Located on a working hill farm, Smithy’s Bunkhouse lies in the Black Mountains within the Brecon Beacons National Park, two and a half miles from the quaint historic market town of Abergavenny.

The bunkhouse is equipped with showers, toilets, a fully equipped kitchen, a drying area, coin operated washer and dryer and an adjacent common room with piano & wood-burning stove.

There are walks to Skirrid, Sugarloaf and Blorenge from the doorstep.

Sounds like a good pub at the end of the drive.

Music is optional!

Staying at the ULGMC hut (Fallcliffe Cottage) between Hathersage and Grindleford. This has alpine style bunks in 3 dorms. Froggat, Stanage, Curbar, Millstone and many other popular destinations within easy reach.

Staying at the Karabiner Club hut, 25 minutes walk through Padarn park to Llanberis. You may camp in the grounds if you prefer. Stunning views of Snowdon, and towards Anglesey. The slate quarries, just 10 minutes walk, have 1500 trad, sport and adventure routes.

//Navigation Skills//
For those of you who would like to sharpen your navigation skills or those who would like to learn how to navigate confidently in the hills whatever the weather, then this is the weekend for you!

For those who would like to join, Will Green will take out a group and cover skills such as walking to a bearing, pacing and timing. We will also navigate to features such as re-entrants, ring contours, spurs and spot heights, and learn how to translate contours on the map to features on the ground.

MEET FULL AND RUNNING A WAITING LIST. PLEASE ONLY SIGN UP IF YOU ARE ON THE WAITING LIST AND HAVE BEEN INVITED TO A PLACE. ANYONE ELSE WILL BE DELETED!!!

This year we have booked a chalet at Glenmore Lodge - Scotland's national outdoor training centre, in the heart of the Cairngorms. There will be the option to hire instructors for some winter skills training. Whilst snow is not guaranteed the northern Cairngorm plateau is the best bet at this time of year.

Staying at the old schoolhouse in Helwith Bridge, owned by the Yorkshire Subterranean Society. Just down the road from Horton in Ribblesdale, if anyone is up for the 3 peaks challenge. You can eat at the Helwith Bridge Inn, including breakfast if you book in advance.

We are also putting on Navigation this weekend with Team Walking Skills. More information has been sent out via email - check your inbox or get in touch with Dayne to find out more!

If interested in Navigation training, please mention in the notes when signing up!

Home of wild ponies, jail ale and the Hound of the Baskervilles. Wild moorland walking and climbing on the tors and Dewerstone. We are staying at the Fox Tor cafe bunkhouse in Princetown in the centre of the moor.

We're staying at the Lancashire Climbing and Caving Club's Tranearth Hut. Set in the Lake District hills, it's a beautiful area to explire a whole range of exciting scenery and activities.

The hut is well equiped, we have 20 spaces reserved, we could even increase our booking size if things get popular.. Camping for 3 tents in the garden too.. Though with the solid fuel stove and comfy sofas in the lounge, bag yourself a space indoors if you can!

Last thing to add, extending your stay before or after is an option here too :)

Link below

https://thelccc.co.uk/club-huts/tranearth-2/

For our last hut trip of the season we are returning to the wonderful Isle of Skye, 5 years after our last visit. We are staying at Glenbrittle Youth Hostel, in a spectacular location at the base of the Cuillin ridge. Anyone up for the Inn Pin, or wild swimming in the Fairy Pools?

Roll up for the last hut trip of the season for lovers of solid fuel burners, central heating and drying rooms!

Just up the road from our recent visit to the Ty Powdwr hut, we return to the Llanberis vicinity for more walking, climbing and scrambling this April in the GMC's hut.

Next door to some soaring hills and the usual Lake district views we have the slate quarries just 10 minutes walk, have 1500 trad, sport and adventure routes. Quick access to the Glyders is also available, including the ever enticing Bryant's Gully, the longest scramble in the Steve Ashton guidebook (three stars!).

With our annual trip to the land of pasties and jam first scones comes the first camping trip of the year!

Hope for sun and you might just feel like you've left the United Kingdom! Walkers will be enticed by the southwest coast path, some of the country's best beaches and a hearty reward of pub food after all of the day's exertion.
Climbers will find satisfying multipitch routes, and good training in overcoming the 'yuck' factor when reaching for a jug smothered in gull poop. With the benefit of the holiday weekend, you can intersperse your climbing with a day of kayaking!
This year we are back at Treen campsite, near Porthcurno. £13pp with small tent.
**Please sign up by Friday, 26th April so I can give final number to Gillian.**

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 11th and Sunday 12th. The format will be 5 groups of 4 novices with 5 group leaders taking you through the areas outlined above.

We will be staying at the bunkhouse in Bamford on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th May.

Join us to celebrate the founding of the Rockhoppers 70 years ago in our spiritual home - Snowdonia.

Meet full - please see the email of 9th March for details of how to get on the waiting list

This is a once in a decade opportunity to bring together members of the Rockhopper community to recognise the formation of the club all those years ago.

There’ll be plenty of opportunity to explore and do all the usual activities as well as a race around Snowdonia to collect pieces of a puzzle and pre-planned route options for walking, climbing and cycling. The evening entertainment comes in the form of a quiz on Saturday and the main event of dinner and a ceilidh on Sunday. So get your dancing shoes ready!

Booking options
Please read before booking:

There are two steps (three if you're not already a member)
0) Join the club here
1) Book onto and pay the club for this trip
2) Book and pay for any Plas Y Brenin rooms or food.

You need to book onto this trip (using the green "Book online" button to the right) and choose one of the three payment options. Fill out travel details (see FAQ) and write in the comments section "Camping", "PYB" or "Other" (along with any other comments on travel.

Then click on the PYB booking link button below if you want catering or a room. You pay PYB separately for these options.

Please refer to the booking email sent on 12th January and the FAQ page for more details.

Camping
Select the "70th dinner (including camping)" payment option when booking onto the trip.
Optional: enjoy meals at PYB by choosing the "catering only" option on the PYB booking link below.

Staying at Plas y Brenin
Select the "70th dinner (staying at PYB)" payment option when booking onto the trip then choose one of the room options (single or shared) on the PYB booking link below.

Undecided / other accommodation
Select the "70th dinner only" payment option when booking onto the trip.

PYB accommodation / catering packages
Once you've booked on the meet (using the green "Book online" button as normal), please click the button below to go to the PYB packages page and click on "Buy Tickets" and choose your option.

Booking button temporarily removed as the meet is full

A staple for anyone who's missed the grit this year, we'll be making an annual return to the Stanage/Burbage areas with some high altitude camping within a few mins walk of the crag.

For walkers, the Peaks offer multiple enjoyable meanders that will help the knees recover from and prepare for the steeper Snowdonia and Lake District trips either side of this visit.

More spaces can be made available if demand requires it.

We return to the National Trust campsite, from where we can still taste those delicious bacon rolls from last year. And who can forget the underfloor heating?!

Excellent facilities aside, this location offers a great opportunity to get Alps-fit before your summer adventures, with a superb variety of crags nearby, such as Ravens (15 minute approach) and Gimmer crags, and long, hard mountain days available for the keen walker. Bring oversocks for delightful ghyll scrambling (if the weather allows) and hungry bellies for the pub if the weather requires.

(Ask nicely and we might see the return of Rob's yoga tent.)

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.

Walking
Climbing (single / multi, trad / sports)
Swimming / bathing
Making sandcastles / giant penguins
Kayaking / canoeing
Historic sites

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 (Saturday only) 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.High summer: the perfect time to go to the beach.

If you're still not convinced, check out some of the scenes from our last visit.

I reckon you deserve a week off, staying in a lovely little hut nestled in the Pass of Llanberis, arguably the home of trad climbing in the UK. The hut is based in Nant Peris so you have iconic crags such as Graig Ddu, Clogwyn Grochan, Carreg Wasted, Dinas y Gromlech and Dinas Mot just a short walk or bus ride away - its a paradise for anyone looking to get into their multi-pitch climbing with lots of very accessible grades. Another bonus is that the position of the hut is literally only a 20min walk away from the famous sport routes of the Llanberis quarries, which, on showery days are very fast drying. Not wanting to tie in? You could explore the many world class boulders in the valley or just take full advantage of some incredible walks all from the front door of the hut.

Reach out to me if you have any questions or if you want to chat through logistics of the meet.

Dates:
Monday 22nd to Friday 26th July

Accommodation
Fronwydyr hut in Nant Peris at £10 per night per person.

Activities for the week
Trad single / multi pitch
Sport climbing
Bouldering
Hill walking
Scrambling

For those of us experiencing FOMO from the week in Llanberis trip, you will have the option to join the holidaying Rockhoppers on the tail end of their week (but at a campsite, not in their hut).
We are staying at the Ty Isaf campsite in Nant Peris (opposite the Vaynol Arms). £10 pppn cash only.

An opportunity to scratch that sport climbing itch. For walkers, the circumnavigation of Portland is a great day walk, alternatively the coast path towards Swanage or Lyme Regis. We are staying at our usual site, Martleaves Farm in Weymouth. It is a 3km walk from Weymouth station to the campsite, or there is a regular bus service.

We return to South Pem. From the challenging limestone cliffs at Saddle Head to the iconic sea stacks of St. Govans, South Pembrokeshire has a route for every level of bravery or climbing madness.

For those who prefer their feet firmly on the ground, the coastal walks provide breathtaking views and a chance to spot local wildlife, without the risk of unplanned swimming.

Note: the showers are "traditional".
Bosherston campsite £6 pppn.

Our annual weekend of volunteering in Snowdonia, organised by the Snowdonia Society.

Our last coastline meander before returning inland for the autumn, Hartland Point offers a spectacular blend of coastal scenery and challenging terrain that will delight both walkers and climbers alike.
We are staying at Stoke Barton campsite £13 pppn.

We will be going to Glenridding on spectacular Ullswater in the Lake District. We will be staying at Gillside Farm campsite a few hundred metres away from the edge of the lake.

- Walking: You will be right in the big hills of the Lake District and perfectly situated for Helvellyn, England's third-highest peak.
- Climbing and Harder Scrambling: Plenty available in the Lakes although you will need to drive to get to any of the main venues. Nearby is the famous Pinnacle Ridge on St Sunday Crag (Grade 3 scramble).
- Transport: Public transport is possible - you can get the train from London direct to Penrith and then the 508 bus (run by Stagecoach) which stops at Glenridding.
Or, use the website system to help you organise a lift.
- Accommodation & Facilities: This is a camping meet, so you'll need to bring your own tent, camping gear and food for the 2 nights.
- Pub: There is a pub, the Travellers Rest, a few minutes' walk away, which might be a good option for dinner on the Saturday night.
- Payment: The cost of the campsite is £26 pp + £2 per car for the 2 nights, payable direct to the campsite.

Important note if you want a shower: Please bring a good supply of 20p coins

"one of the best weekends ever!" - Unnamed Rockhopper, Glenridding 2022

If you have any questions just get in touch - do also reach out if you're a new member thinking of coming for your first trip and just want to say hi.

We are staying at Cherry Orchard campsite, a great little site between Coleford and Monmouth. This is a superb location for walkers and bikers in the Forest of Dean, as well as close to Shorn Cliff, Wyndecliffe and Wintour's Leap for climbers. The very friendly Ostrich Inn is a short walk away. £10 pppn.

Do you fancy a weekend of learning the fundamentals of leading multi-pitch trad routes in the mountains? If you and a friend are keen and would like to turn up the dial on your mountain adventures then give me a shout so we can talk through specific objectives. The purpose of this weekend would be to teach you the skills to allow you to become a more independent trad climber.

Format of weekend:
I’d provide a ratio of 1:2 multi pitch leading instruction. We’d be out 8:30 to 4:30pm on Saturday and 8:30am to 3:30 on Sunday. To make the best use of the weekend we’d either trad climb, or, if the weather decides not to play ball, we would go mountaineering and I would teach moving together on scrambling terrain. These weekends would make up part of my consolidation period for my MCI assessment.

Available weekends:
5th and 6th of October
19th and 20th of October
2nd and 3rd of November
16th and 17th of November

Travel:
I’d drive up on the Friday evening and return on the Sunday late afternoon. I’d be quite happy to give you both a lift and share fuel costs.

Accommodation:
Mountaineering huts in either the Ogwen or Llanberis valleys

Costs:
The only costs would be fuel, food and accommodation across the Friday and Saturday nights.

Next steps:
If you are keen, find a partner and give me a call or a text on 07917453741

We are staying at LLangorse Activity Centre, which is in a beautiful location overlooking Llangorse lake, about 6 miles from Brecon. The centre has a cafe and an indoor climbing wall. The Red Dragon in Llangorse is within walking distance, does great food, and has its own microbrewery.
And enjoy the night sky in this international dark sky reserve.
Camping is £11 pppn.

Walking and biking trails in an area of natural beauty. Also close to the Dales and Pendle Hill, associated with the famous 'Pendle Witches'. No doubt Pendle Witches Brew will be available in local pubs. We are staying at Dale House barn, between Slaidburn and Settle.

Where is the president taking you this year?

We can finally reveal that he'll be taking you to the beautiful Dolgellau in South Snowdonia, an incredible part of Wales in which the club has spent far too little time. From YHA Kings, where we'll be staying, you will find beaches, lakes and big mountains within a 30-minute drive, and a beautiful ruined abbey within 15.

For climbers, Cadair Idris features the legendary Table Direct (VD ***) followed by the Cyfrwy Arete (3/D ***), rewarding challengers with dramatic views and exhilarating exposure.

Walkers have superb choice abounding, while the nearby Rhinogs offer multiple scrambling options to the walker seeking a little more technical thrill.

Our Saturday evening plans will feature a break from the traditional, with local Neapolitan-style pizza, salads and sides on offer. This satisfying mozzarella-laden feast will be followed by a thought-provoking (and hilarious) Rockhoppers Pub Quiz with, if there's time and it's dry, outside Rockhoppers Hide & Seek (the headtorch edition). Quiz prizes will be announced alongside our granting of the Rockhopper of the Year Award and commiseration prizes for the runners-up, and will all take place under the watchful eye of Penny the Penguin, our much-loved but a little creepy club mascot.

For what are you waiting? Sign-up for the best* party of the year before places go.

BYOB!

* Realistically the best party of the year will have been the 70th Anniversary Dinner in May, but we reckon this will be a very close second.

(If you want to bring your children to this event, please message the steward, Dan Oatley, so appropriate arrangements can be made.)

We are staying at Sparrowhawk Backpackers Ecohostel in the village of Moretonhampstead, at the north eastern end of Dartmoor, about 14 miles from Exeter. There is a double bed for any couples. Please pay the warden on arrival.

High above the village of Dolgarrog in the Conwy valley nestles the remote Rugby Mountaineering Club hut. The hut is basic but snug, and catering is usually on a communal basis. It gives superb access to all the hills in the Carneddau. The last two miles are a walk in along a track from the car park There is also a camping option. Spaces have been quickly snapped up in the past!