YORKSHIRE RAMBLERS’ CLUB JOURNAL - 2018 Yorkshire Ramblers’ Club Journal Volume 14 Number 1 - 2018 Contents 3 Editorial 4 Corris, North Wales 7 Swaledale 10 2017 Club proceedings 15 2017 Dinner, Settle 17 Wharfedale 20 Little Langdale - winter 23 Yesterday’s World 28 Tullock Station, Highlands 31 Deiniolen, North Wales 39 Centre of Great Britain 42 Storen celebration 43 Pirates of Piton 48 Little Langdale - spring 49 Reservoir flora 53 Calpe, Spain 60 Ireland 65 Life on the Hills 71 The old days 72 Little Langdale - summer 74 Long Walk Shropshire 77 Romania 93 Book review 95 Three days on ice 99 Clapham, introductory meet 100 Langdale, Jt meet Wayfarers 102 Tajikistan 114 Isle of Arran 117 Taplejung, Nepal 125 Kanchenjunga, Nepal 143 Birds of Nepal 144 2018 Club proceedings 152 Archives 153 2018 Dinner meet, Settle 156 Christmas meet, Osmotherly 158 Chippings Photographs, 164 Obituaries front cover by Mick Borroff, 173 Index of recent journals Bob Peckham descending Na Gruagai Chean Mamores Back cover by John Whalley, Tony Penny & Mick Borroff, returning to Settle, Dinner Meet Editor’s note Welcome to this, the first edition of the new style journal. The layout may be different but the content still relies on members submitting articles. The Journal will be produced annually in future, based on the calendar year. As a result there will be less news items as there is nothing worse than old news. The intent is to largely feature: • Articles by members on matters related to the Club’s aims • Précis about caves and climbing etc from articles in other club’s material • Articles by members on their recent activities and reminiscing about their old activities • Meet reports and reports on overseas trips and explorations • Technical articles and kit, book and film reviews by members (subjects related to Club’s aims) • Short contributions about and from members and their activities for ‘Chippings’ • Club Proceedings – e.g. Appointments, précis of meetings etc • Obituaries/Appreciations about Club members • Third party articles about the YRC or its members where permission can be obtained • Poems if related to the Club's aims, at Editor’s discretion A major part of the journal will be the reports of meets and I know from their comments that older and now less active members enjoy reading them. Reports have varied greatly and I would prefer they all follow a basic format. A few simple rules would ensure that is the case and that I can produce them in a consistent manner. One essential is that meet organisers should ask somebody to do the meet report at the start of the meet to give them a chance to capture what is being done and remind the reporter that it is due within two weeks . The report does not need to be overly long or detailed but should give an outline of what has been done and mention any events of particular interest. A summary of 500 – 1000 words will normally suffice for a UK meet although overseas meets will usually need more to do them justice. A report should include an indication of the meet leader and the name of the author together with a list of those attending, identifying whether members or guests. It need not go into chapter and verse about exactly who did what. Photographs are very welcome but should not be inserted or embedded into text documents but sent separately, as photos provided by other members might also have to be slotted in. Send images preferable as JPG files, with the photographers name or initials in the file name or given in the covering email. I like to accredit the photographer and it also allows me to follow-up with the taker as necessary to identify people or locations in the photographs or indeed correct spelling of unfamiliar names As you will see, the biggest change to the format is that it will be of a more book shelf friendly size and will be full colour allowing me to usually place photographs close to relevant text. Snippets of news and information of more general interest to members will in future be made available as part of the newsletter for those receiving that electronically. I trust you like the new format which is still evolving and should be even better next edition Roy Denney YRC Journal page 3 Meet Joint Meet, Lowstern 8th - 10th Report September The annual joint meet with the Wayfarers was at Lowstern this year. The Friday afternoon forecast seemed to offer the best of the weather, tents up in the dry, and some enjoyed various short excursions before traditional corned beef hash at 6.30. Others including Albert Chapman, and John and Betty Lovett called in for a chat and enjoyed fresh scones, jam and cream supplied by Angie Linford. Betty brought the welcome news that a relation of Dr Farrer was to take up residence in the village. Perhaps the YRC will have an opportunity to welcome them to Lowstern at some time in the future. Friday evening it started to rain, heavy, accompanied by screeching and hooting owls that seemed to be sat on the tent poles. Saturday. Plotting routes till the rain stopped. President and David C decided to avoid all the usual summits which were shrouded in hill fog and planned an interesting low level walk. They parked under Dent Head viaduct, crossed onto the Blea Moor Tunnel track to meet up with the Whernside path coming up from Ribblehead which was packed with 3 Peak walkers. They soon left them behind and headed up the Dales High Way. Showers accompanied them as they dropped down into Dent Dale and a return by the Dales Way to complete a good day. Dorothy, preparing dinner till the sun came out, managed to find a parking space at Horton for an ascent of Pen-y-ghent but abandoned an unusual route back due to underfoot conditions. Many walkers were not dressed or equipped for the prevailing weather. Sue and Garry went across the fields to Ingleton and back, a long day during which they suffered many heavy showers and John Jenkin did a shortened version. Mike, Colin, Steve and others parked at Helwith Bridge for a trip to Austwick via Moughton Scar. George and Alan, preparing the evening meal had the best excuse not to go out and enjoyed the brief sunshine and the view from Lowstern. Sunday. The President did a 10 mile circular walk from Countersett (Semerwater) up to the cairn on Drumaldrace returning via Bardale and Marsett. Despite an encouraging start he encountered the heavy showers that swept in on several occasions. Parts of Cam high road were more like a canal which had just been drained of water - lots of muddy pools. YRC Journal page 4 This route coincided with the OMM mountain marathon and a mountain biking event based in Hawes, all contributing to difficult conditions underfoot reflecting the crowds and conditions found on Saturday. The President, Mick Borroff Enjoying Dentdale between showers Addlebrough and Semerwater Sunday saw most on their way by lunch time. Bruce stayed on for 2 nights, clearing the leftovers and hoping for the chance of a good day out before setting out for RLH and official duties. Alan Linford Attending: Wayfarers. Bruce Hassell, Colin Smith, Steve Auty, David Carpenter, Dave Lawrence, Gary and Sue Mellor, and George Chambers. YRC. Mike Godden, Alan Linford, Mick Borroff (Pres.) Dorothy Heaton, Ian Crowther, John Jenkin, Alan Clare, John Lloyd PM, Ged Campion, Aaron Campion PM Derek Clayton, Albert Chapman and John Lovett, YRC Journal page 5 Meet Corris, Mid Wales 6th - 8th Report October Seventeen members and guests assembled at the Despite the conditions, Cader Idris was Corris Hostel, a renovated Victorian school naturally the focus of most peoples’ building formerly owned by the YHA and now attentions and various routes were ascended run independently, with a relaxed atmosphere, from the Minffordd car park. One party of friendly staff and a comfortable lounge area having Tim, Mick and John Sutcliffe tackled an open fire. Another advantage is that the village Mynydd Pencoed on the way. pub is conveniently situated within 150m of the hostel. Helen, Michael, Kjetil and Ann- Most members made the most of the decent Karin took the back weather on the Friday. Kjetil, Ann-Karin, Michael of the Cwm Cae and Helen arriving from Betws-y-Coed, stopped direct. off at Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog to traverse Moelwyn Mawr. Richard and Paul broke their journey at Commins These two groups Coch and walked over Celn Coch to Gader Goch, met on the ridge enjoying fine views over the surrounding hills, the above Lyn Cau and Dovey valley and out to the estuary. proceeded across to the Penygadair Mick, Iain, Ian, John and Dave arrived in time to summit and into fit in a short walk above Dolgellau - the original the small building Precipice Walk as recommended in Bob Allen’s for shelter to eat guidebook. This afforded fine views over the river lunch, with several Mawddach and down to the Barmouth estuary other parties. finishing with a walk around the shore of Llyn Cywach with plenty of autumnal colour. Christine and Jim drove a couple of miles from Corris to Ceinws and completed a walk circling Mynydd Pant-coch taking in Cae-cwta, Ysgubor Fraithwen and Maesycriau, with good views, though not always well waymarked. All groups got back to the hostel just in time to complete our party for a pre-ordered meal in the welcoming Slater's Arms, enjoyed with a well- kept pint of real ale or two.