General features and articles submitted by the OFC Community http://www.fellwalkingclub.co.uk Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:46:52 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.fellwalkingclub.co.uk/images/M_images/ofc_logo_75.png http://www.fellwalkingclub.co.uk General features and articles submitted by the OFC Community http://www.fellwalkingclub.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=516&Itemid=28 Our coach arrived on time, the bags were loaded and once again we were treated to a city centre tour as we picked up more passengers bound for Vancouver Island. As people boarded questions were asked of the driver regarding arrival times at various destinations, his answer was a shrug of the shoulders and a muttered All in good time. His demeanour suggested a certain amount of early morning grumpiness… there were two of us on board! Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:00:00 +0100 http://www.fellwalkingclub.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=477&Itemid=28 On Saturday 27th June 2009, Beth Howard successfully completed her ascent to the summit of Scafell Pike. The day was a fantastic one with Beth accompanied by her dad and grandad. Richard Ratcliffe also joined the party at the summit. Lorraine Barks and James Hoye were also inlcuded in the summit bid. A great day was had by all and an article partly written by Beth now follows..... Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:22:57 +0100 http://www.fellwalkingclub.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=474&Itemid=28 Most people agree (wrote Paul Rose in 2004) that there are sixteen lakes in the Lake District although this can be misinterpreted as there is only one named lake i.e. Bassenthwaite Lake. All the rest are either meres i.e. Windermere, or waters i.e. Derwentwater. To confuse matters further, the word mere actually means lake so for sanity's sake, I think it'll be easier to agree on sixteen lakes. (Or as I suggested at the time 17! PB) Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:05:09 +0100 http://www.fellwalkingclub.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=473&Itemid=28 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.... Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:54:26 +0100 http://www.fellwalkingclub.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=472&Itemid=28 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..... Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:35:59 +0100 http://www.fellwalkingclub.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=470&Itemid=28 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. Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:10:35 +0100 http://www.fellwalkingclub.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=469&Itemid=28 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... Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:04:48 +0100 http://www.fellwalkingclub.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=464&Itemid=28 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! Thu, 14 May 2009 01:57:57 +0100 http://www.fellwalkingclub.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=417&Itemid=28 We arrived at Calgary Airport in good time for our flight to Vancouver and after checking in our luggage we had ample time for a meal. The flight was short and uneventful, although we did cross into another time zone making us now eight hours behind UK time. Tue, 03 Mar 2009 06:00:00 +0100 http://www.fellwalkingclub.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=402&Itemid=28 For more years than I care to remember Josie and I have had a dream of visiting Canada, and in particular the Rockies. Documentaries and holiday programs about the area made it look so beautiful, but at that time I was not just a reluctant flier, I was a non-flier! Sat, 15 Nov 2008 06:00:00 +0100