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Bronwen has encouraged us to produce essays for the website. Each year I have planned to write something about the weekend and not got round to it so this year here are some memories of past weekends.

The first weekend Deborah and I organised was in Southwold (2009). We planned to do one walk south and one north of the town: the south walk to Walberswick was delightful the walk north was a disaster. We started on a board walk through a marsh but it was inadequate and we both filled our boots with muddy water. We soldiered on across featureless industrial agricultural fields to the grimmest pub we have seen. So back to the drawing board. We decided to drive a little further south and we found a great walk including Minsmere bird reserve and Dunwich Forest. In the event poor Deborah had an operation and having done the recce missed the weekend. The weather was variable, I have a vivid memory of us all scurrying from Minsmere to the pub under the shelter of a high hedge in a sharp shower. Apart from that and a rather small base hotel so we were all scattered the weekend went well.

2010 found us in Llangollen. We originally planned to be based in Chirk, on the railway line but the hotel we selected was closed when Deborah arrived for the recce. We had to relocate to a fine hotel in Llangollen which accommodated most of the group. Walks were on Offa’s Dyke and the Llangollen canal - including going through a tunnel and the famous Pontcysyllte aqueduct, beautiful but high and scary, which we all managed to cross. This was the first time we introduced a Friday evening walk, along the canal past the Eisteddfod venue to the source of the canal.

We try to alternate inland and sea locations so 2011 we went to Hastings - genteel East Hastings - in a very good large B & B, where we able to have our annual dinner.
The weather and accommodation were good, the walks successful – from Winchelsea into Hastings and on the Sunday around Battle . This was the first time we managed to finish at a site of historical interest, leaving the group to explore the Abbey and the battle ground on Sunday afternoon. As far as I can remember this was the smoothest to organise, with no disasters.

2012 we went to Bruton, again in a large B & B which accommodated most of the group. The weather was good – we walked to Castle Cary on day one and went over to Stourhead and Castle Hill iron age fort on Sunday. Apart from poor Norma falling into a large bed of nettles all went smoothly .

So 2013, just back from Sheringham on the North Norfolk coast. A great weekend despite probably the worst, coldest weather we have had (Since Deborah and I took over – who remembers Dorset? and the Malvern Hills?) although it was dry apart from the Friday evening. A record turnout – 26 for the Saturday walk, 22 on Sunday and 34 for the dinner.

Deborah and I had more panics and headaches than usual. We first arrived for the recce having carefully selected a B&B as suitable for our base to see a “Sold” sign on the property. The only consolation was that it wouldn’t have been suitable anyway. All the locals directed us to the Burlington Hotel , and once we had braved its rather forbidding façade it was clearly the place for us. Just after we had circulated details and asked people to book the hotel closed for its annual holiday, which led to some confusion. We then could get no response from The Lobster where we had booked for the Saturday dinner, we rang the Burlington who said” Oh, that Graham . . . “ and offered to send someone round to sort it out. This was a good indication of the kindness and friendliness we found throughout the weekend.
On arrival Deborah found that 1 ½ miles of the coast path on our planned Saturday walk was closed for sea defence repairs, so again back to the drawing board. Deborah very cleverly found a delightful walk through the Bayford wood nature reserve, and we finished in the birdwatchers paradise of Blakeney Marshes.
It rained steadily through the Friday evening walk through Sheringham Park. Happily the wind was behind us as we walked back into Sheringham along the cliffs. Saturday was grey, Sunday was really quite good weather! We walked to Felbrigg Hall, NT property and back, only occasionally getting lost. All the walks were of variable length, on Saturday there was an optional coffee stop that cut 3 miles off the morning!

So Deborah and I will now start organising next year’s weekend – put the 3rd weekend of May in your diaries and lets hope to see even more of you next year. Margaret and Deborah