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.
The Easter trip this year is to Glen Affric for the 18th to 22nd April (That is the Thursday to the Monday) and the booking is now open.
Chat about routes, travel, etc here: http://www.rockhoppers.org.uk/forums/categories/2/forums/7/topics/3345
The booking is for 12 beds in the hostel and camping is possible, but the club would like to fill the bookings for the beds first before people sign up for camping.
We are staying at the Glen Affric youth hostel which is Scotland’s most remote hostel. Situated between Inverness and Skye, it’s about an 8 mile walk/cycle from the closest road. Or about 3 to 4 hours walk carrying everything you need for your stay. The hostel sounds great, is eco-friendly and with warming fires. It even won an award for hostel of the year 2018.
Some claim Glen Affric is Scotland’s finest with stunning views and is home to some native Scots Pine forest. Though I think the main attraction is that the area gives access to 15 Munros and several Corbetts. It is also on the Affric Kintail Way a relatively new route through the area which provides an alternative to the hills. By late April there should be about 15 hours of daylight, that far north, allowing for some long days on the hills.
The Hostel costs £104.55 each for a bed in a dorm. Once the 12 beds have been booked on the website the booking will be open to those who want to camp to sign up and coordinate their travel arrangements with others.
Note that if you camp you will not have access to the hostel at all. We don't have exclusive use and you will not be allowed inside. Nor is there a nearby pub or any other indoor space! You'll be in the tent for four days with nowhere warm to go. Just to make that clear!
Getting the sleeper up to Glasgow or Inverness and public transport onwards makes sense as if you have a car, it will be sat in the Cluanie Inn car park for four days.
MoreA few days in the glorious Peak District for those who want a shorter travel time and shorter routes than Scotland...
For climbers, Stanage Edge alone has enough to keep you going for years; there are a ton of other top-quality gritstone crags around, as well as some excellent limestone (trad and sport). Bouldering is also an option if you must.
For walkers, there are countless options in the Dark and White Peak, of which Mam Tor and Kinder Scout may be the best known.
Other activities include mountain biking, caving and wild swimming. Rainy day options include the Swearing Caves of Dovedale (http://viz.co.uk/2015/06/13/the-swearing-caves-of-dovedale/) - er, I mean the show caves of Castleton - plus the obligatory gear shop faff in Hathersage and the metropolitan delights of nearby Sheffield.
We'll be camping at the wonderful Hardhurst Farm just outside Hope.
MoreThe Gower! What’s not to like. Beaches, cliffs rising from the sea, historic caves, and coastal walking, including the opportunity to get cut off if you time it wrong. Also almost certainly going to be sunny ...
Come along. We are staying at Nicholaston Farm campsite, just next to the coastal path and behind the beach.
https://www.nicholastonfarm.co.uk/
Cost - £9 per person per night
MoreOur annual climber’s Novice meet at Stanage, Hope Valley, staying at Hardhurst Farm campsite.
Interested in trying out climbing, or getting into outdoor trad? Come along!
Do you lead trad already? We need you to share your skills and knowledge with newer climbers in the Club.
If climbing on the classic gritstone climbing edges of Bamford, Burbage and Stanage is not for you, there is walking through Edale and Kinder Scout, or rent a mountain bike and explore the local tracks.
Camping equipment essential, basic climbing equipment (helmet, harness, shoes) suggested. Look out for the email in advance of the trip with more details.
Note: The Rockhoppers Club does not directly provide formal training, the Novice Meet simply offers guidance from club members.
MoreThe annual epic bank holiday trip - sea, sand, cream teas and hopefully not too much fog.
For those as haven't been, West Cornwall is what Cornwall is really all about, beautiful scenery, stunning wild craggy coast line to walk, immaculate granite to climb on, gorgeous sandy coves to surf, swim or just laze in and more tourist tat in St Ives than you can shake a candy floss stick at. Add to that tin mines, the Minack Theater and various other wet weather alternatives just in case, and you're made for a perfect escape from London.
We're staying at Treen Farm Campsite again. A fantastic setting, a mere field inland from the cliff top and coast path, a skip from Logan Rock itself, and a gentle stagger from the Logan Rock Inn. Within a 10-15 minute walk there is a lovely beach at Porthcorno accessible at all tides by coast path & road, and the stunning 'secret' Pedn Vounder beach directly under the campsite for those prepared to scramble. This needs to be vacated before high tide though so be warned. Weather, tides and group momentum permitting we often see Rockhopper penguins gather on one or other beach for a BBQ one of the evenings. They also have a wee shop on site that does a roaring trade in coffee, croissants and pasties of a morning and a whole wealth of other stuff. Plus they usually have some flavour of food vendor on site (breakfast fry up and something different from curry to burgers of an evening) morn and night.
Climbing not your thing?...
Apparently you can walk too - there's Left or Right - almost certainly there will be parties going in both directions at least two out of 3 days :)
Then there's Surfing (Sennen is a good place to try this - there are two surf hire shops), Kite Surfing, Coasteering, Kayaking, (a quick google will find companies more than happy to exchange a day of adrenaline fuelled fun for some hard earned wonga) Not to mention Tin Mines, Minack, Eden (for the drive back perhaps).
MoreRockhoppers will return to Ogwen at the first weekend in June and stay at Gwern Gof Isaf campsite. https://gwerngofisaf.co.uk/how-to-find-us. The campsite is close to the base of the well-known peak, Tryfan, surrounded by peaks of the Glyders, and the Carneddau. We have unlimited choice of activities for walkers, climbers and other outdoor activists.
Walking/Scrambling : There are three areas you may want to look into : Snowdon, Glyders and Carneddau. Snowdon is the most popular area as many first time walkers stride to the highest peak in Wales. Even easy scrambling routes, the Horseshoe has often traffic jams on sunny summer weekends. Glyders are soaring behind our campsite. The routes are short and scrambly. Carneddau is recommended for people walk fast and far, escaping from crowd, seeking tranquillity in nature.
Guide book: Hill walking in Snowdonia by Steve Ashton (Cicerone) Ridges of Snowdonia by Steve Ashton (Cicerone) Scrambles & Easy Climbs in Snowdonia (Grey Stone Books) Map: OL17
Climbing: Tryfan East Face, Tryfan Milestone Buttress, Cwm Idwal are close to the campsite. Llanberis Pass and Lliwedd is about one-hour drive from the campsite. Tremadog is worth trying if the weather is not good in the mountains. Most of routes in those areas are multi-pitch, experiences are required. Little Tryfan, 30 minuets’ walking from the campsite, is excellent venue for climbers who just started trad. For Sport climbers, Slate is one hour driving. Scary climbing but fan!
Guide book : North Wales Climbs (Rockfax), North Wales Slate (Rockfax), Ogwen (Climber’s Club), 100 Classic Climbs North Wales by Stephen Aston (Crowood)
If rain: Walking in rain, scrambling in the rain, visiting National Slate Museum and Dinorwig Power Station, taking mountain train to the top of Snowdon, window shopping at outdoor shops, etc
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Join the Snowdonia Society, and perhaps some Alpine Club members, for an action-packed weekend of volunteer activities across Snowdonia with camping, music and food on the Craflwyn Estate, Beddgelert.
https://www.snowdonia-society.org.uk/event/mad-weekend-2019/
To register you need to contact Claire Holmes to book your place and secure a camping spot on the Craflwyn estate:
claire@snowdonia-society.org.uk
There are other camp sites down the road at Hafod y Llan and Llyn Gwynant. But it would be simpler to be together so book early!
MoreStaying 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 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).
Staying in the village of Fadmoor at Bransdale Mill Bunkhouse, a converted mill nestled in a secluded spot in the North York Moors National Park
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