Fancy a weekend away from hectic London? You’ve had a hard week, you deserve a break! Come join me and the rest of the gang up here in Snowdonia. What’s your thing? Hiking? Scrambling? Wild swimming? Climbing? Even bouldering… This place has got it all.

We’ve booked Cae Ysgubor, no, I can’t pronounce it either. It’s the Lancashire Mountaineering Hut which is just a 10min walk up the road from the beautiful Beddgelert located at grid reference SH599485.

Direct from the hut you could go and explore Snowdon via the Rhyd-Ddu route or the Watkin Path or, stay low level and follow the Afon Glaslyn via the Snowdonia Slate Trail. I for one will be heading further into the hills to take advantage of the world class trad climbing or the amazing scrambling depending on what the weather decides it wants to do!

Hut costs will be £33 per person for the weekend.

Plus there is the promise of a communal meal in the hut on the Saturday evening so we can all swap tales of adventurous days out in the hills!

More details to follow

This year we’re launching Icebreaker, the successor to our much-loved Snowchaser trips. Join us for a full week of winter climbing, winter walking, and snowy adventures in the Cairngorms.

Winter Climbing

The Cairngorms, especially the legendary Northern Corrie, are a Scottish winter climbing paradise, with some of the most reliable conditions in the Highlands. The area is ideal for both novices and experienced climbers, with classic routes across all grades.

If you’d like to build skills or tackle something harder, you can always book a local guide, just ask and we’ll happily recommend options.

Winter Walking

If you prefer keeping your feet on the ground, the Cairngorms deliver outstanding winter walking. With 55 Munros, vast plateaus, and atmospheric bothies, there’s something for everyone from shorter winter walks to long mountain days.

Accommodation

We’ll be based at Aviemore Youth Hostel, a clean, spacious base that boasts maybe the best drying room in the UK, perfect for reviving gear after a day in the snow.
We’ve booked a 6-bed dorms. If the trip fills, you can book your own bed directly with the hostel. The cost for 4 nights in the hostel is £105 per person.

Transport

Getting to Aviemore is straightforward:
Train: The Caledonian Sleeper stops right in Aviemore. If you book early, fares can be affordable and it’s an easy way to travel north.
Other trains: Regular daytime services also connect Aviemore with the rest of the UK.
Car: Driving is an option, though it’s a long journey so factor in plenty of time (and maybe car-sharing to share the load).

Our first Lake District meet of year takes us to the slopes of the Old Man. Situated near the old Coniston copper mines we'll be staying at the Yorkshire Mountaineering Club hut.

https://www.theymc.org.uk/hut-page/the-hut-

Walking
There is ample opportunity for hiking from the door of the hut. The Old Man of Coniston is a must if you've not been before (there is some phenomenal scrambles too), but there's plenty of other Wainwrights in the vicinity. For those not looking to summit peaks the lowland walk to Tarn Hows is beautiful, and Cathedral Cave is worth an explore.

The Old Man often has snow on the tops at this time of year (fingers crossed!)

If you have a car then pretty much everywhere is accessible.

Climbing
Dow Crag is famous for trad climbing, and Langdale is just round the corner. I don't think the Lakes needs any introduction to just how much climbing is available.

We are staying one mile from the village of Coniston which is host to the wonderful Black Bull pub, where you can grab a Bluebird or four. There are multiple pubs all serving food and there's a small Co-op in the village.

I tend to cook a communal meal at hut meets for anyone who wants to get involved!

It promises to be a cracker so don't hesitate to sign up when bookings open. Message me for any details.

Staying at Sleeping Giant Bunkhouse at Pen-y-cae, near Fan Brycheiniog in the Black Mountain part of the national park.

We will have 12 spaces on a professionally led navigation course on this meet (at extra cost, but subsidised by the club), please see the separate "meet" on this page for info. We will also have plenty of space for you to come and walk or climb as normal!

On the Brecon Beacons meet, we will be offering a navigation course for 12 members, led by professional instructors.

Information was sent to members by the Walkers' rep on 3rd January, refer to that for more info and how to sign up.

IMPORTANT - Initially, sign up is only for those confirmed as having spaces by the Walkers' Rep. Do not sign up otherwise as your sign up will be cancelled but you will still have payment taken by the website.

We’ll be staying in the Caseg Fraith hut, near the top of the pass between the Llugwy and the Ogwen Valleys in Snowdonia, 3.5 miles north-west of Capel Curig on the A5, beneath Tryfan (see our Tryfan webcam).

It is a large hut with electric cooking, electric lighting, electric heating, foam mattresses, running water, flush toilets and two showers.

https://caseg.ulgmc.org/caseg-fraith-hut-information/

Ideally situated for walking on the Glyderau, Carneddau and Moel Siabod and for climbing on Tryfan, in Cwm Idwal and on the Carneddau and (with transport) Llanberis, Cloggy and Tremadog are all within reach.

We’re heading north — way north — for an epic Easter escape to one of Scotland’s most dramatic mountain playgrounds! Torridon is the stuff of legend: huge sandstone giants rising straight from sea lochs, wild ridges that go on forever, and quiet glens where you might see more deer than people.

Whether you’re into long mountain walks, scrambly adventures, or proper rock climbing, this one’s got it all. Walkers can tackle classics like Liathach, Beinn Alligin, and Beinn Eighe — some of the most spectacular ridge walks in the Highlands. Climbers will find world-class rock at Seana Mheallan, or up in Coire Mhic Fhearchair (home to the mighty Triple Buttress). And if you just want to explore, there’s kayaking on Loch Torridon, sea cliffs to wander, and cosy pubs for the inevitable post-adventure pint.

Expect big views, big hills, and even bigger grins. Spaces are limited to 20 — get your name down early for what promises to be one of the highlights of the Rockhopper year!

This meet is for those of you who want to dip your toes into the realm of wlidcamping and thru-hiking. Do you want to walk to remote places carrying everything required on your back? Have dreams of taking on a long distance walks? You'll learn integral skills to make it all possible.

We'll Cover:
1, Gear - What is and isn't required for a night of wildcamping.
2, Pack Management - Learn how to pack your bag for optimum comfortability and practicality
3, Pack Comfort - Fit the backpack to sit on your hips and rest on your shoulders
4, Wildcamping - choosing your spot, setting up your tent, cooking your own food with campmates

We'll head to Dartmoor and spend the night at a hostel. A big breakfast on the Saturday followed by gear discussions and packing our bags appropriately. A suitably sized walk into the moors and setting up camp for the night. Next morning we'll pack up and hike back out to the start in a circular route.

This is our annual bank holiday epic to West Cornwall (dubbed one of the best meets of the year), to enjoy the the dramatic granite coastal crags, beautiful coastal walks and idyllic beaches of the Land's End Peninsula.

For the climbers, there's nearby climbing on immaculate granite crags at Chair Ladder, Sennen and Bosigran. There is plenty of walking on the SW coast path, as well as swimming and surfing beaches for those wishing to brave the water.

We're staying at Treen Farm Campsite again, near the coastal path, Logan Rock, cliff top Minnack Theatre and stunning Pedn Vouder & Porth Curno Beaches. The Logan Rock Inn a short walk away.

This meet is specifically for those of you who want to learn skills that will enable you to take on the wonderful world of trad climbing. This Skills Weekender is for you if you are already an indoor climber with the confidence to lead and belay a partner safely or you're a sport climber looking to make the leap into trad. You'll learn skills vital for trad climbing that you can then use to further your own progression.

We'll cover 4 core areas;
1) Gear, what is it and how to place it safely,
2) Belaying with half ropes,
3) Setting up anchors to keep you and your climbing partner safe,
4) Abseiling on a single line and half ropes.

We will climb on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th of May. Details of groups and leaders will be posted closer to the dates but it wont deviate much from previous years.

Accommodation will be sorted in the Peaks area so we can take advantage of the single pitch routes of one of the famous edges somewhere in the region.

Cost of the weekend to follow as im still negotiating with the site.

The Lairig Ghru passes through the heart of the high Cairngorms reaching a height of 835m, higher than most hills in either England or Wales. Above it the mountains tower for almost another 500m to their summits. The plan is to undertake a backpack circuit to and from the convenient transport hub of Aviemore. Once through the Lairig Ghru an option will be to establish a base camp and visit the remote Munros of the Dee watershed before returning to our transport home, perhaps over the Cairngorm/Ben Macdui plateau or the equally spectacular Lairig an Laoigh.
May is a great time to visit the Cairngorms. The days are really starting to stretch out but it’s still too early for the midges. Snow patches will hopefullly be lingering in high sheltered spots and could be encountered in the Lairig Ghru.
Note this trip is a backpacking trip, carrying all food and equipment required for four nights camping in remote mountainous country. The route will remain flexible as per the strengths and aspirations of the group, together with the weather and the conditions on the ground. It is a challenging mini-expedition, suitable for those who are comfortable camping, carrying a loaded pack and wish to take these skills a little further.
Group size is strictly limited to 5 (plus trip steward) to align with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, and for safety. It is not a guided trip and we will operate with input from all the team.
Note the trip will begin in Aviemore on Friday morning so all attendees must be ready to join then. We will return to Aviemore around mid-afternoon on Tuesday for return travel. As this trip is not running over the bank holiday it should make transport slightly easier and hopefully cheaper to plan.

Details TBC

The Lairig Ghru passes through the heart of the high Cairngorms reaching a height of 835m, higher than most hills in either England or Wales. Above it the mountains tower for almost another 500m to their summits. The plan is to undertake a backpack circuit to and from the convenient transport hub of Aviemore. Once through the Lairig Ghru an option will be to establish a base camp and visit the remote Munros of the Dee watershed before returning to our transport home, perhaps over the Cairngorm/Ben Macdui plateau or the equally spectacular Lairig an Laoigh.
May is a great time to visit the Cairngorms. The days are really starting to stretch out but it’s still too early for the midges. Snow patches will hopefully be lingering in high sheltered spots and could be encountered in the Lairig Ghru.
Note this trip is a backpacking trip, carrying all food and equipment required for four nights camping in remote mountainous country. The route will remain flexible as per the strengths and aspirations of the group, together with the weather and the conditions on the ground. It is a challenging mini-expedition, suitable for those who are comfortable camping, carrying a loaded pack and wish to take these skills a little further.
Group size is strictly limited to 5 (plus trip steward) to align with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, and for safety. It is not a guided trip and we will operate with input from all the team.
Note the trip will begin in Aviemore on Friday morning so all attendees must be ready to join then. We will return to Aviemore around mid-afternoon on Tuesday for return travel. This trip is running over the bank holiday for those who wish to preserve their days of leave.

Camping in the Lakes - exact location tbc.

On this meet, I'm hoping to be able to offer some mentored walk planning / navigation practice. The aim will be for newer members to build their confidence in planning and navigating walks, and help put into practice if you've been on a course. You can also join in if you're a total beginner at navigation, but you'll get the most out of it if you have some knowledge of how to read a map beforehand.

Experienced pairs of hands, who can help out as mentors, will be especially welcome!

Where else would you want to be for the Summer Solstice than the isle of Portland? If you fancy climbing well into the evening, grabbing a chippy and a pint and watching the sunset on the UKs longest day then this is the meet for you.

We're staying at the Bunkhouse located near Portland Bill. This is the perfect location - a 5 minute walk to the crags of Coastguard and Wallsend North/South whose perfect conditions are late afternoon / early evening due to their west facing sea cliffs. Make sure you save some gas to utilise some late day climbing.

Beginners and grade chasers all welcome. Never discount a bit of DWS also.

Supermarkets and pubs aplenty on the island and one of the best chippy's around - Chesil Chippy. Follow it with a pint at the The Cove.

Why aren't we camping? Well the bunkhouse is too good to pass up. Comes with communal dorms, a living room space, an outdoor area for garden games and a big kitchen. You'll get a better sleep than a tent and be all rested for your climbs.

Spaces will fill up quickly for this annual trip!

We return to Nicholaston Farm; a campsite with everything you could want: Endless sandy beaches, beautiful forests, a well-filled shop, on-site oven-baked pizza (possibly), hot showers with underfloor heating, a dedicated warm water dog-wash and industrial fridges to keep all of that delicious food cool. And cafes and pubs galore nearby.

https://www.nicholastonfarm.co.uk/

Climbing: there is something for everyone and you can walk to much of it from the campsite along the beach. Three Cliffs bay and Tor Bay offer a range of easy to hard (trad) climbs from the beach. Just watch the tides so it doesn't turn into shallow-water soloing. There's boiler plate slab for more trad along near Port Eynon and a whole bunch of naughty-nautical themed sport climbs a scenic bus ride away in Rhossili beach.

Walking: turn left and follow the beautiful coastal forest and dunes towards and beyond Tor Bay and Three Cliffs bay with its castle, woodlands and swimming beach. Turn right and walk along the miles of empty beach towards Port Eynon and Oxwich bay with their pubs and fancy (and not so fancy) fish restaurants. Walk to Rhossili to visit the Wurm/dragon and smile at the sunflowers before having a pint or tea and ice cream and getting the bus back. Walk backwards to get up onto the ridge and the lesser-trodden parts of Gower including some lovely frollicking fields and a strangely empty castle.

Canoeing / Kayaking: in previous years we've hired some water-craft from Oxwich bay and paddled around a bit, which was strenuous but good fun.

For hikers, the Wales Coast Path offers great coastal views (and seals!) and varied terrain. Head to sandy beaches like Three Cliffs Bay, traverse rugged cliffs, or venture inland to Cefn Bryn for panoramic vistas. Picturesque trails weave through villages and nature reserves, for some beautiful walks

"The first meet of the year takes us to Dinas Mawddwy and the Stafford Mountaineering Club hut, Bryn Hafod. The hut was built by members, and has a comfortable lounge, large kitchen, drying room and showers."

What should have been the first meet was postponed due to stormy weather, but we shall not be deterred.

The hut is situated directly below the main ridge of the Aran mountains, offering great walking at an altitude of between 600 and 900 metres. On a previous visit at this time of year we enjoyed cold crisp weather with stunning views south west to Cader Idris, west to the sea, and north to the main hills of Snowdonia.

Above the hut is Craig Cowarch crag, home to many 3* multipitches, including a 6 pitch 3* route called Will o' the Wisp.

The hut is wonderfully isolated, 1km from the end of the road, so its a great place to relax. We will probably organise a communal meal for Saturday evening.

TBC

If you've not been to this remote hut set high above the village of Dolgarrog in the Conwy valley, then make sure you book this trip and experience something unique!

The hut is a two mile walk in from the carpark and what goes in must come out. It's basic but quaint, small but snug, and the isolated feel is magical. It gives superb access to all the hills in the Carneddau.

Communal meals recommended. All rubbish must be carried out, and human waste must be buried at the end of the trip.

This is a must try for any Rockhoppers who haven't been before. Spaces usually go quickly.