Weekends away generally take the form of an extended walk on the Saturday with a shorter walk on Sunday. Meals are normally taken as a group. Accommodation may be B&B or YHA depending on the location.
If you would like to go on a weekend or have ideas for organising one, please contact Paula Buckton at social@ldwa-London.org.uk. Paula is always happy to organise accommodation and other arrangements if members are happy to lead walks.
Recent Weekends Away
Lakes and Mountains - 25 to 28 June, 2010
Some 19 London group members, plus one Labrador dog, took part in this weekend, with most based at Windermere YHA and a few more in b&bs nearby, and a majority able to come up by train. Organisation this year was by Paula, Paul and Steve, with Chris helping with the menus and shopping. The hostel was only available from Friday-Monday but we still managed three good walks. The Lakes had been officially declared a drought area just a few days before - not often that happens! - and the weather remained dry, though often hazy, but with long, fine evenings, and beautiful sunsets visible from the hostel's terrace with its great views over the lake to distant fells.
On Saturday we car-shared over to Langdale, setting off from the New Hotel up to the base of the vertical wall of Pavey Ark, where we scrambled (optional) up the angled rock groove of Jack's Rake, a first such ascent for some, helped by the very dry surfaces. Continuing across to Sargeant Man, with skylarks singing overhead, we bagged several more 'Wainwrights': High Raise, Thunacar Knott, Harrison Stickle, Loft Crag and Pike of Stickle, to descend west to Stake Pass and then back via the long green valley of Mickleden, to the Old Dungeon Gill Hotel and a well earned drink - here trade was very brisk with many thirsty walkers. In the evening there was a lively meal out at a busy Italian restaurant down in Bowness. On Sunday, walking out from the YHA we crossed over Troutbeck valley to ascend to Garburn Pass and up along the ridgeline - with Yoke, Froswick and Ill Bell - reaching Thornthwaite Beacon for lunch, then east across into the peaceful and pastoral Kentmere valley, via Mardale Ill Bell, Harter Fell and Kentmere Pike, to return via the Garburn Pass for a welcome drink and a cook-in group meal of freshly-prepared chilli in the YHA. While we were out, England had managed to go out of the World Cup, though we were not sorry to miss the debacle! On Monday the remaining walkers still with energy left did a circuit of Wansfell and over it's Wainwright, again direct from the hostel, initially heading round above the lake to Ambleside, while others took advantage of the attractions of the lake and the towns nearby and of the fine garden at Holehird also just across the Troutbeck valley. The Saturday walk was 16kms and 3200 ft of ascent; Sunday 29 kms and 4800 ft; and Monday 15 kms and 2400 ft, with in all over 10,000 ft and 16 Wainwrights (out of the 214 peaks in the classic Wainwright Pictorial Guides book series). So under 200 left!
Don Reports on the Isle of Wight Weekend in May 2010
Mike, Sue, Chris K, Chris D and Dave caught an early ferry on Friday and after a few minor mishaps walked the 17 mile coastal path from Ryde to Shanklin. I took a later train and from Sandown and walked back to Culver Point to intercept this happy group who had enjoyed good weather all day. On Friday evening we went to the very crowded Village Inn in Old Shanklin for a meal. The food was excellent but the under pressure waiter had not taken Dave's order so after some negotiating Dave finally got the meal he wanted.
At 9.30am Saturday we met with Jill Green and her Dutch friend Ton. Margaret had got a very early train from Clapham Junction and was due to meet us but because of vandalism at Liphook Station she was going to be more than an hour late so we set off without her. The weather was once again as good as we could have wished for and Jill led us on a fabulous walk with a very charming coffee stop on the beach beyond Ventnor. Margaret arrived just as we were getting ready to leave the lunch stop. The afternoon was again great with magificient views and we walked about 23 miles with 3000ft of ascent/descent. Jill joined us for the evening meal and gave us some ideas for a good Sunday walk.
On Sunday morning we took the 9.40am bus to Upper Ventnor and Margaret was now our leader on this un-recced walk. The weather was overcast and a little damp in the morning but much brighter in the afternoon. We had a pub stop with the fastest service ever so we did not need a full hour and we set off with the promise of brighter weather. We got to Carisbrooke Castle then into the bus station in Newport for the bus to Ryde. I had the remainder of Saturday night's kitty which we spent in the coffee lounge of the Fast Cat ferry.
A great weekend and Jill has a lot of ideas for 2011 and is happy to lead again for the London Group in the IOW.
Brecon Beacons (September 2009)
An extremely successful weekend, thanks to Nick and Judith who lead some fantastic walks - 10 hardy walkers baked in the sun, disappeared in the mud, battled with tufted bogs and enjoyed some of the best views in Wales. The Youth hostel was lovely, if a bit ...well...Welsh and Roberto did us proud. Transport was a squeeze and Jim was nearly sleeping in the hedge back one night but apart from that everything worked really well - thanks to everyone for making it a great weekend. My legs have just about recovered!
The Alps (26 Aug-1 Sep 2009) Climb 5 10,000ft Alpine Summits in 5 days
No, we didn't climb five 10,000ft summits in 5 days as planned but, as the group was exceptionally strong and fit, instead we climbed 7 summits in 4 days. On our day off we enjoyed a rather technical via ferrata in the morning, an easy climb in the afternoon and an outstanding homemade dinner, prepared by an Englishman, in the evening. The weather was absolutely gorgeous all week. nic
We would like to thank Nicole for our superb and exciting high-level walking holiday on the 3,000m peaks above Val d'Isere (1,850m). Even the sun shone on the team. It must rank amongst the best short breaks ever. Steve & Peter
Photographs
Mountains and Lakes (June 2009)
A very successful weekend in the Lakes organised by Paul Lawrence with the help of Steve Singleton from Thames Valley group. 11 of us in total (including Chris K who celebrated her first walks since her disastrous accident!).
We met on the Thursday evening in the Queens hotel in Ambleside for a bite to eat and introductions. After a nights rest in our various accommodations - 5 of us at Windermere YHA (just refurbished and really excellent, with fantastic views over the lake and even a cappuccino machine to keep Paula happy) and the softies in B&B with Sue camping (not soft) - we met at Glenridding and set off to walk back to Ambleside via Helvellyn. Unfortunately it was too windy to do Striding Edge and a few cut the walk short via Grasmere but the rest of us continued up Fairfield and back via Hart Crag and High Pike and were rewarded with a quick half before returning for home cooked spag bol for the YHAers and a local curry for the B&Bers.
Saturday's walk was a circular from Langdale taking in Scafell Pike (the highest in England), Esk Pike, Bow Fell and The Band. The weather was kinder and we were afforded some fantastic views, although Scafell itself was FAR too busy! Again some decided to do a shorter route and some had a totally lazy day (no names mentioned!), but we all met up for a fabulous Italian in Windermere in the evening.
On Sunday we set off from the Youth Hostel to do a ridge walk to High Street (no, no shops!), taking in Ill Bell and Yoke and back via the Roman Road to Troutbeck where some of us found a pub to delay the return and most of us got very wet in the last 10 minutes of the walk (well done Denise - the only one to avoid the rain!). After an epic cottage pie for the YHAers and another lie in, we finished the weekend with an easy walk from Windermere to Ambleside and a couple went on over Wansfell in glorious sunshine with an earlier finish before our return journeys.
The Wessex 100
A great success with 22 members participating in the Saturday walk which started by cheering on the 500 competitors from Eggers School and took in the start and finish of the route, followed by a good value and well deserved evening meal in Alton. On the Sunday London Group manned checkpoint 15 at Upper Weild (93 miles) starting at 5.30am (well actually 4am thanks to Dave!) We served hot and cold drinks, toasted teacakes and other nibbles to the mad walkers, including 6 of the London Group who all finished with respectable times and in one piece! Thanks to all the checkpoint helpers and well done to the walkers, especially Rob who walked the marshals event AND supervised the night shift on the main event checkpoint, and Ken, who finished the main event then came back to the checkpoint to help out!