooms, 5 x 4 bed family rooms (which have a double bed and a 2 bed bunk in each room) and 2 x 2 bed bunk rooms www.mallmore.org Please indicate your bed type preference on the booking form. If the chosen type of bed is not available, you will be allocated another type of bed, unless you have ruled out other bed types.

Travel Information: Please book your own transport - a car ferry, the Steam Packet company, runs all year from Heysham (near Lancaster) and Liverpool to Douglas, the capital of the Island www.steam-packet.com There are some excellent through rail/ship tickets to/from every station in the UK www.25a.me.uk/iom/travel/rail-shipiomspco-200705.pdf or from www.festtravel.co.uk The airport is situated in the South end of the island near to Castletown and there is a bus service to Port St Mary, where the guest house is situated www.iom-airport.com

Getting Around: There is public transport available for getting around the island, but if necessary, we may consider hiring cars on the island for a part of the holiday, to reach the less accessible parts of the island.

Meals: Accommodation is on a bed and breakfast basis, so we will be 'eating out' in the evening. The guest house does not permit consumption of alcohol, but this should only create a problem for breakfast.

Walks: There will be led walks offered on most days with optional free days.

Cost: The B&B cost per person depends on the type of room; single £273, twin bunk £175. In a family room the double bed (single occupancy!) is £282 and bunks £160 each. For a family en-suite room the prices are £296 and £202.

Organiser: Ian

HALTON GILL, YORKSHIRE DALES 26 - 28 June 2009

Sorry - this event has been cancelled.

DOLGELLAU, MID WALES 24 - 26 July 2009

A return visit has been arranged to the Kings Youth Hostel on the outskirts of Dolgellau in Mid-Wales, an area last visited by the club in 1995/96. A return to the area with its good walks and splendid mountain and coastal scenery (not to mention the wildlife in the estuary and a possible trip on a steam railway) will be welcomed.

Accomodation: The Club has reserved spaces for this weekend of walking at the Youth Hostel, a country house, located at the southern end of the Snowdonia National Park. The hostel, a country house is set in riverside grounds with coastal views and views of Cadair Idris. Large sandy beaches are close by in Barmouth, Walks can be a high-level hike up Cader Idris or gentle trails leading to the Mawddach Estuary, whose low tide sands and woodlands are a haven for wildlife and migrant waders. The weekend will start with dinner on Friday evening (access to the hostel is from 5pm).

Travel Information: For Sat Nav users the Postcode is LL40 1TB. The nearest rail station is Morfa Mawddach, the Traveline website is www.travelline.org.uk. Lifts to this station or from Dolgellau could be arranged.

Meals: All meals except dinner on Saturday evening are included in the price which also covers the cost of arranging the break. Individual YHA membership is not required because the Club has Group Membership. On Saturday evening it is planned to travel by taxi and eat out in a local pub in Dolgellau. This is subject to finding a suitable venue and travel arrangements and if it cannot be arranged the meal will be booked at the hostel.

Walks: A strenuous high level walk will be offered on the Saturday up Cadair Idris (approx 2,800 feet) with an easier lower level walk as an alternative. Sunday it intended to walk as one party along the Mawddach estuary, perhaps crossing the railway bridge over into Barmouth, or even fitting in a trip on the Fairbourne Railway!

Organiser: Jonathan

BEER, DEVON 28 - 31 August 2009

Sorry - Fully Booked

We have booked another superb coastal location for this year's August Bank Holiday Weekend - Beer in Devon, which is on the Jurassic Coast.

Accommodation: The group has reserved spaces at the Youth Hostel for this 3-day walking break. The weekend will start with dinner on Friday evening (access to the hostel is from 5pm). On the edge of the fishing village of Beer, this light and airy country house, once a smugglers' haunt, has a large lawned garden and is a relaxing hostel. It is due to re-open in May after undergoing an extensive programme of improvements.

Travel Information: Axminster 7 miles - Taxi to hostel Exeter 30 miles - Bus X53 to Beer (1 Hour) - 10 min walk to hostel.

Meals: All meals are included in the price which also covers the cost of arranging the break. Individual YHA membership is not required because the Club has Group Membership.

Walks: All walks will include parts of the South West Coast Path, with a choice of grades.

Sat 29th Lyme Regis to Axmouth Undercliffs
Catch 09.40 Bus (X53) from Beer to Lyme Regis and Morcombelake. A choice of 13 and 9 mile linear walks via the Undercliffs between Lyme Regis and Axmouth. The longer walk starts at Morcombelake and also includes Stonebarrow Hill and Charmouth; the shorter walk starts at Lyme Regis. Both walks continue to Beer.

Sun 30th Golden Cap and Chardown Hill
Drive to Seatown (between Lyme Regis and Bridport) for 10.30 start. A choice of 13 and 9 mile walks taking in Golden Cap and Chardown Hill before heading east on the Monarch's Way. The shorter walk will continue via Eype Down; the longer walk via Allington Hill and Bridport. Both walks then return via Thorncombe Beacon.

Mon 31st Branscombe and Beer Head
An 8 mile circular walk from the Hostel via Beer Quarry and Stockham's Hill to Branscombe. Return via Hooken Cliffs and Beer Head.

Organiser: Greg

BORROWDALE, LAKE DISTRICT 25 - 27 September 2009

Our regular visit to Borrowdale in the Lake District. We have places booked at the Glaramara Outdoor Centre, a purpose-built walking centre, for a 2-day walking weekend.

Accomodation: Glaramara was purpose-built in the 1920s as a walking centre and was used for this purpose by the CHA until 1999. The current owners have made tasteful improvements to the property without losing its feel as an outdoor centre. The centre offers excellent food and comfortable accommodation in a mixture of standard (ie not ensuite) twin and single rooms. (Single rooms will be allocated on a first come first served basis). We have booked a full board package which includes 2 evening meals, breakfasts and packed lunches. The centre has a lounge, a bar, a drying room and a TV room. The weekend will start with dinner on Friday evening.

Meals: All meals are included in the price which also covers the cost of arranging the break.

Walks: There are plenty of great walks available from the doorstep of the centre, although local buses may be used. It is intended to offer a choice of 2 led walks on the Saturday and Sunday. Given that this is the Lake District, expect some climbing, especially on the strenuous walks which may be strenuous and involve more than one ascent. the shorter walks will be more moderate but may still involve some ascent, but will be suitable for anyone who walks on a regular basis. Details of the walks will be given on the Friday evening. It may be necessary to amend the planned walks in the event of poor weather conditions. Volunteers to lead the shorter moderate party walks welcome - ideas for routes can be provided.

Organisers: Julian and Sonia

MATLOCK BATH 16 - 18 October 2009

We have booked the New Bath Hotel in Matlock Bath, which is a luxury hotel with indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, and (at a small extra charge) a solarium. Matlock Bath is situated in a gorge of the river Derwent in the south-eastern Peak District. The cliffs of the gorge have cable cars to the "Heights of Abraham". According to the council's provisional timetable, there will be Illuminations on land and on the river (the "Venetian Lights" illuminated boats) on the evenings of Friday 16th and Saturday 17th, and fireworks on the evening of Saturday 17th: the total cost of seeing these would be about £4 per night, payable at a ticket kiosk next to the Grand Pavilion (Museum of Mining).

Accommodation: We have allocated to early bookers all 8 single rooms in the New Bath hotel. We have not used up all our reservations for twin and double rooms, but these may have to be surrendered back to the hotel unless we have more deposits from members soon. Unless you indicate otherwise on the booking form, a married couple will be assumed to prefer a double or twin, and everyone else will be assumed to be willing to share a twin on a same sex basis. All rooms are en suite, and the same price applies per person irrespective of the type of room allocated.

Travel Information: The hotel address is New Bath Hotel, New Bath Road, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire DE4 3PX. New Bath Road is a small road immediately off the west side of the A6, about ½ mile south of Matlock Bath village centre or about ¾ mile south of Matlock Bath Railway Station. Matlock Bath village is about 1½ miles south of Matlock town. There is free parking at New Bath Hotel for those staying there. The free parking in Matlock village is limited to about an hour. There is long stay pay and display at Masson Mill on the A6 a few hundred yards south of the New Bath Hotel.

Meals Only breakfasts are included in the basic price of £74. If you wish for the hotel's (smallish) packed lunches please write "packed lunches" on the booking form, and you will be charged an additional £13.90. Matlock Bath has no supermarket, and nowhere to buy sandwiches early in the day. Evening meals are left to each member to arrange. The hotel does a three course restaurant meal for £15, or bar meals at about £10 for a main course. There are a lot of places to eat in Matlock Bath village, most of them charging about £5 for a main course, but there are some restaurants.

Walks On Saturday there will be a choice of two led walks, of different lengths; and on Sunday there will be probably two, but possibly one, led walk.

Non-Residential Day Walkers Non-Residential Day Walkers should obtain confirmation from the organiser a few days in advance, but the arrangements are likely to be: arrive at the New Bath Hotel car park (having already parked any car somewhere else) at 9.20 am.

Organiser: Chris

IRONBRIDGE GORGE, SHROPSHIRE 4 - 6 December 2009

Our November trip has just slipped into December, but it's well worth coming to the World Heritage site of Ironbridge, with its many historic, early industrial museums. In fact national collections of Coalport china are in the china factory museum next door, there's the Shropshire Canal and the 200-year old Tar Tunnel, a Victorian life museum at Blists Hill and many others. Of course, we will be spending most of the time exploring the attractive Shropshire countryside in our usual manner, which is right on the edge of Ironbridge.

Accommodation. Rated a 3 star Hostel, we have booked Coalport Hostel, which offers a 'good level' of comfortable accommodation and excellent home-cooked food on a full board basis, including packed lunches. The Hostel was refurbished during early 2009.

How to Get There Telford Railway Station is 5 miles away and bus services are available from Telford and stop outside the hostel. National Express coach services go to Telford also. By car, take the M54 to Telford via the M6 at junction 10A.

Walks The cost is for the Youth Hostel facilities only. Walks (both A and B grade) will be led by Club members, as on all previous trips, for which there is no charge.

Facilities The hostel is well equipped with central heating, common room, games room, lounge, TV lounge, dining room with table licence, shop, parking, cycle store, drying room and laundry.

Organiser: Debbie

HARTINGTON HALL, NEAR BUXTON - POST CHRISTMAS BREAK 29 Dec - 2 Jan 2009

For the next Footprints New Year break, we have booked 20 places at this 4-star Youth Hostel - Hartington Hall. It's a magnificent manor house dating back to 1611, it boasts oak paneling, stove fires, sofas and stands in its own extensive grounds. It has also been refurbished to a very high standard, so it's a cosy place to relax after a bracing walk with your Footprints friends.

You can choose from the following :- 3 nights, beginning with afternoon tea on Wednesday 30th December 2009 - £220 Add 1 night beginning with a 3 course evening dinner on Tuesday 29th for £47, making a total of £267.

Very full board! There could be major implications for your waistline, since these prices include breakfast, packed lunch, afternoon tea (mulled wine, cakes, mince pies, tea and coffee) evening dinner and a late supper (cheese and biscuits, tea, coffee and warming hot chocolate). The Hostel is also licensed with a choice of draught beers, reasonably priced organic wines, bottled beers, ciders and soft drinks.

Walks The cost includes waist reduction walks (both A and B grade).

Facilities The hostel is well equipped with central heating, common room, games room, library, lounge, TV lounge, shop, parking, cycle store, conference facilities, drying room and laundry. There is also a pub in the village for 'evening rambles'.

Organisers:
Walks: Ian
Bookings: Colin

PATTERDALE, CUMBRIA 24 - 26 February

Crisp, winter days on the fells, valleys and coast of the Lake District, will hopefully be the scene for our February Club break. On the last weekend of the month, we will be staying at the Cumbria Grand Hotel at Grange-over-Sands, on the southern edge of the Lake District (see below). But why not make the journey worthwhile, by also booking for the 2 nights before at Patterdale Youth Hostel in the eastern part of the National Park, making it a full 4 nights. Helvellyn, an English 'Munro' is nearby, as is Ullswater, for 2 days of classic Lake District scenery.

Accommodation Full board, including packed lunches. Patterdale YH is close to both Ullswater and Helvellyn for both valley and mountain grade walking. The Hostel is a comfortable Scandinavian style, 1970s building set in a quiet location at the edge of the village. It has a sports massage clinic on site, original artwork and proximity to suitable 'watering holes' in the village ! No YHA membership is required. www.yha.org.uk

Travel Patterdale YH is Hostel is 400m south of Patterdale village on A592 Penrith-Ullswater-Windermere road. Nearest railway stations are at Penrith (15 miles) and Windermere (13 miles), with a connecting public bus service daily, except winter Sundays.

Walks A and B grade walks will be provided by Club members on a voluntary basis, as decided on the days concerned.

NB. The cost of the break will increase by up to £3 if VAT reverts to 17.5%.

Organiser: Peter

GRANGE-OVER-SANDS, CUMBRIA 26 - 28 February

Accommodation Full board, including packed lunches. The Cumbria Grand is a 3 star hotel. The hotel is set in 20 acres of private gardens and overlooks Morecambe Bay. All rooms have en-suite bathrooms and TV and there is snooker, table tennis and darts available in the hotel. We still have space available in twin rooms at £80 per person. See here for details.

Travel The Cumbria Grand is situated 30 minutes from the M6 and there is a railway station in the village. For travel between Patterdale and Grange-over-Sands, members with cars will be asked to convey non-car travellers (for suitable reimbursement).

Walks The Grange-over-Sands area gives a slightly easier grade of walking; A and B grade walks will be provided by Club members on a voluntary basis, as decided on the days concerned.