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.
We'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!
Address: Bong Bongs Manilla Kanteen, 460 Hackney Road, London E2 9EG
Time: 19:30-22:30
We'll start with welcome drinks and an ice breaker quiz. Then we'll enjoy a fabulous 3 course meal devised on the night by our amazing chefs from surplus food. Our venue is well-renowned for its amazing Fillipino inspired menu so we guarantee to spice up your evening.
Buying a ticket means someone else gets to enjoy this evening for free. What better Christmas present can you give? We’ll be sharing tables with our non-paying guests, coming together in the true spirit of the festive season.
Free soft drinks will be served all evening. A paying bar will sell reasonably prices beers spirits and amazing wine-on-tap!
More info: https://www.mikes-table.org/
Ignore the driving options.
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.
There is a pub called the George in the village of Alstonefield which apparently does award winning food. Those who do not particularly want to cook by candlelight may wish to eat in the pub which is about a mile walk away or alternatively a short car ride away. https://thegeorgeatalstonefield.com/
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. We are also close to the wild camping areas of the National Park.
MoreStaying at the Pinnacle Club's Emily Kelly Hut in Nant Gwynant below Snowdon (GR SH 653541).
https://pinnacleclub.co.uk/club-hut/
This puts us right on the lower southern slopes of Snowdon itself, perfectly placed for a winter round of the horseshoe.
Pattterdale at the southern end of Ullswater: the last time we went in winter we had blue skies and hard snow! Does Striding Edge beckon, or perhaps you prefer St Sunday Crag or a round of the Dodds. Bring your skis and make use of the Helvellyn ski-tow!
We'll be staying in the initimate Shepherd's Crook Bunkhouse, which we have on an exclusive basis.
https://www.noranbankfarm.co.uk/shepherd-s-crook-bunkhouse.
Once that hut is full on a first come first served basis we have a further 8 places reserved in the Agnes Spencer Hut belonging to the Cleveland MC down the road.
https://www.sakmc.org/venues/huts/19-agnes-spencer-memorial-hut
Our "snow chasing" short break to Scotland this year is to Tulloch, staying at the Station Lodge.
https://www.stationlodge.co.uk/hostel/
Just step off the train and you are there, making this ideal for public transport. There are 6 Munros reachable on foot from the bunkhouse, plus 3 more easily accessible by bus or car: as is the winter climbing on Ben Nevis and Creag Megaidh, skiing in the Nevis Range and even the Cairngorms and Glen Coe are not that far away making this a true snow-chaser. Or jump on a train to Corrour and re-enact "going for a walk" from Trainspotting.
In 2016 the National Parks of the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales were expanded so now meet either side of the M6. Ever wondered what is there? We are staying at Shap Fell Bothy, a private but very well endowed bothy that was once a telephone repeater station by the old A6 high up on the Eastern Lakeland fells at 1390ft.
http://www.shapfellbothy.co.uk/
It has heating and electricity and a star gazing window in the ceiling of the upstairs dorm! Perfect for exploring the western edge of the Howgills, the Shap Fells and the other Borrowdale. Did you know Monty's Cottage from Whitnail and I is just over the hill in Wet Sleddale?
Off to Llanberis, staying at the Karabiner Hut, Ty Powdr, once the gun powder store for Dinorwic slate quarries. https://www.karabiner.org/hut/
Obvious proximity to the quarries would be a boon to any early season climbers. Or there's always the full traverse of the Glyderau starting on the doorstep.
Ever climbed the Bowderstone in Borrowdale? Well here's your chance as we are staying Bowderstone Bunkhouse right next door.
https://www.calvertlakes.org.uk/what-we-do/bowderstone-bunkhouse/
Ideally placed for the big fells around Scafell Pike, and if winter pans out nice winter climbing on Great End (we can hope).
Please note its a 600m walk from the carpark to the hut which you will be doing in the dark whatever the weather. Once the hut is full overspill camping is available down the road at Chapel House Farm. So make your choice - last hut trip or first camping trip of the year?
It's time we went back to the Beinglas campsite, and enjoyed the hospitality (and taxidermy!) of the Drovers Inn. Nestled at the northern end of Loch Lomond, we will be surrounded by Munros
As Easter is not too early this year, we'll be camping, but like last time, this campsite also offers 4-bed cabin pods for those who would like a bit more comfort. Please book a cabin pod spot below if interested and I'll gather folks together in pods. PLEASE BOOK POD SPACES EARLY TO ENSURE AVAILABILITY.
For those using public transport, it's a short ride from Ardlui station (Citylink bus 914/915)
Location: https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/56.33174,-4.72068,17/pin
Cabin pods: https://www.beinglascampsite.co.uk/camping-cabins.php