Friday 13th - Sunday 15th October 2023 Mitcheldean, Forest of Dean
After recent trips, some people may have developed high expectations for the quality of future accommodation. Fear not, the Oakraven Field Centrewas suggested by Lynne as a suitable destination for SHOT, and not just because it was convenient for those living in Birmingham and Bristol. The Forest of Dean is an ancient woodland which experienced a period of industrialisation (all of which is now a historical memory), and helps explain why there are sizeable villages and towns scattered throughout the area. Mitcheldean with its impressive 15th century St. Michael's Church is one of these.
The nearby Oakraven Field Centre is a substantial building with a walled garden, large grounds and woodland. Various interesting activities such as paranormal investigation,martial arts training and bow making can be organised by the owners. Very good facilities include the attractive and convivial Great Hall, games room, comprehensive kitchen, washrooms etc. There are five bedrooms containing 34 beds (one room sleeps 18 with six triple bunkbeds, whilst the other four have a double bed and a bunk bed each). Currently 28 people have already signed up, so any late bookers may be expected to occupy the 3rd tier beds. NB Bring a sleeping bag.
Mitcheldean is about 3 miles North of Cinderford on the A4136 between the A40 going West to Monmouth and the A40 going East to Gloucester. There is a crossroad junction(with B4224) in the centre of Mitcheldean (former Lamb Inn may be noticed). Continue towards Monmouth uphill, and after about 300 yards take the first Left up the narrow Jubilee Road. Drive along here until you see the 'School' sign. Then take the private track for another 200 yards, and just past a white house on the Right take the first Left up the drive to the Centre. Using the Sat Nav (post code GL17 OEE) will bring you to the School sign. The grid reference is SO 667 168.
Early autumnal colours may already be appearing. The Forest of Dean is criss crossed by old railway and tramway tracks making it ideal for mountain biking. Ross-on-Wye and the Wye Valley is a short distance away. Aunt Martha's Victorian Tea Rooms and Gardens are recommended. The water at St. Anthony's Well is reputed to have magical curative properties. There is also the Dean Forest Railway Centre and Pirate Island Adventure Golf. Wild boar are known to frequent the forest and cause a nuisance.
The local Bespoke Brewery, based at nearby Littledean, has a Brewery Tap in the Mews just off the High Street. Like the nearby White Horse it doesn't appear to do pub food, so some consideration may be needed about cooking evening meals or getting takeaways. Lynne almost got a full set of Brownie points
Please send Gustav a deposit of £ 5 to book a bed.
Friday 16th - Sunday 18th June 2023 Glenridding
Welcome return to one of the best located bunkhouses that SHOT have stayed out.It has been sometime now and many Shotlets will have evolved into tax payers. Young entrepreneurs like Tom flogging bargain, non -VAT clothing to weary, descending walkers from outside the bunkhouse at the end of the day was a very successful ploy. Get the money out of the punters`s pockets before they know what`s hit them and while they are tired and confused. Expectations of him becoming a millionaire to help out his parents in their dotage never materialised as he chose to become a history teacher instead. C`est la vie.
The very well equipped Bury Jubilee Outdoor Pursuits Centre is part of a collection of former mining buildings at Greenside in the upper reaches of the Glenridding valley coming up from Ullswater. Immediately above the buildings are the obvious signs of an extensive, desecrated area of mine workings, tips, old dams and infrastructure. Nature is very slowly regaining territory, but much of it will remain extant for centuries to come. A modified man made landscape will always be visible, but an extra tropical cyclone called Storm Desmond also did extensive flood damage (of historical proportions) over a wide area in the Lake District and the Vale of Eden in Dec 2015. Glenridding village got flooded twice in a matter of days. Many scars have been healed and damage has been repaired. The main road bridge at Pooley Bridge was swept away and replaced with an award winning designed new bridge which finally opened in 2020. This was built by contractors Eric Wright, a company highly regarded by Whelan Senior.
The centre sleeps 28 people in bedrooms on the first floor (1x10, 1x6, 1x12 beds). In addition, anybody who is incapacetated from excessive ale consumption can utilise one of the two beds on the ground floor which can be separated from the lounge/dining room by a curtain. There is a fully equipped kitchen, drying room, showers, toilets, and central heating for any unusual weather. There is parking for approx 8-10 cars. Bring a sleeping bag. There are still several beds left so bring along a friend if you want.
The location is perfect for ascents up Helvellyn and neighbouring mountains. The famous Striding Edge or the shorter, demanding Swirral Edge offer scrambling routes to the summit. Doing some of the Dodds to the north, or Nethermost and Dollywagon Pikes to the south are obvious extensions. On the other side of Ullswater various routes can be devised up to and along the High Street range. Low level routes along Ullswater or even a panoramic boat trip are good options for the less energetic. A glance at the map can reveal even more possibilties.
Most folk will travel up the M6 to Penrith. From Junction 40 follow the A66 to Keswick and within one mile turn left onto the A592 towards Ullswater and Patterdale.As you enter the centre of Glenridding village turn right before the bridge and the Glenridding Hotel and follow signs for the car park where you turn left upGreenside Road. You may spot a dog kennel sign for Helvellyn Youth Hostel. Drive up the road passing the Travellers Rest pub on your right, then a hairpin bend,before it rises steep and straight on parallel concrete tracks. Pass a terrace of houses on your right, then the Youth Hostel on your left. One hundred metres beyondthis is the Bury Hut. Open the gate and go through the next one on the left to reach the Bury Hut and it's car park.
Please send Gustav a deposit of £ 5 to book a bed.
Friday 17th - Sunday 19th March 2023 Ashbourne, Peak District
Now that the prima donnas of the football world have vacated Qatar and the World Cup and before some of them return to Wembley for the better FA Cup Final (it is the oldest cup competition afterall) attention turns to Ashbourne and it's Shrovetide Football Match,which is actually two matches. No VAR here or even rules except that no transport can be used, cemeteries are out of bounds and murder or manslaughter is understandably strictly forbidden. This medieval football match between 2 teams (Down'ards and Upp'ards, depending on where you are born) of indeterminate numbers compete to score an own goal at opposite ends of the Henmore Brook. Mayhem ensues, so shop fronts and windows are boarded up, cars are parked out of harm's way and the local bus companies helpfully advise that timetables cannot be guaranteed. This match can go anywhere
Apart from this event, the quiet Georgian market town at the southern end of the Peak District continues on in it's traditional way. The Methodist Church near the town centre is similar to the one we stayed at in Wirksworth in recent times. It is located on Church St (one way west to east) next to the Cornerstone Coffee Shop and opposite Spurrier-Smith Antique Shop near the junction with Station Rd (postcode DE6 1AE). But access to the Ashbourne Gateway Centre, which forms part of the ground floor, is around the back on Station Rd. There is sign at the side of ATBentley's shop. There is no convenient parking, only one hour between 8am and 7pm for unloading on Station Rd. Long term parking (with charges) is at the Leisure Centre further down Station Rd. Free parking is at Cockayne Avenue on the other side of the town centre (10 mins walk).Spaces may be available in nearby streets. The Centre is very spacious and similar to Wirksworth. There are 27 beds ( 1x1, 1x2, 3x4 and 1x12 bedrooms). We are fully booked, but one or two extra people can sneak in and sleep on the long sofa chairs in the Quiet Lounge or the noisier Gallery Lounge overlooking the hall. Bring sleeping bags. The Tissington cycle trail along the disused railway line heading into the Peak District starts near the Centre. A short drive will take walkers to the popularspots of Dovedale and the Manifold Valley. The more discerning can find discrete quieter spots outside these honey pots. No beds left except sofa chairs.
Please send Gustav a deposit of £ 5 to book a bed.