February Blog : Group Holidays

Eileen Dorman

Reading Steve’s Blog reminded me of the lovely holidays that I have enjoyed, and some organised, for the SCR Group. The group has always had a tradition of holidays and weekends away, one of the earliest, or may be first in 1993. The Chairman’s Weekend to the Autumn Steam Gala in Whitby at a cost of £24.00 per person (£2.00 supplement for single accommodation)

In more recent years Phil Guest, as Chairman (perhaps it’s a condition of the role) has arranged holidays to Derwentwater(HF), Guernsey, Jersey and Skipton and I have arranged the coach excursions to Tyndrum, Pitlochry, Melrose, across the southern water to the Isle of Wight and at the homely Plas Tan y Bwlch in Snowdonia, close enough to self-drive or car share.

For 2020 Phil had looked to booking 2 holidays; Skipton in the spring and Jersey later in the year. I had booked a coach holiday to Great Yarmouth. Sadly the coronavirus pandemic put a stop to those.

 I have been asked when I will be arranging another coach trip. For the group it will not be until next year, 2022. For me it takes about 6 months to organise the complete package. I raise the idea with other members and if there is interest check with the Committee to ensure there is no clash with other arrangements.

 Once the brochure drops (travel jargon !) or Shearings give me the tip in advance, I research various locations, departing the North-West on suitable dates, whether there are enough rooms for a larger group with the required accommodation. Look at walking opportunities directly from the hotel or by accessible public transport. A review of maps, walking books, guides, Ramblers routes, walks programmes by local walking groups generally confirms if it is a good walking location. I can then make an initial reservation of rooms with the option to add or return by a certain date. The holiday is advertised and deposits taken to confirm the rooms.

Booking on this holiday? Then you too can become a walk leader!!

Although everyone is free to explore as they wish or join the included coach excursions, it seems people mostly want to know what is on offer for each day and prefer led walks.

I have been extremely grateful for the holiday leaders - Bev, Steve, Helen, Robert, Judith - who have stepped forward each time to put a selection of walks in place. Carole and Graham led walks at Tyndrum and not forgetting David, Edwina and their dogs who met us at Plas Tan y Bwlch and led a walk around the estate. Latterly the regular holiday leaders meet up a couple of times at my house to look at the walking opportunities, plan routes and walks to suit the group. Walks are usually in the range of +/- moderate and hopefully give the opportunity to explore and enjoy all that the area has to offer. Their experience as leaders is invaluable, as of course, none of the walks can be recce’d in advance, but a study of maps, guide-books and contact with walking or Rambler groups has provided good local advice and knowledge. Coincidentally, we might have been to those areas on private holidays, so have a feel for the conditions. The walks can be advertised as formally organised walks, following Ramblers protocols and covered by Ramblers insurance.

Reviewing feedback, as they say in the trade, other considerations are packed lunches, shops, tea-rooms and pubs. The coach holidays also include evening entertainment; at Pitlochry we were led to the local brewery/pub in the evenings. At Plas Tan y Bwlch, we put together the whole accommodation package, 5 days of walking opportunities (2 half and 3 full days) and our own evening entertainment. These breaks have everything you would expect from a led walking holiday with HF or Ramblers, including travel, and at half the cost!

 Thank you to everyone who has helped me to arrange our holidays.

 ~ o0o ~

Steve also described the Ludlow Magnalonga Food Walk – First Sunday in August organised by Ludlow Food Festival.

I am not sure how many I have organised for the Group, but I do have 6 glasses and lanyards. 500 tickets are available to book in advance, though you would never know that many people are on the walk.

Again a block of tickets is reserved around March-time before they are advertised to the public in June. This gives the group the opportunity to travel together if they wish, meet up and start the walk at the same time. After that everyone follows the route at their own pace and spends time enjoying the countryside, food and entertainment at each stop.

It has been the custom for some to extend their stay, enjoy a sociable get-together on the Sunday evening usually over a meal in the pub next-door to the Travelodge and a led SCR walk on the Monday. The Monday walk is on the programme and sometimes people have travelled down and joined us.

 In 2019 the Magnalonga coincided with the Shrewsbury Flower Show and some of us made a long weekend of it. Although not the same weekend in 2020, it was planned to arrange a longa-Longa and organise our own led day walks before and after the Magnalonga. Alas, the event and our weekend was cancelled.

~ o0o ~

So why not organise a coach trip or the Magnalonga in 2021.

Well, because of the uncertainty of lockdown easing. For me it is too soon to make any arrangements.

 Magnalonga is easy to answer - Ludlow Food Festival is currently exploring what can put in place after the huge disappointment of cancelled events last year.

Coach Holidays - At the time of writing (27 February 2021) the Roadmap for coming out of lockdown has only recently been announced. Ramblers have yet to set out their guidance for group walking and group holidays.

UK Government for England has set out the Roadmap for coming out of total lockdown by 21 June. In the meantime the possibilities for travel to Scotland and Wales are unknown. If all goes well, restrictions will be eased somewhat for outdoor and indoor social contact by 17 May with indoor hospitality just starting to re-open. My view is that as hospitality settings must operate within the legal limits – be that the Rule of 6 or 2 households, I wonder how that will affect social meals and drinks in the bar and the spirit of a completely sociable group holiday. An SCR group is made of up of 15-25 households, coincident with the number of rooms booked. Presently I can’t even invite leaders together to plan walks.

After June, I hope that we will all be able to travel further afield, at least in England and book some trips and holidays for ourselves, get together with more family and friends and enjoy time together. It’s been a long year.

ED ver2.