Milton Keynes Mountaineering Club

Portland – 8^th April – 10^th April 2016

The weekend weather was changeable; day time temperatures were chilly and the nights were even colder. In her bright pink, flowery festival tent Lizzy was well wrapped up, but still freezing, and she vowed to bring her hot water bottle whenever she was camping in future.

We (David, Alan & Lizzy) thought we were the first group to arrive at Sea Barn Farm Camping Site on Friday, but Gillian and Adam had decided to travel several days earlier to visit the sights. Once our tents were pitched we headed off to The Cuttings for the afternoon, where we tackled such delights as “Cheese and Pickle (4+)” and “Parsnip Soup (5)”. We gave “Little Chef” a miss.

Saturday morning was grey and blustery, and the majority of the group decided that Blacknor Undercliff would be sheltered and a suitable venue for the day’s activities. As we drove onto Portland the rain started and all resolve to climb faded away. We took shelter in The Old Post Office, now Cycleccino cafe where we sampled delicious cakes and great coffee. Forty minutes later and with uncertain weather Jason took us on a tour of East Fleet and the Dorset Heritage Coast. We finished the day with a return visit to The Cuttings Lower Tier and some lovely (not polished yet) routes.

The Turks Head at Chickerell, just a couple of miles from Sea Barn Farm was our refuge for Saturday evening. It was popular with the locals, but MKMC managed to “bag a corner”. The food was delicious and substantial – just what a pack of hungry mountaineers needed, and just as important, the pub was warm.

More strong winds greeted us on Sunday, so again, abandoning any plans to climb we went for a walk around the coast of Portland.

People attending: Alan (trip organiser), David H, Lizzy, Jason, Gillian F, Adam F, Mac, Sam, Gareth E-J, Susan E-J, Adam E-J.

11^th – 13^th March 2016

Shortly after 8 o’clock Friday morning, six MKMC members were on the road. There was a planned gathering at Montford Bridge Cafe near Shrewsbury for a late breakfast; then on to their destination, the Wellingborough Mountaineering Club cottage at Bethesda, North Wales. As the mountains came into view, it was obvious that there was a fair covering of snow on the higher levels, much to the consternation of some members of the group who had left their crampons and ice axes in Milton Keynes.

arrived and settled in at the cottage they set off for a recce around Llyn Idwal. They ventured above the snow line near Devil’s Kitchen, but without crampons it was very slippery, and after a short distance they retraced their steps back to the lake. They spent the evening keeping warm around the gas fire and welcomed later arrivals.

Saturday looked promising and club members set off in different directions. One group did a circular walk from Ogwen Cottage to Capel Curig via Y-Foel-Goch and back along the old drovers road. Alan M. and Jason went to the slate quarries and did Snakes and Ladders (and Tunnels). Bob and Sophie went for a run, and later Louie joined them and they went bouldering near Caseg Fraith in the Ogwen Valley. In the evening most of the group went to Plas y Brenin at Capel Curig to dine and listen to a short lecture by Rachael Crewesmith entitle “A toolkit for Adventure”.

Sunday was dry, calm and reasonably warm. Andy R. Alan W. and Gillian went walking in the Ogwen Valley. Alan, Andy W. and Jason went back to the slate quarries to climb at The Sidings. Andy W. climbed all the routes really well even though he hadn’t been climbing for a couple of years. Bob and Sophie went off in search of more boulder problems.

A fantastic weekend was had by all. Next month the club starts its camping season with a trip to Portland.

MKMC members attending: Alan M., Alan W., Andy R., Andy W., Bob, Sophie, Mac, Sam, Romi, Gillian, Jason, Louie.

The forecast was looking “exciting” but that didn’t deter six hardy members of MKMC.

First to arrive were Gillian and Adam, followed 15 minutes later by Alan and Andy W. Having got all their kit into the hut Gillian and Adam set off on a gentle drive to take photos of the Ribble Head Viaduct while Alan and Andy walked first to Clapham and then on to Austwick to book a table at the Gamecock Inn for the Saturday evening.

Back at the hut the last members of our party, Dan and Jason B. arrived in the evening. We whiled away the time watching ‘Beyond the Edge’ on a laptop, and Adam saved the Earth from total annihilation on his tablet.

Alan had been planning to walk the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, but the weather forecast ruled that out for him. Instead ⅔ of the group decided to do a circular lower level walk from Settle to Malham and back. We had arranged to meet up with Gillian’s party which we duly did on the limestone pavement above Malham cove. Jason was suffering from blisters and got a lift back with Gillian.

In the evening we had a very pleasant meal in Austwick and Shane and his 2 children joined us as they were heading South after a camping holiday in Scotland. Back at the hut Max (age 5) entertained us with his energetic style of dancing.

Sunday and we all departed our different ways.

Andy and Alan went to Ingleborough and walked the “Waterfalls Walk”. Jason and Dan went to investigate Janet’s Foss and Gordale Scar. Gillian was feeling below par and decided on a leisurely drive home.

A fantastic hut, and despite the inclement weather a great weekend.

Attendees: Alan M, Andy W, Gillian, Adam, Dan & Jason B.

MKMC “Burns” Meet – Friday 22^nd to Sunday 24^th February 2016

It was cold and the wind was howling on top of Aran Fawddwy as Alan and Jason forged ahead with their walk. The ground underfoot was very boggy, but the Snowdonia National Parks Authority had thoughtfully laid wooden duck boards to ease the way. However, over the years, these have weathered and were now like sheets of ice making progress precarious. They were the advance party having arrived at Bryn Hafod Cottage at the foot of Cwm Cywarch on Friday morning. Once back at the cottage the fire was coaxed into life and through the course of the evening the rest of the members and friends of MKMC arrived.

Bryn Hafod is the club hut of The Stafford Mountain Club and lies beneath Cwm Cywarch, home to some classic rock climbs such as Doom and Will-o’-the-Wisp. It is well appointed and sleeps a maximum of 18. The lounge is comfortable and has an open fire, and kindling and coal is provided.

The promising weather forecast for Saturday proved correct with a misty start leading to a warm dry day. Club members opted for different activities.

Seven members headed off to walk the Cwm Cau Horseshoe, Cader Idris. As the party gained height they could see that the summit was in the cloud, but by the time they got there the mist had cleared and there were glorious 360 ͦ views. To the West they could clearly see Cyfrwy Arete, a majestic classic climb where other members of MKMC were having their own adventures. After a brief lunch stop it was on to Mynydd Moel and then the steep descent back to the cars.

Another group climbed to the summit of Aran Fawddwy from Bryn Hafod. Any snow that was still lying had now turned to slush, and conditions under foot were wet to say the least. The views from the summit were magnificent – well worth the effort to get to the top. The team continued their circular walk but didn’t quite make it back to the cottage before the rain set in.

The rest of the party had Cyfrwy Arete in their sights. Some members set off early and were up and off the mountain before dusk, others left a bit later and were benighted, although they did make it safely back to the cottage later that evening. Everyone in the climbing party agreed it had been an epic day.

In the evening they had the Burns night celebrations and enjoyed haggis and all the accompanying veg followed by raspberry cream and shortbread. Burns poems were read and copious amounts of whisky were put away. The late comers eventually arrived back, a little wet but in high spirits, ready for their saved Burns fare.

Sunday was a day of cleaning and packing, then a final adventure and home. Our friends from the North (Fraser, Jason W and Martin) had brought their mountain bikes and did some MTB trails at Coed y Brenin. Another group set off to walk part of the Mawddach trail from Dolgellau and yet others did a circular walk from Penmaen pool. Bob and Sophie’s party went running first over the mountains and were the last to leave the hut.

All in all, a very successful weekend.

Participants: Bob, Sophie, Fraser, Jason W., Martin, Romuald, Alan, David, Jason S., Lizzy, Malcolm, Gareth, Susan, Hazel, Alex, Julia, Frazer, Martina, Ian, Anna.