Heathrow Hikers - Outdoor Group for West London

From the Editor
Report - Bowles Rocks Outdoor Climbing
Update - Heathrow Hikers' Bear
Report - Weekend in Exmoor
Report - Bank Holiday to Lakes
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August was another great month with a bank holiday weekend to the Lake District, a weekend in Exmoor and our first outdoor climbing event at Bowles Rocks. Many of those who attended the weekend events were new to the group and new people keeps the group fresh.

As the group grows we are faced with new challenges. Do we look for larger hostels to cater for groups of over 30 people or do we instead offer as many weekends as possible to give everyone the chance to get outdoors? It's a difficult one to answer. I like both the weekends with large groups and the more intimate weekends where there are less than a dozen. Hopefully we can continue to please everyone, as always we welcome feedback on this and any other issue.

Certainly we have noticed that on the larger weekends we need to split the group up and offer easy to moderate hikes as well as the hard hikes. This wouldn't be possible without the support of members willing to lead walks. On the Lake District weekend for instance I was lucky enough to be able to give maps to the likes of Con, Tom, Jen and Rhona and know that they were happy to become walk leaders. Another challenge as we grow is transport. My own personal vehicle has changed to an 8 seater MPV to try and cope with this but the help of car drivers within the group is very much appreciated, I cannot overstate what an important role drivers play.

The final thing I see as a result of an increase in members is diversity. The outdoor climbing event is a perfect example. Whilst we're not a climbing group, we can put on a climbing event that attracts 10 decent climbers. We are also seeing more members with an interest in mountain biking so don't be surprised to see this activity more on the programme in the future along with water sports.

This was to be our first organised outdoor climbing event. The indoor sessions at Brunel University had proved popular and we now had a group of keen climbers. The venue at Bowles Rocks was perfect and the weather also shone on us. Here are some of the photos from the day.

The group climbing at Bowles Rocks - Photo by Zhang

Con Climbing - Photo by Zhang

Larry climbing - Photo by Zhang

Article submitted by Zhang

August was a busy month for our bear. Zimon finally released him in a cache called Glastonbury Tor on the 2nd August. Only 2 days later he was retrieved by Spacebat. Spacebat had to attend a wedding at St. John's Church, Milborne Point as a bell ringer and decided to take Heathrow Bear along with him.

Heathrow Bear at posh wedding - Photo by Spacebat

Later that same day Spacebat said goodbye to Heathrow Bear by placing him into a multi-cache called 'From a little acorn' in nearby Newtown.

It would be a couple of weeks before our bear saw the light of day. Notnigap from Somerset rescued him on the 24th August and looked after him for 4 days. On the 28th it was time for our bear to continue his adventures, moving to a cache called 'Flying Heros' which is close to the Jubilee and Hardy trails. This was to remain his location for the remainder of August.

Article submitted by Gary Box

A group of 14 of us headed to Exmoor for the weekend. This was the first time we had used one of the National Trust's bunkhouses and I was very impressed, basic good value budget accommodation.

Despite a late arrival on the Friday, many of us stayed up a further or hour or two, meeting new faces and chatting.

On the Saturday morning we agreed to stick together and all try a coastal walk from the bunkhouse door. From Countisbury we headed north to the sea and Foreland Point, stopping to take photographs of the coastline and wild ponies. From here we turned right and followed the coast as closely as the path allowed, past Countisbury Cove.

The area seemed to be swarming with flies, which was one of the main reasons we continued on rather than stop here for lunch.

It was a warm and sunny day and many in the group welcomed the shade of Chubhill Wood as we entered it. Soon after we came across a sign for Glenthorne Plantation. Our next noticeable feature was Sisters' Fountain, a stone cross that sits on a spring, named after four sisters who were nieces of Rev W Halliday. Halliday was the original owner of Glenthorne House. Eventually it was time to leave the coastal path and head inland slightly at the half way point of our walk, heading to Yenworthy Common.

We stopped at the National Park visitor centre for drinks, snacks and in some cases souvenirs. The elderly gentleman who staffed the visitor centre was not very welcoming, I would actually go so far as to say he was a pompous idiot! We sat outside, consuming snacks and soaking up the sun before making the final push for home.

The group hiking in Exmoor - Photo by Zhang

It was not long before we were back in Countisbury, some of the group decided to drop into the Sandpiper Inn for a well earned drink, while the rest of us returned to the bunkhouse to get showers and begin the preparations for our evening meal.

Vikram has agreed to cook his chicken curry recipe and he and some helpers got busy in the kitchen. Ranmali got busy making sure there was a vegetarian option while Zhang set about the chickens (it turns out he used to work in a Chinese restaurant in his spare time when studying). The meal would take some time and we all had an appetite by the time it was served.

Getting busy in the kitchen - Photo by Zhang

We all agreed that the meal was fantastic, and for most very filling. For those who wanted it there was pudding and the evening ended with laughter and conversation.

On Sunday we packed and cleaned the bunkhouse. The group would split into two today. Tim would take some surfing or body boarding while the rest of us went cycling on the Tarka Trail from Barnstaple to Bideford and back again.

With the activities over we met at Barnstaple station, said our goodbyes and started out on the long drive home.

Article submitted by Gary Box

Our August Bank holiday weekend was spent in the Lake District, staying at the 24 bed Grasmere Indepenent Hostel. After the usual late night Friday arrival, some decided to head to bed whilst others opted to open a beer and relax in the lounge.

Saturday everyone was up at a decent time to eat breakfast and hear what activities we had planned for them. There were three hikes on offer, something for all abilities. I led the largest group on a simple 8 1/2 mile walk starting at Raven's Lodge in the far South Eastern part of the Lakes. The two summits for the day were Lord's Seat and Whitbarrow Scar, neither a match for some of the more familiar peaks in the National Park. It was a good introduction however to the new people in the group and those who wanted a more relaxed start to the weekend.

Con and Tom led another small group on the much harder Coniston Round walk which they all enjoyed.

The final group of Rhona, Mary, Ranmali and Devin decided to tackle Scafell Pike and Scafell with Rhona taking the compass and map responsibilities.

Group at stile - Photo by Ranmali

Lakeland Scenic - Photo by Ranmali

Each group seemed to get a mixture of weather, my group the only one to miss any rain! In the evening we went food shopping, many in the group preparing a Tex-Mex meal, driven mainly by Josipa, Karen and Julia. The group stayed up well into the night, some in the kitchen, others in the lounge.

On Sunday morning there were people rushing around. Some had early starts, particularly the group containing Con, Tom and Jen amongst others who were trying a hard Glamamara walk. A slightly easier option was opted for by Rhona who led others on a much closer walk around Easdale, starting from the hostel door. The others in the group had expressed an interest in some sightseeing since this was their first trip to the Lakes. For these members we took them on an easy stroll around Tarn Hows before dropping them at Lake Windermere where they could walk the length of the lake or catch a boat trip.

I headed to the shops to buy what I could for our evening meal. The shops were about to close early for Sunday but I managed to get some supplies at least. Rhona's group was one of the first to return and she very kindly decided to look after the cooking, helped by Ranmali among other, cobbling together a wondeful sausage stew from the ingredients we had at our disposal. This was followed by apple pie and washed down with beer and wine, some drinking in the hostel before most decided to visit a local pub.

On Monday it was time to tidy the hostel, pack our bags and think about heading home. Many of us decided to take a scenic route home, stopping for pub lunches or snacks and a final glimpse of the scenery before returning to the concrete jungle.

Article submitted by Gary Box

If you have any articles or images you wish to contribute to the next issue of Compass please email them to Gary.

Please try and submit articles as early as possible but not later than the 3rd week of the month if you wish it to appear in the subsequent issue.

Thanks.