Dec.13-15 Hiking & Christmas Party in Dorset, Lulworth Cove & Durdle Door

Join us for all inclusive 2 nights Hiking, Christmas Party & Sightseeing trip to Dorset. This unforgettable trip will include delicious homemade food and the great time for you to remember!

CHRISTMAS PARTY
We are very excited to present a AAA Night At The Movies. In additional to great hiking and wonderful food, we will have a special Christmas party on Saturday Night. AAA will be rolling out the red carpet and presenting the much-coveted AAA Oscars to the best and most outrageously fancy-dressed movie stars. There will be a red carpet photoshoot, music, fun, and games to party away the evening after a good day’s hiking. All you need to do is plan an outfit that will stun/shock the judges and have the eagerly awaiting paparazzi fighting for the best photo.
This trip is a great chance to catch up with your hiking friends you have met during this and previous years.

We will also try to hook up the karaoke machine for additional fun! Prepare to party!

Let the festive season begin :)!

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LOCATION

The Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site is England's first natural World Heritage Site - it is known as The Jurassic Coast (http://jurassiccoast.org/). It covers 95 miles of truly stunning coastline from East Devon to Dorset, with rocks recording 185 million years of the Earth's history.

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Hiking with the group in 2015

World Heritage status was achieved because of the site's unique insight into the Earth Sciences as it clearly depicts a geological ‘walk through time’ spanning the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

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The South West Coast Path National Trail runs along the entire length of the Jurassic Coast and offers the walker stunning views, with a bird's eye view of many coastal features. From the Coast Path you can experience the drama of sheer cliff faces, wonder at the strangely eroded rock formations and above all, witness how the geology within the coast reveals itself - showcasing the Earth's History over the last 250 million years.

The Jurassic Coastline is by far the most popular area in the UK to collect fossils. (http://jurassiccoast.org/rocks-and-fossils/fossils-the-history-of-life/where-to-find-fossils)

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There are few places more recognisable than the crescent bay of Lulworth Cove (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lulworth_Cove), (below)

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the perfect rock arch of Durdle Door (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durdle_Door), the ruins of Corfe Castle or the rock stacks of Old Harry Rocks, which all grace this small but historic area. There are also some fantastic beaches, including the soft sands at Studland and the great town beach at Swanage. All are linked by the South West Coast Path, one of the UK’s truly great coastal walks.

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The South West Coast Path National Trail (http://www.southwestcoastpath.com/) is one of the top walks to be found anywhere in the world.

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The Cove was formed by the combined forces of the sea and a river swollen by melting ice at the end of the last Ice Age. The tough wall of Portland Stone, which can still be seen on either side of the entrance to the Cove, was attacked by the sea from the south and by a river from the north. Once the Portland Stone had been breached, the softer Purbeck, Wealden, Greensand and Chalk were washed out.

The river is now a small stream which flows down into the Cove by the Beach Café.

On stormy winter days, it is easy to see that this process continues and that, over time, the Cove will become bigger.

ITINERARY

Details for the programme of events for a typical AAA weekend can be found via the links below.

>>> Typical Weekend programme <<<

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HIKES

There will be a minimum of two very capable hike leaders on this weekend, both with extensive navigational and leading experience and trained in wilderness first aid.

The choice of hikes will differ in distance and toughness and we usually aim to have no more than 20 people per hike. This ensures that the groups are not left waiting for long periods whilst the 40th person catches up.

Usually, you can expect the shorter of the hikes to be around 10 miles / 16km and the long hike to be 16 miles / 25 km plus. This will vary according to the terrain and ascents.

AAA choose not to repeat the same hikes from previous trips, we also choose not to publish our hikes in advance, although we usually plan them ahead of the weekend.
We are passionate about hiking and experienced navigators as such we don’t need to repeat the same hikes on the same weekends.

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FOOD

AAA food quality has become well known within the Hiking Meetup community. We typically greet you with a warm soup supper with cold meats and bread on your arrival on Friday night topped off with a large homemade cake.

You can enjoy Misha’s famous hearty porridge with fruits, nuts and honey both mornings topped off with a cooked breakfast, freshly brewed coffee and juice. The perfect start for a days hiking, other cereals, bread and food are also available.

We believe your packed lunch is a personal affair and we provide you with all the ingredients for you to make up your own sandwiches, so if you want to make your own peanut butter and banana sandwiches here’s your chance. Fruit, crisps and biscuit snacks are also available.
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After returning from your hike scones, jam and clotted cream are available with your afternoon tea. However, some hikes might, if the opportunity arises for the cream teas and pop into a local country pub before returning.

Saturday dinner is a group event; members will help with some of the preparation whilst reflecting on the day’s scenery. Dinner is usually served at 8 pm and includes a wide selection of salads with meat and a vegetarian dish.

If you have any special diet requirements please let us know in advance so that we can accommodate your needs.

You will need to bring your own alcoholic drinks in advance, as AAA LG is not licensed to sell alcohol.

There is no need for additional expense or travel for a meal out at a local restaurant or pub.
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(AAA aims for home-made healthy food, catered for vegetarians, vegans and anybody else.)

ACCOMMODATION:

We rented privately YHA hostel for 2 nights just for our group.
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Our hostel is a spacious and elegant Victorian house, overlooking Swanage Bay. It's an ideal base from which to explore the incredible Jurassic Coast and the beautiful countryside of Purbeck.
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Wif-Fi is available on this property which is free of charge for guests to use. All bed linen is provided, with washbasins in each room.
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Accommodation is in male and female rooms for 4 and 6 people.
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GETTING THERE

AAA events start and end at the accommodation venue so you will need to arrange your own transport to and from the accommodation.

Please do not contact people regarding lifts on the “Conversation” thread below as this generates spam for all participants of the event.
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PRICE of £139 INCLUDES:

• 2 nights of accommodation in rooms for 4 & 6 people.

• Friday night light supper,

• 2 Cooked breakfasts,

• 2 Packed lunches,

• 2 Guided Hikes by experienced hike leaders

• 1 Cream Tea

• 1 Dinner on Saturday.

• Compliance with the 1992 Package Travel Regulations including Financial protection.

Price DOES NOT include:
• Transport to the destination
• Alcoholic drinks and other incidentals

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!!!ONLY PAYMENT CONFIRMS YOUR RSVP!!!

After you RSVP yes, to secure your place you will need to make a bank transfer of £139 to

Account Name: AAA LG
Sort Code 60-09-02
Account 69543038

Please, make sure you have got your name & a trip date (Dec.13-15) as a reference as on your profile on

Meetup (to avoid misunderstanding) in your payment so I will be able to recognize it as yours. ALSO, DROP A LINE TO aaalondongroup@yahoo.co.uk WHEN YOU HAVE TRANSFERRED FUNDS PLEASE.

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Safety is always paramount with AAA London Group!

All participants (members and their guests) on any AAA London Group walk or activity are personally responsible for their own fitness, safety and welfare and must be equipped accordingly.

If you have signed up for the event you acknowledge the AAA London Group Terms and Conditions. (https://www.meetup.com/AAA-London-Group/pages/AAA_London_Group_Terms_and_Conditions/)

Everyone in the group has to obtain appropriate insurance.
The BMC: http://www.thebmc.co.uk/modules/insurance/Policies.aspx
offer excellent policies for all outdoor enthusiasts at competitive rates.
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© AAA LG Ltd 2019.
Errors and Omissions Excepted.