10 - 12 November
Annual Dinner Weekend – Cairn Hotel, Harrogate. The President
It’s Annual Dinner time again. This year we will be based at the Cairn Hotel in
Harrogate, which is a beautiful, interesting town with easy access to the Dales. This,
year in addition to the usual dinner walks, we aim to make it a true multi-activity
weekend and plan to have climbing, cycling and running meets over the weekend. If
none of these takes your fancy, then don’t worry there are plenty of other attractions
in Harrogate to while away the day before the main event.
By the time Meetstaff is published, the deadline for booking hotel rooms at the
Club rate will have passed, but dinner tickets will remain on sale until the end of
October. Please contact The President by E-mail if you would like a ticket.
Don’t delay - book now. A booking form is included at the end of Meetstaff.
Dinner Weekend – Climbing The President
I realize that you have a difficult choice to make with parallel walking and cycling
meets running at the same time over the dinner weekend. However, if climbing is your
thing, we have two great days planned, so please join me for one or both.
On Saturday, we'll be visiting God's Own Rock, also known as Almscliffe. Even though I've lived in Derbyshire for 25 years, I can't dispute that this is one of the finest
pieces of gritstone anywhere. It's a great opportunity for the RC to see if "Arms" Cliff
lives up to its reputation for steep and brutal climbing.
On Sunday, we will visit the labyrinth-like Brimham rocks, which offer excellent
climbing of all types, from delicate slabs to bold walls and steep jamming. After a
great dinner, will it be a day of pleasant bouldering or will you be up for battling with
Desperation Crack?
I'll aim to be at Almscliffe for 10 a.m. on Saturday and at Brimham around noon on
Sunday. In the very unlikely scenario of the dinner weekend not being two beautiful
autumn days, we may switch venues to either a slightly overhanging sport climbing
crag or the Harrogate wall. Nonetheless, we will still climb something.
Unlike normal meets, no action is required. Just turn up!
Dinner Weekend – Cycling Neil Goldsmith
The Yorkshire Dales are ideal for cycling; sufficiently challenging but still suitable
for a more relaxed day out on quieter roads. Harrogate was a finishing destination for
the Tour de France when it visited Yorkshire. I plan to lead a ride of about 50 miles
with a few hills but no monster Tour de France beasts. In climbing parlance more
PD/AD than TD/ED! Or in Wednesday Walkers terms the B group. We will stop for
lunch at a cafe - probably in Ripon on the Saturday. Saturday's ride will be around 40-
50 miles with escape routes in the event of bad weather. That should get us back in
daylight and in time to get spruced up for Dinner.
Sunday will be a shorter ride to get back in time for travelling home.
I will plan a tougher ride for those who are younger and fitter - some classic
climbs could be tackled (Fleet Moss comes to mind). I will provide gpx routes for those
with GPS and Audax style route sheets for those wanting them (by email).
Please let me know if you are coming if you want the gpx/route sheets or if not,
just turn up on the day.
Dinner Weekend – Walks
Saturday 11 November
Nidderdale Valley and ascent of Little Whernside David Nightingale
A walk of around 10 miles on moorland paths.
Meet and start walking at 10:30 a.m. at the Scar House Reservoir public car park,
Nidderdale, which is about 24 miles/ 55 mins drive from Harrogate. Grid ref: SE 070
765.
The Nidderdale Valley AONB, just north of Pateley Bridge, is a hidden gem and it’s
a super drive up to the reservoir thanks to Yorkshire Water’s open access. David will
lead a medium-grade walk to Little Whernside (604m) and Dead Man’s Hill, mostly on
moorland paths, with some rough, boggy ground. There are extensive moorland views
from this remote and generally quiet summit.
Plan your own walk: Scar House Reservoir car park also gives access to short walks
around the reservoir (approx. 4 miles) or longer, more challenging circular moorland
walks to include both Great and Little Whernside of 15 miles or more .... if you’d like
to make up your own route.
Stainburn Forest, Reservoirs and John of Gaunt Castle walk Geoff Edge
A walk of approximately 8 miles on lowland countryside paths.
Meet and start walking at 10:30 a.m. at the Stainburn Forest car park, about 5
miles/ 15 mins drive from Harrogate. Grid ref: SE 236 522.
The walk will visit the Scargill, Beaver Dyke and Swinsty reservoirs and follow part
of the Dales Way. This enjoyable and relatively easy walk is perfect for working up an
appetite and getting back to the hotel early, in good time for dinner!
Meetstaff October 2023 Page 8
Sunday 12 November
Sunday ramble at Brimham Rocks David Nightingale
Meeting time TBC, in the main car park (pay and display).
Brimham Rocks, Brimham Moor Road, Summerbridge, Harrogate HG3 4DW Grid ref:
SE 208 646. This is a National Trust site, approx. 10 miles/ 21 mins drive from
Harrogate.
With their weird and wonderful sandstone rock formations and great views to
Nidderdale AONB, Brimham Rocks provide a popular attraction for walking, rock
climbing, bouldering, family days out, photography and more. David will lead a gentle
ramble around the rocks for an hour or so ... we can cheer on any Club members
climbing at the site!
We shall observe a minute’s silence at 11 a.m. as this is Remembrance Sunday.