Friday 15th- Sunday 17th October 2021 Rhydd Du, Snowdonia

Many a village has lost its chapel, school or pub in the last century. Usually they loose their original purpose and get converted into a dwelling or workshop. The YHA were very adept in post-war Britain and converted some of these buildings into Youth Hostels. The inhabitants of the small and often overlooked village of Rhyd Ddu, a few miles away from the very popular touristy village of Beddgelert, has in recent times pulled in more visitors with the full length restoration of the Welsh Highland Railway (longest heritage railway in Britain) and its own new station.

Futhermore, the nearby former school and school house have now been taken over by the local community who have converted it into a very well equipped Outdoor Centre including WiFi and ceiling mounted projector. This is the venue transferred from last year which should now signal the return of normal SHOT activities. The Centre has 6 bedrooms totalling 30 beds (1x12, 4x4 and 1x2 beds), drying room, kitchen, large communal dining room, car park and garden. Oh, toilets and showers as well. There are panoramic views across Llyn-Gader to the mountains of Mynydd Mawr, and Mynydd Drws-y-coed at the end of the Nantlle Range.

Bring sleeping bags.

Welsh Highland Railway - Rhyd Ddu Station | Ed Webster ... The Cwellyn Arms in Rhyd Ddu is a small pub. Apart from meals and beer being pricey it will also be crowded and unlikely to have much spare space for any largish group. Beddgelert, just down the road, has two larger pubs, and despite it being mid- October, would also probably be busy due to its location and attractions.

Rhydd Ddu is located at the base of Snowdon. A famous path leads directly from the Centre towards Snowdon and offers two alternatives for the final summit ascent ie up one ridge and down another (a mini horseshoe). The slightly more adventurous could complete a longer circuit from the summit and descend the equally famous Snowdon Ranger path which comes back to the same valley one mile north of Rhyd Ddu. Snowdon has received record number of visitors this summer so expect it to be busy. The mountain with most solitude will be Mynydd Mawr. Unfashionable it may be, but as an outlier it affords spectacular views of its loftier neighbours. The Nanttle ridge and its peaks is also an excellent route, but requires judicious planning to avoid a linear there and back walk. Day trips to Caernarfon or Porthmadoc in the opposite direction on the narrow guage railway can be made from the station two mins walk from the Centre.

Getting to the Centre is very straightforward. It is between the Cwellyn Arms and railway station. Rhydd Ddu is on the A4085 at the junction with the B4418. People driving along the North Wales Expressway should continue to Caernarfon and join the A4085 to Rhydd Ddu. Pass the Cwellyn Arms and within a short distance reach the Centre on the Right before the train station. People approaching from the opposite direction on the A5 from Llangollen should join the A4086 at Capel Curig, then A498 to Beddgelert, and finally the A4085 to Rhyd Ddu. Pass the railway station and then reach the Centre this time on the Left. If you reach the pub then you have . . . . . . missed it!

Friday 3rd- Monday 6th December 2021 Harrogate, North Yorkshire

The plan is to go to Harrogate from the 3rd to 6th December, but you can stay longer or shorter. There is plenty to do in Harrogate such as Betty's Tea room or the spa, but a day trip to the coast or York are other options (40 minutes by train). We'll book somewhere for a group meal on the Saturday evening, so please let Mark and Tim know you are coming.

As we are staying in the UK, can you book your own accomodation. The Harrogate Premier Inn South has good reviews, free parking and is handy for the train, so Mark and I are booking here.https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/ england/north-yorkshire/harrogate/harrogate-south.html

Any questions contact Tim