Centre of the Kingdom All those people with wide-awake eyes will have noticed that the venue for the springtime trip is not the same as the one they signed up for on the last SHOT weekend. We are NOT going to Sedbergh, but to a new location further south. Of course anybody who has paid a quid or five and is not too happy with the new destination is entitled to a full refund.
So where is the Trough of Bowland? I hear some folk ask. Most people travelling up the M6 will have noticed a rising area of fells (eventually reaching almost 1 800ft) quite close to the east side of the motorway between Preston and Lancaster. This is called the Forest of Bowland with barely a plantation to its name. Most of it is owned by the Duke of Westminster as a shooting estate with a large chunk also owned by United Utilities as a water gathering ground. The Trough of Bowland is itself a name given to a low natural crossing point used by a road coming up from Abbeystead in the west and Dunsop Bridge in the south which splits off the south-west fells from the main massif. Tucked away in this massif lies 'the Geographical Centre of Great Britain'.
We shall be staying at The Smelt Mill. This is a fully equipped bunkbarn used by the Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team as their HQ graciously offered to SHOT by an elder Gilder. There are 1 0 bedrooms (bring a sleeping bag) - l x8, 3x4 l x6, 3x2 lx 1 - totaling 35 beds. There is a lounge with an open fire, a drying room, kitchen, an indoor climbing wall (ideal for Shotlets), audio visual facilities and central heating throughout. Their website illustrates the luxuries on offer :- www.bowlandpenninemrt.org/smeltmill.htm
Because of the somewhat isolated but easily accessible position the current plan is to spend Saturday evening at the Smelt Mill. The nearest pubs are both about 5 miles away at Newton and the rather bumptious Inn at Whitewell. Gilder Senior will be able to provide us with a barrel of beer (brewed locally) to supplement all our culinary creations. So bring ALL your food with a bottle or two for emergencies.
Getting to the Smelt Mill isn't difficult. but it is not too easy either. Approaches from the M6 junction 33 via Dolphinholme and Abbeystead or from the M6 junction 32) via the M55 junction 1 Longridge and Dunsop Bridge both have advantages and disadvantages. The Mill (GR 638509) which is located on the right hand side. It is about the same distance from the road junction at Dunsop Bridge but with the Smelt Mill now on the left side.
As most people except Julian know, BT's 100,000 public phone box on the village green at Dunsop Bridge proudly states that according to the OS 'the Geographical Centre of Great Britain and its 401 associated islands' is found at NGR SD 63770 56550. This is on an open fellsite south of Wolfhole Crag. Surprisingly, just 384m to the east lays another one! According to Wikipedia and a local guidebook to the Hodder Valley the Centre of Great Britain can also be found at SD 64188 56541. This time it is in a bright green bog.
Just to confuse things further there are three more genuine contenders ! !
1. Great Britain - Mainland only is SD 72322 3667 . This involves a trespass into a field near Whalley.
2. Great Britain - Mainland plus 7 major islands is SD 68124 41406 which needs tree felling on
Longridge Fell
3. Great Britain - Mainland only from the furthest pubs is GR ..... ..... which needs further dedicated
research
Most of the Forest of Bowland is now Open Access Land. It is now possible to walk virtually anywhere, but a
word of caution. The open fells can be rather boggy and uncompromising so best stick to recognized
access paths. Having a GPS that works could be useful in finding Geographical Centres. Dunsop Bridge has
a pleasant teashop, a famous phone box and fat ducks waddling across the village green.
Please send the usual £5 deposit to Gustav to book a place.
Shot once again visit the Barclays Hut at the head of the Langdale Valley behind the Old Dungeon Ghyll pub. This is a regular one for Shot and thanks to Tim for booking it again. For further details on the room layout then speak to either Gus or Tim. If the bunkhouse becomes full or if you fancy a change the Langdale Valley National Trust campsite is only 5 minutes walk away.
I heard from Tim that he was planning a BBQ for the Saturday night rather then everyone try to crowd into the usualyl full New and Old Dungeon Ghyll Inns. Details of this to follow nearer the time. The last time Shot visited here Gus finished his last Wainwright with cherry brandy and a mountain top football match with his nephew. As could be guessed the ball was lost down the Mountain side maybe it will be rediscovered this on this trip. If lost football hunting isn’t your thing the walks straight from the front door of the hut are exceptional. You can head over to the Crinkle Crags or onto the Langdale Fells or maybe even a scramble up Jake’s Rake.
Please send the usual £5 deposit to Gustav to secure a bed or two.
Many a backpacker on the Offa's Dyke's Path will have stayed at Wonastow or passed through an hour or so after finishing breakfast in nearby Monmouth This rural, sparsely populated location is not quite in the Wye Valley but it is near as damnit in its orbit for our purposes. Rickyard Bunkhouse next to Hendre Farm is an example of farming diversity as it seeks to benefit from its convenient pathside location. It is a fully equipped bunkhouse with all the usual facilities. There are 25 beds in 5 bedrooms (2x2, l x6, l x l 0 and 1x5 ensuite). There is also a fully secure camping area at £4 per day/per person from where the incumbents can use the bunkhouse facilities. Further details can be obtained on www.rickyardbunkhouse.co.uk. Dingestow village one mile south and twice as far by road has the Somerset Arms Pub which does good food and serves real ale. An obvious pedestrian route along bridleways betwixt the two could take about 30mins for the energetic.
Nearby Monmouth is centrally located in the Wye Valley, so a short drive north or south of here will enable folk to explore this deeply incised valley with its numerous bends. Symonds Yat, Tintern Abbey, Chepstow, Ross-on-Wye, Trellech, Lower Redbrook and the Forest of Dean are just some of the places from which walks could be devised to enjoy the autumnal colours of this famously wooded area.
Getting to Rickyard Bunkhouse isn't quite as simple though. Hendre Farm (Grid Ref SO458 125) is equidistant from Wonastow (which isn't really a village), Dingestow, Llangattock-vibon-Avel (which isn't really a village either) and Llanfihangel-Ystern-Llewern (which completes this hatrick) - try stopping a passer by for directions to one of those last two villages! All of these are located on minor country roads in an area north of the main A40 (T) and west of Monmouth. Because of the lack of junctions the approach has to be made via the roundabout on the A40 (T) just south of Monmouth before it goes through the tunnel. Double back through Over Monnow (DO NOT go back into Monmouth) and hopefully find a minor road signposted for Wonastow (on the left) beyond which bears right for two miles signposted for Hendre (which you can guess isn't a village) and Llangattock or Llanfihangel perhaps. lf you spot Jingle Street (not a village) just past Wonastow on your travels then you have missed the turn. Alternatively you could all locate the Somerset Arms in Dingestow and then wait for someone to arrive from Rochdale with his sat nav who may provide a free taxi service to the bunkhouse for the inebriated. Happy Hunting.
Please send the usual £5 deposit to Gustav to secure a bed or two.
Our destination this year is the capital of Spain, located in the heart of the peninsula and right in the center of the Castillian plain 646 meters above sea level, has a population of over three million. A cosmopolitan city, a business center, headquarters for the Public Administration, Government, Spanish Parliament and the home of the Spanish Royal Family, Madrid also plays a major role in both the banking and industrial sectors. Most of its industry is located in the Southern fringe of the city, where important textile, food and metal working factories are clustered. Madrid is characterized by intense cultural and artistic activity and a very lively nightlife.
The grand metropolis of Madrid can trace its origins to the times of Arab Emir Mohamed I (852-886), who ordered the construction of a fortress on the left bank of the Manzanares river. Later it became the subject of a dispute between the Christians and Arabs until it was conquered by Alonso VI in the 11th century. At the end of the 17th century, a defensive wall was built for the protection of the new outlying areas, tracing the roads of Segovia, Toledo and Valencia. During the 18th century, under the reign of Carlos III, were designed the great arteries of the city, such as the Paseo del Prado and Paseo las Acacias.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Joseph Bonaparte undertook the reform of the Puerta del Sol and vicinity. The commercial street known as the Gran Vía was built as an east-west avenue at the start of the century. In the 1950's the north-south boulevard called Paseo de la Castellana was extended and modern buildings were erected, housing the major financial institutions. Remainings of the distant past are mainly the Baroque and neoclassical strcutures of the 17th and 18th centuries, such as the Plaza Mayor (Main Square), the Palacio Real (Royal Palace).