Category: Featured Meets

MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES COSTA BLANCA Join us 22nd-29th Feb 2025 at https://www.campinglaguar.com/ for great ridges to scramble along, some Via Ferratas to clamber up, canyons to explore, a range of sport & trad climbing, and opportunities for trail running and cycling (see the Cicerone guide). There are currently 3 more bungalows available to book there, each sleeping 4 people in a double & a bunk room. There’s also space for tents & vans; it’s a great campsite with friendly owners and a bar in the village. Book by email (they speak good English) and mention the Rucksack Club – Ivan and Mari will offer you a discounted rate of €420 for a bungalow for the week. Do contact us for more info – we had a great week there last year. Paul Taylor and Rachel Johnston

Neil Goldsmith, the Journal Editor writes: Many of you will have enjoyed flicking through the archives via the postings: a dip into the Club Journals, and been impressed by past achievements and found them a useful pointer to future trips.  None of this would be possible if past members had not written the articles in the first place! In this era of social media there seems to be a reluctance to commit to print and spend the time putting together a contribution to the Club Journal.  Without your contributions, there will be no Journals and no further Journals to dip into.  Now that the holiday season is on us and trips are being planned, don’t forget to think about an article for the Journal! Please the Journal needs You!

Yes, its the news you have all been waiting for, the 2024 Annual Dinner will be held at the Imperial Hotel Llandudno on Saturday 9th November. The Imperial Hotel Llandudno, North Wales | Official Site Another new venue for the club, and a location that should provide many options for members to amuse themselves.    Whether that is on one of our organised dinner weekend activities (Walking, Cycling, Running and Climbing meets are already planned) or by doing your own thing in the area is up to you.   Just make sure you are at the Imperial Hotel on Saturday night to celebrate 122 years of the Rucksack Club.   While 122 years does not have the same ring as last years coming of age plus a 100, it will still be a night not to be missed. The Imperial Hotel is nicer than recent hotels we have stayed in (swimming pool / spa etc) but this does make it slightly more expensive.   We have again managed to secure a special Rucksack Club discount rate, but in order to get this we need to centrally manage the bookings again (see booking form for details).    The great thing about Llandudno though is that if[…]

Carole Smithies writes: Sad to report Edwin Coope, who joined the Club in 1999, passed away on Tuesday the 18th June.  Whilst Edwin joined the Club comparatively late in life, –he was in his fifties, he came with a first-class record as a mountaineer and fell runner.  The year before he joined, he did the Joss Naylor Challenge in under 14 hours, and in all, he completed 21 Lake District Mountain Trails. Edwin’s funeral will take place on Wednesday 3rd July at St. Thomas of Canterbury RC church, Lonsdale Rd., Bolton, BL1 4PN, at 10 -00am.  Please, let me know if you will be at the funeral, so we can let the family know.  Contact details as in the handbook.

6 RC members, 1 AM, 1 guest and 1 CC member enjoyed a week of amazingly good weather, especially given a less than encouraging forecast! We walked, climbed, ran, biked, marshalled pre-65 motorcycles ‘trialing’, rested and socialised! Those who decided not to come missed a great week! A few pictures below capture the week [with captions now added]: Devils Ridge Mamores. Photo Charlie Elliot Adam Gouldsworthy on Pandora Glen Nevis. Photo Andy Tomlinson Rest day visit to Ariundle woods Strontian via the Corran ferry. Photo John Rowlands Tim Taylor surveying Ardverikie Wall. Photo Andy Tomlinson Tim Taylor Ardverikie Wall. Photo Andy Tomlinson Afternoon light on hills beyond Loch-Treig, walk out from Ardverikie Wall. Photo Tim Taylor Adam Gouldsworthy Pitch 2 Secretaries Direct Glen Nevis. Photo Andy Tomlinson Andy Tomlinson and Collette Haig Meall-na-Teanga. Photo Andy Tomlinson Rest day bike ride Lismore ferry. Photo Tim Taylor Communal meal. Photo Andy Tomlinson Sunset over Ardgour from Craigallan. Photo Charlie Elliot

This year’s Gogarth Meet is taking place on 15 & 16 June ‘Phew, what a scorcher!’ was the headline from the 2023 Gogarth Meet, and of course we’ll be hoping for more of the same when we gather this year on Porth Dafarch beach. In any event, it’s the same old formula that has served us well for the last twenty years. Come equipped with a rack & rope; a bike; kayak or pair of binoculars; or just a tube of factor 50 and a bucket and spade – whatever you need to ‘Get Out There!’ and work up a thirst / appetite. Bring your friends and family – the more the merrier! In terms of logistics, plans will be familiar to anyone who’s been along for any of the last twenty years: Camping is pre‐booked at Valley of The Rocks Google Maps – you don’t need to book separately, but on arrival please let them know you are there. They’re offering a special rate for The Rucksack Club and are always very welcoming, so be sure to say Hi and thank you! The Saturday morning rendezvous is the South Stack Café (as usual) Google Maps They’re open at 10[…]