Welcome to the OFC
 The Online Fellwalking Club was founded on the 9th April 2001 at the height of the Foot and Mouth Epidemic to give fell and hillwalkers the chance to pacify their inaction during that sorry time. With the passing of the crisis the club continued to flourish. Although much of the action takes place on the Yahoo! Message Board this site will benefit strongly with input from the membership.
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 This year Karen and I visited the Wye Valley for an early summer holiday. We stayed in chalet-type accommodation in Symonds Yat West, which is so-named because there’s another Symonds Yat (East) on the other side of the river. The only link between the two is a rope ferry, by road it’s a few miles between the two. We chose this location as a good place from which to explore this little part of England – and a bit of Wales. To find out more please read on.... |
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 David Pitt offered an article for inclusion in the Lost Sheep and which, as a result of an ongoing programme to publish this material on the website, now appears here. I hope, if you missed The Lost Sheep article originally you might want to read it through now. By the way, don't forget to keep your eyes open for future issue of the OFC's journal which includes some brilliant material encompassing our most loved pastime..... |
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 It’s becoming a cliché, but I claim to be the man with the world’s best job. Back in the ‘sixties’ and ‘seventies’ I ran a youth hostel; my mission to encourage others to an appreciation of the countryside. But the pay was dire, I had a family to support, and mountain holidays depended on my ability to earn money in other ways. So I’d burn the midnight oil and when hostellers had gone to bed, tap out articles for the very few outdoor magazines that existed in those days. |
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 Recently there was some discussion about how people make use of AW's Pictorial Guides even if they had them at all. As a youngster going away to stay in Keswick for a fortnight, the holidays obviously entailed some packing but an old black briefcase containing the precious guidebooks and maps always seemed the most important piece of kit for the trips. Although I was fascinated by the books which hinted at hitherto unexplored realms, it was my interest in Ordnance Survey and Bartholomew maps and even paintings by Heaton Cooper that fuelled my own imagery of the fells. After an online vote it's been interesting to see how people make use of their legendary Pictorial Guides guides. This article discusses the use of guides a little more... |
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 For my birthday in 2009 I was given a book which, as a geographer, I undoubtedly had an interest for. No doubt my partner thought I had been purchased the ultimate geographical book. Maps are a prerequisite for the fellwalker although AW famously lacked one in his backpack. However, like many fellwalkers, I grew up with an innate interest in maps and like the author of this book used to spend my time scanning my gaze across them no doubt at the expense of some literary classic. I started reading the book Map Addict with great anticipation. Would it prove an interesting read with new insights into the cartographic world or a bland forey into the dusty world of antique maps? There was only one answer and that was to read the book which I did in two sittings.... |
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 About twenty years ago I was invited to go and see a special sight in the nearby Calder Valley just east of Garstang. Although I had seen bluebells before in my childhood, they had never impacted on me before. It was this visit in my early years of adulthood that, for the first time, endeered me to this fantastic natural display of flora. In the time of the OFC's existence, it is certainly the blubell which has always come top of the floral hit parade. I hope you can take time out to explore more about this wonderful flower through the membership and other sources. A big thanks to all those who have contributed so far! |
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 Many people travel for their holiday to Mediterranean countries. They mostly go in search of bathing at the beach, enjoying themselves in clubs or admiring objects of cultural interest. Only a minority of people go there for walking. Every year in spring, the tennis club of Winzendorf-Muthmannsdorf, Austria organises a tennis training camp in Croatia and this year Helmut Hudler, our resident Austrian correspondent, took the opportunity to explore the picturesque islands of Losinj und Cres in Croatia whilst his kids had fun with the tennis. Follow on to find out more..... |
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 As part of Channel 4's Big Roman Dig (BRD) in 2005, the OFC contributed to the events and digs all across the UK by re-enacting their own 'Roman' march between Brougham (Brocavum) and Ambleside (Galava). The event was a great success and even featured on Channel 4 television's live transmission on Sunday 3rd July. This first publication includes the first installment of this excellent OFC event walking the 25 or so miles across High Street... |
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 When Ellen Regan completed the Wainwright peaks as listed in his Pictorial Guides or, as many fellwalkers know them the 214, few would realise that it would become a family pursuit. Now, just three years later Robin Regan as completed the round at the ripe old age of 5 years, after superceding another sister, Kerry! |
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| FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS |
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 Yesterday morning, I had a short one hour's bicycle ride in my surroundings, inclear and sunny conditions. Unbelievable, but this year already the sunflowers are out, three weeks in advance as compared to other years. Additionally, there was an interesting cloud pattern indicating a change in the weather. Today it is overcast with deep hanging clouds and raining permanently.
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 Off up to Glen Shee on Sunday in what use to be a busy skiing area but not much snow now.
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Site Tips
Visitors to the site will be familiar with surfing the world wide web, but to get the most out of the new site you might want to know a few useful pieces of information. Please read on here to get some tips for getting the most out of the new OFC site...
"It was great to see so many old friends again and to meet new people who have now become familiar names on the message board." Jill Rowland on the Honister 2007 weekend
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