Programme for May 2001

Wednesday 2^nd May

Book Review

Bring your favourite books and tell us how great they are. Fiction, travel, autobiography - anything you think might interest your mates.

Friday 4^th to Monday 7^th May

Golant Hostel, Cornwall

Ian

This Georgian Mansion in extensive grounds on the bank of the River Fowey is an excellent base for exploring rugged Cornish scenery. There is plenty to do even if footpaths remain closed. The unspoilt town of Fowey is four miles away, and there are picturesque villages and beaches to explore. We could visit the restored "Lost Gardens of Heligan", and Charlestown Georgian village and maritime heritage centre with its preserved 18^th century harbour.

We will also spend a day at the nearby Eden Project - "Living Theatre of Plants and People" - the biggest greenhouse in the world! A fifty metre deep crater has become home to thousands of important and beautiful plants. Three of the world's climate zones ("Biomes") are represented; The Humid Tropics (Rainforests and Oceanic Islands) and the Warm Temperate regions (the Mediterranean, South Africa & California) are contained within the two giant conservatories. The third, or "Roofless Biome", is our own Temperate zone that thrives on the climatic advantages that Cornwall has to offer.

A coach will be picking us up from the hostel at 0930 on Sunday to go to the Eden Project, return at 1600 via a scenic route.

Deposit £33. Estimated total cost £68, plus Eden Project group admission £8 each.

Wednesday 9^th May

Evening Walk and Pub

Dave

Join us for a pleasant evening at the White Horse in Pleshey (GR 664145, see map). Meet at the pub at 7.30pm to go for a stroll (sticking to the lanes if the footpaths are closed), returning to the pub by 9pm for a drink.

Wednesday 16th May

Committee Meeting

More planning and scheming for the year ahead. Everybody welcome.

Wednesday 23rd May

Photo evening

Dave

Bring your prints and slides of holidays, trips and events. There will be snowy pictures of Yorkshire at New Year, sunny views from the London Eye, and much more!

Wednesday 30th May

Pub Night

Jim

Anyone not with us in Scotland is welcome to join Jim at the Hoop in Stock (see map) from 8.30pm for one of their famous real ales.

25^th May to 3^rd June

A Week in Scotland

Lorna

Fri: Edinburgh, or other overnight stop en route.
Sat/Sun: Loch Lochy hostel - in the Great Glen between Loch Lochy and Loch Oich. The hostel has 59 Munros within a 20 mile radius; the two local Munros are Sron a Choire Ghairbh and Meall Na Teanga, which rise straight up from the western shore of Loch Lochy. You can easily climb both these peaks in a day's walk from the hostel. Also loch-side walks, castles, waterfalls...
Mon/Tues: Isle of Rum, Passenger ferry 10:30 from Mallaig to Isle of Rum, arrive 12:45; stay in the farmhouse or the castle, "the Forbidden Island", nature reserve with 2000ft mountains. Look out for deer, goats and eagles. Over 100,000 Manx shearwaters nest in the hills. Rum is perhaps the most important Scottish island for mountains outside Skye and Arran. Its main hills are called the Cuillin, with six peaks rising steeply out of the Hebridean Sea. Askival is the highest summit at 812m. There are good low-level walks using the island pony paths or the ‘Rum Cuillin’ mountain tops, which offer one of the finest ridge walks in Scotland. Rum is also outstanding in its natural history, and is owned and managed as a nature reserve by Scottish Natural Heritage. (Note: Some maps still show the incorrect spelling "Rhum". The "H" was added by the Victorians to make it seem more romantic and less like an alcoholic drink!)
Weds: Ferry leaves Rum 15:35, arrive Mallaig 16:50; Glen Nevis hostel - opposite Ben Nevis
Thur/Fri: Loch Ossian hostel - A real get-away-from-it-all hostel beside a remote Loch in high moorland country, ideal for walkers. This is the most densely populated red deer country in Scotland. No access by car - we will take the train to Corrour station, and walk one mile to the hostel.
Sat: Crianlarich hostel - magnificent hill-walking country.

Note: Note: Many foot & mouth restrictions in Scotland have been lifted, and hopefully the situation will continue to improve. The current (end of April) situation is:

Loch Lochy: There's access to the three Munros on the north side of Loch Quoich. Others open in easy reach include the Carn Ghluasaid/Sgurr nan Conbhairean group from Cluanie, Gulvain. Ben Tee, Sron a'Choire Ghairbh and Meall na Teanga are accessible from Glengarry only - the forest road on the west side Loch Lochy is closed.

Isle of Rum: Access from Kinloch to Askival (the highest summit at 812m) and Hallival is open, but much of the rest of the island is closed.

Loch Ossian: The estate around Loch Ossian is due to re-open on 1st May, but there may be some restrictions on high level routes.

You will need to bring a sleeping bag. Note also we will be away from our cars on Rum and at Loch Ossian, so bring luggage you can carry!

Total cost of the week expected to be less than £170 each

Note: Unless otherwise stated, Wednesday events start at 8.30pm at the YMCA in Victoria Road, Chelmsford