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Late autumn in Spain – the rock’s warm, the beer’s cold and the pool has had eight months to warm up. If you fancy a week sport climbing in a T shirt in October, this is the trip for you! El Chorro has dozens of crags with thousands of routes and RoCs has a copy of the Rockfax guidebook. We’ll explore several areas, probably including some long (40m+) and multi-pitch routes. For more inspiration see https://mojagear.com/sport/2017/06/01/climbing-destination-guide-el-chorro-spain/.

Twelve of us went in 2022 and had a brilliant time!

More details:

Getting there – Ryanair fly from Bournemouth two or three times a week; we’ve done this route a few times and it’s been very efficient.

Car hire – I usually book cars from Malagacar, which I’ve used several times. It’s off-airport (just), the cars are a bit older than the big companies but I’ve found it to be a reliable company.

Accommodation – I’ve rented a house for the twelve members who’ve already signed up. Hannah has generously volunteered her excellent culinary skills again to cater for us in style on most evenings (we’ll eat out on at least one), but everyone is expected to help out with chores. The house is full, but there are plenty of other accommodation options if anyone else wants to meet up to climb.

Money – we’ll have a kitty to pay for all the above, including evening meals. The total cost will probably be £450-500 (including your flights) plus your own insurance.

I’ve booked car hire and accommodation for those who’ve given me their deposit. I’m happy to assist anyone who wants to organise another rental property nearby!

Meet organiser: John H

Members going:

1. John
2. Hannah
3. Matt
4. Emma
5. Sarah
6. Tony
7. Adam F
8. Kirsty
9. Steve E
10. Jon G
11. Adrian H
12. Mandy
13. …

 CHANGE of DATE and Accommodation! This Annual trip to the snow clad mountains of North Wales (hopefully) will allow any RoCs member to experience some easy winter mountaineering challenges without having to travel up to Scotland. We will now be using the Barn Hut near to Capel Curig on the A5 which we have used previously. It is booked for Thursday 26th – Sunday 29th January (3 nights) and sleeps 30 people, but is probably only good for about 15 max as the kitchen and living areas plus the washing facilities are not really sensible for 30 people! Any members are welcome to join us and you will need to bring a sleeping bag and pillow plus some logs for the wood burning stove to heat the hut. All kitchen and cooking gear is supplied so just bring your own food. The Hut info can be found at www.nlmc.co.uk/huts/guest-barn/

Please post below if you wish to join us, stating when you are arriving and departing. The cost for each person is £10 per night regardless of numbers or how many nights you stay in total. You do not have to pay until after the trip and you make your payment to RoCs bank. RoCs will then pay the Hut owners in one transaction.

As it is a winter trip, bring suitable winter warm and waterproof clothing, a decent pair of mountaineering boots, crampons and a walking axe as a minimum set of gear. Quite often the snow does not settle (or even arrive) so then it can be a bit wet and wild. Be prepared to bring waterproof trousers and jacket and a set of dry clothes for the pub in the evening.

Travel plans will be confirmed nearer the time depending on who is attending. Post if you are interested in joining the Winter crew on this mad adventure full of fun, possibly some winter mountaineering and more than likely a good time in the pub.

Organiser: Patrick

Members staying in the Hut

1. Pete – Unable to attend now
2. Patrick (Organiser) – Thursday – Sunday 3 nights
3. John Knight – Thursday – Sunday 3 nights
4. Roland – Thursday – Sunday 3 nights
5. Rachel – Thursday to Sunday 3 nights
6. Jim – Thursday to Sunday 3 nights
7. …

This meet is aimed at outdoor novices and anyone else who needs to ease themselves back into climbing after a long layoff, although all club members will be very welcome. Fairy Cave is one of our favourite ‘local’ venues and is about an hour and forty minutes from Romsey.

There are many lower-grade routes to learn or refresh techniques and plenty of harder routes, virtually all on amenably-angled slabs, if you want to push yourself.

Organiser: John H

Members going:

1. John H
2. Duncan
3. Jim K
4. …

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For this annual Dartmoor meet we will be staying at the usual “glamping value” site at Langstone Manor, Moortown PL19 9JZ about 2 miles east of Tavistock on the western edge of Dartmoor in the grounds of an old manor house. We have used this site for many years and we know the owners very well. The facilities are excellent with good shower, toilets and washing up, clothes washing and drying, as well as an on–site shop, bar, lounge and eating facilities. The owners are Jane and David. (See the website www.langstonemanor.co.uk). I will be booking pitches for the campers early so get your name down so I know how many pitches to book. You will need to pay on arrival for your place, which is booked in my name under Romsey Climbers. The price per person per night will be confirmed when I book.

The contact details for the site are 01822 613371 and  www.langstonemanor.co.uk.

As well as camping, there are some wooden Pods with power and lighting for the less hardy climbers. You will still need to bring sleeping bag, mattress and cooking gear. If you wish to book a Pod, please do this yourself as I will only be booking camping places with Jane. There will probably be a deposit to be paid for a Pod, so book early to ensure a bed for the night. Be aware that if we have to cancel at the last minute due to bad weather you may lose your deposit on a Pod booking. Please let me know if you are camping or using a Pod so I know how many camping spaces to book.

We advise you also bring along wet weather walking gear in case the weather turns damp as there are many miles of Dartmoor to explore if we cannot climb. All that is required is a waterproof coat, over trousers, some walking boots and a small ruck sac for food etc.

Organiser: Pete T

Members going:

CAMPING

1. Pete Telling -Thursday am to Sunday pm (3 nights) own transport (with John H)
2. John Horton – Thursday am to Sunday pm (3 nights) travel with Pete
3. John Knight – Thursday eve to Sunday pm (3 nights) – own transport
4. Adrian Holmes – Thursday to Saturday pm  (2 nights) – own transport with family
5. Duncan – Friday pm to Sunday am (2 nights) – own transport
6. Juan – Friday to Sunday pm (2 nights) – own transport down but can offer a lift home on Sunday
7. Sarah – Friday to Sunday pm (2 nights) – own transport (with Tash)
8. Tash – Friday to Sunday pm (2 nights) – travel with Sarah
9. John Duffield 
10. Lindsay
11. Helen TBC
12. …

POD or CAMPER VAN

1. Hannah (Pod) Thursday to Sunday (3 nights) – own transport or travel with Pete & John
2. Caron (Pod) 
3. Charlotte (Pod) Friday to Sunday (2 nights) – travel with family
4. Jane & David – Charlotte’s Mum & Dad (Van) Friday to Sunday, bringing Charlotte

Anyone fancy a long weekend of warm days and dry rock? Matt’s keen to get back to Costa Blanca for a spring tune-up amongst the superb rock and ridges. The last club trip there was in 2018 and we had a great time exploring crags in the mountains and by the sea. It’s really easy to get to with flights from Bournemouth and has a very good Rockfax guidebook. Exact dates to be decided, but before committing to booking accommodation Matt needs to know who can definitely go, so let him know as soon as possible!

Organiser: Matt

Going:

1. Matt
2. Jon G
3. Ade H
4. Juan S
5. Tash S
6. Jim K
7. Hannah H?
8. …

This meet is aimed at outdoor novices and anyone else who needs to ease themselves back into climbing after a long layoff, although all club members will be very welcome. Fairy Cave is one of our favourite ‘local’ venues and is about an hour and forty minutes from Romsey.

There are many lower-grade routes to learn or refresh techniques and plenty of harder routes, virtually all on amenably-angled slabs, if you want to push yourself.

Organiser: …

Members going:

1. Duncan
2. John H
3. Emma
4. Lindsay
5. Adam
6. Tash
7. Dave?
8. …

Organiser: John H

We’re staying at The Barn climbing hut at Capel Curig, which belongs to North London Mountaineering Club. It sleeps 30 in three bunkrooms and we’ve got the whole hut to ourselves so there will be plenty of space. The barn is set in a beautifully secluded location with wonderful mountain views and only five minutes’ walk from the Tyn Y Coed Pub and A5 lay-by (GR: SH 737572, postcode: LL24 0DT). It’s centrally situated, very handy for climbing in Ogwen and has mountain walks from the door. More details:Guest Barn – North London Mountaineering Club (nlmc.co.uk)

Last year, Sam Blandford-Elliott, a professional mountaineer and climber who’s a club member and lives in North Wales, ran two courses at a discounted rate for club members during the meet and he will probably be available again in 2023. He can lead climbing/mountaineering/navigation days, depending on members preferences.

Who’s going?

1. John H (Wed-Tue)
2. Dave (Wed-Tue)
3. Pete (Thu-Sun)
4. Hannah (Wed-Wed)
5. Ivan (Thu-Sun)
6. Jon (Thu-Sun)
7. Jim (Wed/Thu-Sun)
8. Adam (Thu-Sun)
9. Stu (Wed-Wed)
10. …

This is the annual RoCs weekend meets to the delights of the Peak District National Park. We will be camping at the usual site near Hathersage at the North Lees (Peak District National Park) camp site. This is about 1 mile due North of Hathersage. This meet is suitable for all members as it is ideal for beginners and the more experienced climbers in the club. If you have never climbed outside on real rock, we can take you up some really easy nice rock. There is a wide choice of gritstone crags to choose from, some with a few multi pitch routes, but mainly all single pitch with a short walk in.

The campsite is a small friendly site with wash and shower facilities. It also has some wooden Pods if you prefer not to use a tent. All you will need for a Pod is a sleeping mat and bag plus your own cooking gear, just as you would for a tent. There is heating and lighting in the Pods. If you wish to use a Pod, please book this in advance yourself. A deposit may be required for a booking. Please indicate to me if you are camping or in a Pod. Booking in advance is required for camping so you will need to do this yourselves, in groups up to 5 per pitch with a car. If you decide to come with someone who has already booked their pitch with a car, you can add yourself by booking a pitch without a car. 

The contact details for the site are 01433 650838. or their website is www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/things-to-do/camping/camping-northlees  . To get to the campsite from Hathersage, go west on the A6187 Main Street and TR before the railway bridge up Jaggers Lane, then TR up Coggers Lane for about 1/2 mile, then TR into Birley Lane. After about 1/2 mile North Lees site is on your left just before a left hand bend. There is a wooden gate (often closed) to enter the site. We will be car sharing as much as possible due to the limited parking spaces and to save fuel costs.

Hathersage has a couple of pubs, and we will use the Robin Hood pub in Hathersage. There are also food shops and a few Outdoor gear shops so all you need for a weekend away with RoCs.  If you prefer the luxury of a proper bed ???? then there are B&B’s, hotels and Youth Hostels in and around Hathersage, but book early to ensure a room. Be aware if you choose to book accommodation and we have to cancel the meet at the last moment due to extreme bad weather, you may lose your deposit.

Bring along some wet weather walking gear as well, (waterproof coat, over trousers and walking boots) just in case the weather turns damp and we decide to go for a bit of a bog trot up on the hills. You will also need to bring along breakfast and any cooking gear required, food for mid-day lunch as there are no food facilities at the crags. We will be eating at a pub in the evenings.

Organiser (WEDNESDAY 31st May TO FRIDAY 2nd June ONLY): Pete T

Other person required to organise for Saturday and Sunday climbing and evening meal bookings for Friday & Saturday night etc. If you’re interested and use Facebook, please sign up to the Facebook Event.

Members going:

1. Pete T (organiser) – camping WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY (2  nights)
2. Patrick – camping – camping WEDNESDAY – FRIDAY  (2 nights)
3. …

Climbing by the seaside, with many routes starting from the beach! The rock is excellent and there’s a wide range of routes, mainly trad but a few sport venues too. We’ll be based at Nicolaston Farm: Nicholaston Farm Touring Caravan and Campsite | Camping in Gower. From the site it’s a ten minute walk through dunes to the nearest crag.

If you’re interested and use Facebook, please sign up to the Facebook Event.

Organiser:

Members going:

1. Pete
2. Naomi
3. Darren
4. …

Only two hours from Romsey, this area offers climbing in a wide range of grades. There are single- and multi-pitch routes and some real gems in idyllic locations high above the river Wye.

If you’re interested and use Facebook, please sign up to the Facebook Event.

Organiser: Lindsay

Members going:

1. Lindsay
2. Jim
3. Roland
4. Rachel
5. …