Weekend Trips - Important Information!!

Cost
  • The cost of a trip will vary depending on the cost of the hostel and how much fuel we'll burn up driving there, but is generally £35 - £40, covering transport by minibus and two nights in the hostel.
  • Refund policy - Unless otherwise stated - If you wish to cancel your place more than one week in advance you are entitled to a refund, minus a £10 deposit. Cancellations made less than one week in advance will receive a £10 refund, but only if your place can be re-allocated.
What To Bring
  • Walking Gear - essentially all the normal gear you would take on a walk (see gear advice section). Most hostels have drying rooms so you shouldn't need to take a complete spare set of walking clothes, but a spare t-shirt and a pair of socks is generally useful.
  • Casual clothes to travel in and to wear to the pub in an evening.
  • Toiletries - remembering, of course, your towel. Some hostels will require you to bring your own sleeping bag - whether or not this is the case will be clarified when the trip is advertised, on the website and in the newsletter.
  • Phone charger - they use more power than normal when you're up in the hills.
  • A book, deck of cards or a small boardgame to entertain yourself in the evening whilst waiting to go to the pub is generally a good idea.
  • A CD or tape to play on the bus on the way is worth its weight in gold if you don't fancy the thought of Rob's 3 hour Meatloaf compilation.
  • And most important of all - the social element is as big a part of the trip as the walking, so don't forget to pack a bottle of wine, or whatever your favourite tipple, to relax with in the evening.
Typical Itinerary
  • Friday - We usually meet by the Arts Tower at 5:30pm, but can delay this a little if people can't escape lectures/work til later. We'll stop off mid route for a toilet stop and a bite to eat from a chippy or motorway service station, then get to the hostel just in time to catch a quick pint in the local.
  • Saturday - We will generally do two or three more high-level walks on the Saturday, either walking out from the hostel or a short drive away. In the evening we'll usually head back to the pub for a meal and a pint or two, then back to the hostel to carry on the drinking.
  • Sunday - Hostels usually like us to be packed and out by 10am, so its a good idea to be at least half packed the night before. We usually do a shorter, low level walk on the Sunday than the Saturday walk, traditionally finishing off with a cream tea, or a pint. We'll normally find a chippy on the way home, and return to Sheffield at about 8-10pm.
Food
  • Breakfast - Some hostels do a pre-booked breakfast for around £4-£5, or alternatively you can bring a pack of bacon or cereal - there'll be a fridge to store perishables such as milk. Remember to bring a couple of teabags if that's what it takes to get you functioning in the morning.
  • Lunches - Most people bring a loaf of bread and make up sandwiches on the morning of the walk, or the night before if they're really organised.
  • Evening Meals - We'll be eating on the move on the Friday and Sunday so you'll need some cash for the services or chippy. Some of the fancier hostels let you prebook an evening meal for the Saturday, and all have a self catering kitchen if you feel like cooking. Generally, however, we just go down the pub.