Sunday 31st August 2014, For Sale: One Youth Hostel

A trip oop north to spend some time in Northumberland, staying in the wonderful Edmunbyers Youth Hostel. 

 

This is a traditional hostel (without the chores!) that provides everything a traveller needs: a decent kitchen, dorms plus smaller private rooms, a lovely warden (Sarah), a wonderful situation, space for camping outside....it's excellent.

 

This is simply the type of hostel that many hostellers are bemoaning the loss of - and perhaps why independent hostel movement is growing in popularity.

 

Okay, many independent hostels are a bit flashier than this, but they're cheap, busy and profitable.

The YHA say this hostel isn't making a profit. The YHA is a charity and doesn't (didn't? ) exist to make a profit.

 

What a dreadful shame,  the YHA are now selling the place.

 

I just hope that the new owners keep the place open as a hostel. I rather suspect that it will be turned into a large private house.

 

Many of these buildings were given to the YHA with one use in mind - as a hostel for those of limited means.

 

Those donors must be turning in their graves.

November 2013, some missed out bits

I’m still trying to play catch-up with some draft postings that I’ve been neglecting, so…. 

A wander around Rostherne. And Tatton.

St Mary’s Church, Rostherne

Inside the church hang the colours of the local Parachute Regiment Association. During WW2 the Paras trained in the area – Ringway Aerodrome (now Manchester Airport) was home to No1 Parachute Training School.

The church’s lych gate, dating to 1640 

 

More pics for Alan, these from Tatton:

Gardner diesel engines are still highly regarded – in spite of being out of production for many years.

The former parachute training school drop-zone, Shutlingsloe on the horizon

War memorial dedicated to No1 Parachute Training School

Sunset over north Cheshire

Birdies

Around Altrincham:

  

Around Dunham:

Other stuff:

 Frank Sidebottom with Fast Blackshaw

Tally-Ho!:

Shutlingsloe

Ding Dong Bell

Running on the Gritstone Trail

Shutlingsloe again

Hon. Pres. Park leading the pack

Croker Hill, still on the Gritstone Trail

Fast Blackshaw in downhill mode 

 

A lovely couple of days in Llandudno in Wonderland:

Saturday 23rd Aug 2014, Stalybridge Station Buffet Bar

 

With Rick, en route to Saddleworth Longwood Thump Rushcart, Stalybridge Station Buffet Bar is a jewel! It serves 10 cask beers, including a mild. CAMRA members get a 10% too!

23rd August 2014, Saddleworth Rushcart, Uppermill

A weekend of morris, beer and fun!
Photos to follow

Annabel’s High Energy Flapjack Recipe

Seriously yummy, terribly unhealthy, packed with energy, easy to make….what’s not to like?

This recipe is from Annabel, a fellow LDWA walker and all-round good egg. Not that she’s round of course. Or an egg.

Annabel (who has a Blog) dished out these flapjacks whilst on the CarpetBaggers 50 walk, it’s like rocket fuel.

High Energy Flapjacks

310g Oats

250g Holland & Barrett Breakfast Sprinkle (A very fruity, nutty, seedy mix)

80g Roughly chopped nuts

170g Dark soft sugar

230g Butter

4 tbsp Honey

2 tbsp Sweetened condensed milk

100g Roughly chopped dark chocolate

½ tsp Powdered ginger

Melt butter, honey, sugar & condensed milk.

Mix in dry ingredients.

Press into a baking parchment-lined shallow baking tray

Cover with a layer of baking parchment or foil if you prefer it to be softer rather than crunchy.

Bake for 20mins @ 170degC / Gas 3.

Leave to cool.

Cut into 2” squares and wrap in either foil or baking parchment. I store mine in the fridge….right at the back so I’m not tempted to dive in and grab a piece when I walk past. 

Obviously this recipe isn’t suitable for those with a nut allergy. I recently made a nutless batch for a friend with such an allergy, it tasted fine and had a good consistency. Rather than use the Holland & Barrett Breakfast Sprinkle, used a mix of dried fruit, more oats, seeds etc made up to the same weight. This worked out very well – although I don’t know if the seeds would cause an allergy flare-up.

I didn’t get round to giving it to my allergy friend so I ended up eating it myself.

A chap can’t have enough flap-jack in store….can he?