September 2003 Newsletter
Chairman's introduction
Hello and welcome to the University of Wales Swansea Hiking Club.
If you're just beginning your course at Swansea, or are new to the hiking club you'll find that we travel all over the UK, including the Brecons, Snowdonia and the Gower in Wales, and the Peaks and Lakes in England.
And if you're just rejoining for yet another year, you'll be pleased to know that, as always, we have revised the walk calendar, this year to include more local walks, such as a trip to the Rhossili Downs.
As well as our walks we have as lively a social calendar as ever, with events every couple of weeks. This includes various pub crawls, a Ceilidh and of course our annual Christmas dinner up in the Oxwich Bay Hotel on the Gower. But first, and very importantly for if you plan to become a regular hiker, we have our equipment trip next week where we get a massive 30% discount on ANYTHING in the shop.
So whats the hiking club really about? Well, its not about us leading you around the countryside on a wet and windy Welsh Sunday morning. Once our intro walks are out of the way, we want to encourage you to lead walks, and it doesn't matter if you don't know how because we will train anyone interested and lead with them.
Every year the committee produces newsletters, the second being after Christmas. This newsletter contains everything you need to know about the upcoming term, including the social and walks calendar, and reports on our weekends in Exmoor and Snowdonia and our Ceilidh and Christmas dinner socials.
There are also details on walk pickups, our annual T-shirt design competition and also our kit regulation as certain pieces of equipment are essential to partaking in our hikes.
In the immediate future although our hikes do not begin until the 5th October, we do have socials coming up. After the AU fayre on Thursday, we are meeting in JC's at 7.30pm. The week after we have our annual equipment trip, followed by a trip to the Bank Statement. Once the walks do begin, we start our year off with three intro walks- to Rhosilli on the Gower, Preselli in the Beacons and Rhyader in the Mid Wales.
So that's whats coming up in the next term. Whether you're an old pro, or just looking for a new hobby, come along and give it a go.
Ed Janes
Autumn Term Social Calendar
Tuesday 26th September: - JC's piss up
Once the Freshers Fayre is over, we'll be in Jc's from 7.30pm so if you fancy meeting this years committee and other new members come and join us.
Wednesday 1th October - Equipment trip @ Out&About & the Bank Statement
Forgotten to bring your raincoat, need new boots, then come with us to buy new equipment, at a 30% discounted price!! We meet in the Quadrant bus station at 6pm, or you can join us in the Bank Statement from 7.30pm
Tuesday 14th October - Bowling
Come if only to laugh at how poor we all are!!
Wednesday 22nd October - Alternative Pub Crawl
Taking in a few of the pubs you wouldn't usually visit.
Tuesday 4th November - First Year Rep Elections @ Café Mambo
Wanna be part of the committee?? Then come along and get voted in
Friday 14th November – Round the World Pub Crawl
It's the Mumbles Mile. Every pub represents a country, and you have to drink a drink from that country. There are many tales from this trip!!!
TBC - Christmas Dinner @ Oxwich Bay Hotel
Big and fun
Friday 12th December - End of term piss up
Everyone up to the bar on the last night of term.
Malcolm Rees
Ceilidh 2003
If a dosie-doe sounds like something that involves baking, or a basket is purely something that you put your purchases in while shopping, then the chances are that you have never been to Ceilidh. Never fear though, as the annual Hiking Club Ceilidh will soon change that, and then you too will be able to experience this energetic and fun experience!
So what does it involve? I suppose that if I told you it involved violins and accordions, and that a caller gave you all the instructions, then you might envisage a small, inbred Dorset village! One where all the yokels chew corn and speak a version of English that you can barely understand, all have arrived on tractors or combine harvesters, and drink homemade cider strong enough to strip paint. Never fear though, as that's line dancing; a Ceilidh is much better, and at Hiking Club, we see it as the highlight of our social calendar after Christmas!
So I've teased you, and by now you probably want to know what a Ceilidh is! Well it's a Gaelic (Irish and Scottish) form of dancing, led by a caller and normally involving sets of partners (normally made up of male/females). The dances are often done in sets or large circles and are definitely very good for your health! We have a live band to provide the music for us who are very good, and really add to the atmosphere and experience.
Last years event saw the usual level of drinking and dancing, while the only people looking silly were those who refused to dance - you know who you are! The band, `Rough Edge', were at their best, but unfortunately the bloke with the amazing beard was absent. So if you came last year, and need any more incentive to return again, then to be able to see him will be it (not that you should need anymore incentive).
So, for a really unique experience this year (and if you are in your first year the first of many) get your best dancing shoes on, and come to the Hiking Club. Pay attention to emails and the club website for details about this years Ceilidh, closer to the event. See you all on the hills
George Roberts
Exmoor Weekend Away 14th - 16th February, 2003
Valentine's weekend 2003 saw us heading to Exmoor, a new adventure for the club! The forecast was for one of the coldest nights of the year, -8°C
After a quick trip down the M4 and M5 we hit Exmoor itself. The roads slowly became narrower. At Dulverton, our directions were to take the road between two pubs, after driving around this pretty little village for about 10 minutes we spotted two pubs and indeed there was a road between them, question was could the minibus fit?
After finally squeezing through (expertly done Malcolm) the road continued to get narrower and we began to pray we were in the right place - well we did come to be in the countryside! We finally found a bunkhouse with George scribbled on the door, so we assumed it was ours and settled in, realising that our woolly hats might be coming to bed with us! Ed however, completely unfazed by the sheer reality of -8"C made us all feel even colder by sleeping topless (brr).
After a night spent curled up tightly (and seeing your breath) we awoke to a beautiful frosty morning. We migrated downstairs to the log fire and the smell of the lads cooking breakfast (for them not us). A trip outside to see the frozen waterwheel was a must, very beautiful but have you ever seen ice that thick!
We later piled into the minibus and walked from Robbers Bridge to County gate, a route encapsulating moors, hills, valleys and the coast . A 12-mile walk I did not complain about as it was so beautiful and kept me warm, returning shattered the pub looked too inviting, but being Valentines weekend it took. 3 attempts before we (a group of muddy hikers) were allowed in. Still after a few drinks and a hearty meal we were feeling better and hoping the alcohol would help us forget the cold night ahead. Many of us slept downstairs by the fire, the more hardy (foolsome) remained above.
Sunday gave us two options; Dunkery Beacoon, or the pretty towns of Lynton and Lynmouth. Another wonderful day with something for all, including a railway to save trekking up the cliffs, but we wouldn't take that option would we now? (!) Can't wait for this year's trip, lets just hope its warmer this time!
Becky Perrett
Snowdonia Summer Trip 9th - 12th June 2003
On Monday 9 th June 2003 a group of valiant hikers travelled up to Snowdonia to conquer Mt. Snowdon, the highest mountain (1086) in England and Wales. Okay, so `conquer' and `valiant' may appear a little extreme but after failures in recent years, bad weather and bad luck were both expected. However the trip turned out quite differently...
Due to it being the end of the year we had an extra day so decided to do two large walks, and then a smaller stroll on the final day. Expecting rain on the first day, it was decided to do Trifyn, but as it happened we had a gloriously sunny first day, `just chillin' with our two American friends (Will and Jim). On the top of Trifyn you can find Adam and Eve, two rocks with a large drop inbetween. It is said that anyone who jumps from one to the other becomes `a man of Trifyn'. Unfortunately it was just slightly too windy to attempt this. Maybe next year!
After a bit of scrambling we returned to the world renowned Pete's Eats, a hikers café with portions almost as big as in the Upland's diner. Evening meant the obligatory pub and darts, followed by a game of spoons upon our return.
Day 2 of course meant Snowdon, and another day of generally excellent weather. Although normally shrouded in cloud, the peak remained clear, atleast until we were about 20 minutes away when it suddenly disappeared! The lack of view from the summit was the only downside to this amazing trip away.
Thursday brought a different and much less strenuous walk to Llangennith, which ended with a trip to a power station which was actually inside a mountain. After getting the tourist train back to Jesse James's hostel we set off on the long journey back to Swansea listening to Busted on the CD player (personally I blame Sarah Michelle and Michelle for this crime!)
As I've found in previous years, no matter what the weather, this trip to Snowdonia always proves to be fun, but with excellent weather and good company, this really was one of the best. Snowdonia is the biggest attraction in the walking calendar, and despite not being able to see from the top, it is easy to see what the attraction is. Definitely one not to be missed.
Ed Janes
Meet the Committee
Our eminently reliable and responsible leader, the Chairman, Ed Janes.
The chairman's role is generally to keep us all in order! Chair meetings, make sure everything gets done on time, and know everything there is to know about the hiking club! A difficult task whichever way you look at it (there speaks the voice of experience!)!
Second-in-command, Vice-chairman George Roberts.
Officially, it is George who has to take over if Ed doesn't turn up. He also looks after the club's kit, books coaches for walks each week, and does anything else Ed comes up with that needs doing!
Piggy-bank holder, our Treasurer Becky Perrett.
Armed with a calculator and accounts book, Becky makes sure that the club account is doing better than our own personal ones, and helps us stay on the right side of the AU by paying in the MPF's each week.
Official doodler, Secretary Lisa Woodin.
Lisa has the unenviable task of taking the minutes at our committee meetings, easier said than done! Lisa also books the pubs for walks, and the accommodation for weekends away, so has to be on the ball at all times!
Mr Sociable himself, Social Secretary Malcolm Rees.
It is Malcolm's responsibility to organise club socials, from simple pub-going to the all important Christmas dinner (there's a plug!). Always coming up with fresh ideas, Malcolm has this year introduced the `alternative pub crawl', which should be fun...
Chief propaganda specialist, Publicity secretary Sarah Armstrong.
Those fantastic and expertly written emails you get each week detailing all walks and socials come from the hand of this witty and creative individual whose job it is to keep you all up to date with the latest events. And what a good job she does too (oh look, that's me!).
(Unofficial) Webmaster Jonathon `Reg' Bennet.
Reg kindly agreed to take on the role of webmaster even though he's not an official student type any more. His role is to update the club site so you all know what's going on and when! Quite an important job then! Unfortunately we have no picture, we'll introduce him!
Autumn Term Walks Calendar
Walks are graded in terms of length and steepness, where A = easy, B = medium and C = difficult. Walks may be changed with little warning. Club notice board will contain up to date information.
Sunday 5th October - Rhosilli-Port Eynon (A)
A nice gentle introduction to the club on the local Gower peninsular. A great chance to meet new friends and learn why, with an area as beautiful as this on your doorstep, you came to Swansea!
Sunday 12th October - Preselli Hills (B)
This is our only visit to the inland area of the Pembrokeshire National Park, which, on a clear day, offers stunning views of the entire peninsular and (as always) culminates in a fantastic pub!
Sunday 19th October: Rob's Random Rhyader Route (C)
Both a new walk and a tough one! However last year it was thoroughly enjoyed by all as ex-Chairman Rob Lievesley replaced our former Rhyader route with an even better one!
Friday 24th - Sunday 26th October - Peak District Weekend Away (B)
Spending a couple of nights in an old stationhouse (within easy walking distance of a small, warm and friendly local pub) certainly gives this weekend away a character of its own. Memories of this trip tend to be riddled with experiences of sliding down, jumping over or falling in peat bogs! Whether you enjoy the pubs, peat, waterfall, scenery or simply exploring and learning about the area this is a guaranteed great weekend – if not then we'll give you your money back! (well maybe not)
Sunday 2nd November - Chepstow (A)
A pleasant stroll along the Welsh-English border finishing at the historical Tintern Abbey (conveniently close to some great pubs)
Sunday 9th November - Fan Fawr (B/C)
The nearby Brecons provide excellent opportunity for slightly more difficult walks, but don't let the grade of such walks deter you, this more challenging walk is rewarded with fantastic scenery.
Tuesday 11th November - Cefn Bryn Night Hike (A)
On this first night hike of the year, along the Cefn Bryn ridge of central Gower you will get a new perspective on our local area. One of the beat things about night hikes is getting to see some of the wildlife that doesn't come out during the day. If you choose this gentle walk can be a great way to test your map reading skills, if not you will still, without a doubt, learn a new meaning to the term hiking!
Sunday 16th November - Woebly Castle (A)
Another chance to learn why you came here, with a fairly easy walk deep in the Gower with some fantastic scenery.
Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd November - Shropshire Weekend Away (B)
Fantastic views over the Shropshire hills, with mountains including Long Mynd, Stretton Hills and Wenlock Edge to name but a few. There should also be plenty of opportunities to roll in heather and walk through clouds if last year is anything to go by (have a look at the pictures on the website: www.uwshiking.org.uk)
Sunday 30th November - Elan Valley (B)
Definitely a walk for your camera as well as you, this favourite is a glorious walk around the lakes and dams of Mid Wales
Sunday 7 December - Forest Of Dean (A)
Our last walk of the term takes us over the boarder into England. A woodland ramble in the delightful Forest of Dean, offering some fantastic views, and your last chance to walk before the Christmas holidays.
Hiking Club Christmas Dinner 2002
The Christmas Dinner is one of the largest events that the Hiking Club organizes, and this year was no exception. Sharing with the Archery Club we headed over to the Oxwich Hotel for a night of fun.
Once there, we settled at our tables, and chose what we'd like for dinner. With a wide wide choice of food for each course (including vegetarian) it was a hard choice. The Gower Turkey or perhaps some Welsh Roast Beef and Yorkshirepuds ...... ??
As so as everyone had chosen what to eat (and in some cases before that), the party crackers were pulled, silly hats put on (compulsory) and silly jokes filled the air.
When the food turned up, it became very quiet as the large piles of food slowly disappeared. The shear rate at which it went was phenomenal.
With appetites sated, we turned towards our noble leader (Sarah) awaiting her speech. After a few hecklers had been dealt with it was time for the raffle.
Everyone gets a ticket, everyone one gets a prize. Usually just a small chocolate bar, but there were a smattering of Santa Hats, Glow –in-the-Dark Stars and other "special" prizes.
Then the dance floor opened.
With everyone dressed to the nines, you might expect that this would be a formal evening, but you'd be wrong!!
As the pic's show, everyone was up for a good time, strutting their stuff on the dance floor.
Luckily (though some would disagree) we didn't have a rendition of the Full Monty by the male members of the club this year.
But who knows, if we get them drunk enough perhaps they would be more willing ............. (This is only a slight hint for people to buy us drinks next Christmas!!)
