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Sunday 1st August Constable Trail Gary No not in the footsteps of PC Plod but around East Bergholt and Dedham the famous haunts of John Constable the great landscape painter. The full walk is 9 miles, but is in a figure of eight so there are lots of options for shortening. Meet at the YMCA Chelmsford at 10am, or at the free carpark in East Bergholt just before the Red Lion Pub at 11am (map ref. 069346). Lunch is at the Black Horse pub in Stratford St Mary (map ref. 042338) at about 1pm. Please contact Gary if you want lunch as we will have to book. Wednesday 4th August Canals and Cuillins Slide Show A chance to see the images from two of our most recent trips. From the flatness of Holland to the towering jagged peaks of the Isle of Skye. Including Tom’s spectacular Cuillin ridge pictures. Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th August Cycling to Castle Heddingham 
Cycling from Chelmsford to Castle Heddingham. Spend Saturday night at the Youth Hostel in this picturesque town with its Norman Castle and half timbered houses. Cycle back to Chelmsford on Sunday. It’s likely to be about 30 miles each way largely using quiet country lanes. Starting from the YMCA in Chelmsford at 10:00 on Saturday, we cycle using mainly quiet lanes, and a couple of off-road byways to Castle Heddingham, going via Broomfield, Braintree and Halsted. The total distance is about 28 miles. In Castle Heddingham we'll eat out or get a take-away so we don't have to carry our food with us. On Sunday, I plan to go back to Chelmsford via Braintree, Little Leighs, and Great Waltham, which will be about 28-30 miles. Cost £10 for bed & breakfast. Money to Dave urgently please since the hostel is likely to be busy. Bring money for pub or take-away meal on Saturday night. Wednesday 11th August Walk & Pub! Spend a pleasant evening with friends at the White Horse in Pleshey. A charming pub in a charming village location. Even if you miss the eclipse, don’t miss this. Meet at the pub (GR 664145) at 7.30 if you want to go for a short walk first. We’ll be back at the pub for a drink from about 8.30. Sunday 15th August Garden Work at Saffron Walden Hostel
Postponed until 11th/12th September - we need more time to organise finance and purchase of materials. See also news and pictures of our project to transform the garden at Saffron Walden Youth Hostel
Wednesday 18th August Committee Meeting Another chance to come along and express your views and ideas about what we should be doing next. Amongst other items we will be choosing a weekend trip for November. Sunday 22nd August Jim’s Birthday Barbie Jim’s big three-oh celebration. Join in the fun but remember to bring a bottle, a burger and a chair if you can! Parking at Jim’s can be a problem, so please car-share wherever possible. Feeding starts from 2pm. Anyone interested in a 6 mile walk with Trudi first should meet at Billericay railway station at 11am. Wednesday 25th August Polish Made Easy George A fun packed evening with George, our resident Pole, teaching us how to say our hovercraft is full of eels, and more importantly how to order our beers! Friday 27th to Monday 30th August Forest of Bowland ~ Chipping Barn 
The Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a little-known but easily accessible part of Lancashire. The isolated and dramatic scenery of the fells contrasts with the wooded, pastoral nature of the river valleys. Slaidburn Hostel was not available, so instead we’ve booked Chipping Camping Barn, a former stable which provides an ideal base for fell walking, with superb views of Wolf Fell and Parlick Pike. The village of Chipping (and pub) are just ½ mile away. The accommodation is simpler than a hostel - everyone shares a wooden sleeping platform, but it does have a hot shower, flush toilets and cooking hobs. You’ll need to bring sleeping bag and mat, and crockery and cutlery. How to get there: M6 J32, M55, A6, B5269, left turn for Chipping. From centre of Chipping, with church on your right, turn right by the Cobbled Corner Café. Keep on this road, bear left at fork, through hamlet of the Old Hive, Clarkhouse Farm on left, with camping barn opposite the farmhouse. OS sheet 102 grid ref 616435. Deposit of £12 to reserve your space. Total cost around £40. |
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