Meets are what the club is all about. They're run by members, for members. The club thrives by having members take an active interest in the meets that are run. We typically agree the next year's meets - where we're going and who's organising which meet - at our AGM in October. The Frequently Asked Questions page offers advice on what to expect on a meet.
To subscribe to the meets calendar on your PC or smartphone, copy-paste this link. NOTE: subscribe rather than downloading or it won't update automatically. https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/webmaster%40rockhoppers.org.uk/public/basic.ics
Depending on the program or application you're using, you may need to choose the "subscribe" or "add by URL" option. Contact the Webmaster for help.
Need help booking onto or organising a meet? Find instructions here.
Who will dare tackle The Sloth?
The Roaches are synonymous with classic gritstone climbing. The classic routes like Valkyrie, The Swan and The Sloth are the obvious ticks for those able to do them.
Walkers have the wonderful escarpments of Hen Cloud etc. and you might see a wallaby if you are very lucky.
We are staying at the Tearooms campsite http://www.roachestearooms.co.uk/camping.html. This is an old faithful site for the Club and is directly below Hen Cloud and there is a pub Ye Old Rock Inn within walking distance. This is really the only viable site for the Roaches. Note the tearooms are worth a visit but have nothing to do with the campsite.
For those who don’t know the campsite, it has no facilities. Water and toilets (no showers) are at the farm up the road. £5 per night.
There is also a bunkhouse down the road https://www.roachesbunkhouse.com/ and many holiday cottages if you prefer something a little warmer.
Staying at the wonderful Eco-Refugi in the remote village of Abella della Conca. A ton of amazing climbing nearby - single-pitch sport, plus multi-pitch sport and trad. Great walking options too, plus mountain biking, rafting etc.
https://abellaclimb.com/info/
Cost: £240 per person with £100 deposit payable now and the balance by Sept 30.
Cost includes:
Accomodation
Share of car hire and petrol (drivers will be given a budget)
Not included:
Travel to and from Barcelona
Food and drink
Recommended travel options:
Train (Eurostar to Paris then TGV to Barcelona) or flight to and from Barcelona, arriving after 2pm on Sat 26 Oct and departing after 6pm on Sat 2 Nov (assuming you want a morning's climbing on the last day).
For the first hut weekend of the season, we'll be going to the delightful Bransdale Mill Bunkhouse, a converted mill nestled in a secluded spot in the North York Moors National Park.
For walkers, the whole of the western side of the North York Moors National Park is on your doorstep, including Round Hill, the highest point of the National Park, which is also noted for its prehistoric remains.
For climbing, if the weather's up to it, there's a range of trad options only a short(ish) drive away including Park Nab, Wainstones, Scugdale Scot Crags and (maybe a longer drive) Highcliffe Nab.
The National Trust (who own the bunkhouse) promise no WiFi and no mobile phone signal, and there is barely anybody else for miles around - so come and enjoy getting away from it all!
Note: There is no pub within walking distance (nearest is about 20min drive) so Saturday night will likely be a self-catering affair. Maybe we will get some communal cooking planned and we can discuss this closer to the time. Volunteers to organise welcome :) The bunkhouse looks (from the website photos) to have a reasonably well equipped kitchen.
MoreFor this year's knees up, we are staying at Hargate Hall near Buxton. hargate-hall.co.uk
Set in the heart of the beautiful Peak District National Park, this family-run venue and accommodation is truly stunning. Built in 1899, Hargate Hall is a unique building near Buxton, surrounded by the beautiful Derbyshire landscape. This large country house is situated in over 7 acres of grounds, and looks out onto the picturesque views of the Peak District.
It’s that time of year where we come together, share memories of trips throughout the year, re-acquaint ourselves with members who we’ve met on trips (and meet those who’ve not been on a trip recently - if that’s you don’t worry, we’d love to see you!).
Saturday evening is the main event, when we’ll have:
- a photo slideshow of the past year
- a prize giving
- a vote for ‘Rockhopper of the Year’
- a dinner and,
- a dance led by a local ceilidh band.
If the weather is dry, climbing is a possibility at nearby Chee Dale, Miller's Dale or Staden Quarry.
In terms of walking, the above dales through which the River Wye cuts through make for a stunning walk and nearby trails include the Limestone Way, Pennine Bridleway (not just for horses!) and the Monsal Trail (a former railway with many tunnels).
If the weather is unfavourable or you just don't fancy the outdoors, there are plenty of local and cultural attractions within a short drive. Namely; Chatsworth House (30 mins), Haddon Hall (also 30 mins), Buxton Opera House (10 mins) and Poole's Caverns (15 mins).
MoreBeautifully situated in rolling sheep pasture in the upper River Wye catchment, Beili Neuadd has delightful views and stands in 6 acres of gardens and paddocks with a stream, ponds and woodland.
We are staying in a centrally heated self catering barn sleeps 16 in 3 en-suite rooms. There is a drying room for boots and hanging space for wet gear and a washing machine is available. All bed linen is provided for the bunks with duvets.
MoreWe're teaming up with Mike's Table for the Rockhoppers Christmas dinner. Tickets are £30 each for a 3-course meal, and your ticket pays for the same experience for someone in need of a night out. We'll be mingling with other guests so prepare to be sociable!
More info: https://www.mikes-table.org/
MoreStaying at Alstonefield Camping Barn in Dovedale. near Alstonefield on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border, Its near Dovedale, the Manifold Valley, Hartington, Leek and Ashbourne. Also close to Manifold and Tissington off road trails for cyclists, Ramshaw Rocks for climbers and for those who enjoy water sports the barn is 20 minutes drive from Carsington Water.
You need to bring usual camping equipment including camping mats or blow up air bed, sleeping bags, cooking stove and fuel, pots and pans, crockery and cutlery. There is no electricity in the barn so bring torches, tea light candles and logs for the woodburning stove.
MoreThis year's New Year trip is going to Braemar, in the Cairngorms.
Braemar sits right in the heart of the mountains, and walking options range from short days in the relatively accessible hills around the Devil's Elbow pass to long hard walks out to remote peaks in the subarctic wilderness of the Cairngorm plateau. Depending on conditions, there might also be opportunities for skiing at Glenshee, winter climbing at Lochnagar and beyond, or even a round of golf at Scoland's highest 18-hole course!
The New Year trip is also a great social occasion - in the past, we've filled in the long evenings with everything from impromptu ceilidhs to big dinners, dubiously legal fireworks to demonstrably unsafe party games. I think this is going to be my tenth New Year trip, and all of them so far have been memorable experiences.
We've got Braemar Youth Hostel booked for exclusive use from the 27th of December to the 2nd of January.
Visit the forum for more travel info: https://www.rockhoppers.org.uk/forums/categories/2/forums/30/topics/3352
MoreStaying at Dewerstone Cottage, situated in the heart of the Dewerstone National Trust Estate.
If the weather is kind it is ideal for those who wish to climb as the Dewerstone, a fantastic climbing venue but also a lovely spot to walk, either through the estate or onto Dartmoor.
MoreStaying at the Pinnacle Club's Emily Kelly Hut in Nant Gwynant below Snowdon (GR SH 653541).
Getting to the Emily Kelly Hut:
From the Pen y Gwryd pub, drive downhill for about five minutes (towards Beddgelert) and take the first turning on the right, which is a sharp turn into the Llyn Gwynant campsite (if you reach the lake, you have gone a bit too far). Don’t go into the campsite, but drive all the way along the road (heading back on yourself, but in the valley bottom), until you reach a farmhouse with a cattle grid. Carry on through the gate and then take the steep, rough track left down the hill towards a power station (which looks like a church) at the foot of the black pipeline. Hut users have permission to park at the bottom inside the big gates. On the opposite side of the car park to the big gates, there is a little gate and a narrow, stone bridge across the stream. Cross the stream and bear right up the grass track to the hut (1-2 minutes walk).