BACKABUSH XPLORERS - Hiking & Outdoor Adventure Meetup Group

Backabush is heading back to the Canary Islands to visit Tenerife!

Tenerife is the biggest island in the Canaries and has a wealth of amazing hikes to explore. Although the island is more famous for its resort holidays, Tenerife actually has some of the best hikes in the Canary Islands. These islands sit just off the coast of Africa and enjoy mild weather and sunshine throughout the winter months making them ideal for a hiking escape in March.

We will be staying in the vibrant town of Puerto de la Cruz in a fabulous 4 star hotel which overlooks the ocean and is just 50m from the black sand beach. We can enjoy the hotel's 2 outdoor pools, terrace bar and sea-view restaurant - all evening meals are included. In the evenings we can also check out some of the popular bars in the local town. We have the following room options:

Shared Twin Room - £669 (fully booked)
Private Single Occupancy Room - £829 (fully booked)

From our base on the north coast we will be well placed to reach the best of the island's hikes and can easily travel to many of the unmissable highlights of the island. Here are some hikes that we hope to include:

• An ascent of Guajara (2718m) with the best views of Mt Teide
• The Anaga mountain circuit to the remote village of Taganana and Playa de Tamadite
• The Risco Trail and Teno Alto Mountains
• Pine forests of the Orotava Valley
• Barranco del Rio and the Laurisilva forest

Tenerife is dominated by the towering Pico del Teide, a dormant volcano that sits at 3715m high (the highest peak in Spain!) The surrounding Parque National del Teide is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is formed of a vast crater with ancient lava flows and forests of Canary Pine.

As well as the striking national park and its moonscape volcanic features the island is also characterised by its plunging ravines, wild coastline and its unique 'laurisilva' or cloud-forest which has the largest number of endemic species in Europe and forms a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

DIFFICULTY
This trip does not involve scrambling but the hikes on the island can be quite challenging. Our hikes will include up to 900m of ascent and descent and up to 10 miles each day. The trails will often be loose gravel underfoot so boots with a deep tread to prevent slips are important. A head for heights is also necessary in the mountainous terrain.

WHAT IS INCLUDED:

• 6 nights accommodation in a 4-star hotel.
• All breakfasts and evening meals.
• An itinerary of organised hikes for our 5 full hiking days.
• Two trip leaders.
• Financial protection in accordance with the Package Travel Law 1992.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:

• Packed lunches.
• Transport on the island. Cars can be hired cheaply and costs can be shared between passengers, we will help organise this. It has previously cost roughly £75 each for a car share.
• Flights.

GETTING TO TENERIFE
The meeting point is at Tenerife South Airport on Sunday 1 March at 16:30. We will return to the airport on Saturday 7 March at 12:45. Our airport transfer will be timed to meet the following flights:

There are many flights to Tenerife everyday, feel free to book alternative travel and either meet us at TFS airport at 16:30 or make your own way to the hotel (approx 1hr drive). Please do not book a return flight departing before 14:45.

• OUTBOUND - Sunday 1 March
easyJet flight EZY 8035
Departs - 11:35 London Gatwick
Arrives - 16:10 Tenerife South

• RETURN - Saturday 7 March
easyJet flight - EZY 8036
Departs - 14:45 Tenerife South
Arrives - 19:10 London Gatwick

HOW TO BOOK
To confirm your place on this trip use internet banking. The account details are:

Account Name: BACKABUSH XPLORERS
Sort Code: 090127
Account Number: 22440622

The following "terms and conditions" apply to all trip reservations:

Backabush is heading back to Turkiye for the Easter holidays on another exciting trip exploring the enchanting landscape of Cappadocia.

Cost from £499. Nights - 5. Group size - approx 17. Cave Hotel Accommodation.

The rocky valleys surrounding the town of Goreme in Cappadocia have been sculpted by the wind and rain over many thousands of years to create a truly unique geological landscape of intricate folds. This area is famous for it's distinctive tufas or 'fairy chimneys' as well as the many ancient cave dwellings, pigeon houses, canyons and of course the vast numbers of hot air balloons that fill the dawn skies each day.

We have booked the exclusive use of one of Goreme's traditionally styled cave hotels, with bedrooms that are partly set back into the rock. We have options for shared rooms, private rooms and some larger, luxury private rooms with jacuzzi baths. Our hotel has all the amenities that you would expect, with en-suite rooms and a generous breakfast served each day. There is also an outdoor terrace seating area that overlooks the town, the perfect spot to view the balloon fights each morning.

Shared (mixed gender) 4 bed room - £499 - SOLD OUT
Shared twin room - £589 - SOLD OUT
Private room - £699 - SOLD OUT
Deluxe private room - £749 - SOLD OUT

Our plan is to spend the Easter weekend around Goreme with 3 full hiking days to explore the surrounding valleys and villages. We will also have 1 rest day so we have the chance to take an optional hot air balloon ride and spend a bit more time checking out the town of Goreme and the famous frescos at the Open Air Museum.

Highlights of our suggested hiking itinerary include:

• Red Valley & Rose Valley, a dreamy landscape in a beautiful crimson colour.
• Love Valley & Honey Valley. Love valley has some of the most iconic, and also phallic, fairy chimneys in Cappadocia, hence the name.
• Pigeon Valley & the Uschisar Castle, littered with rock cut dovecotes and an intriguing castle perched on the highest point in the region with panoramic views.
• Zelve Valley & Goreme Open Air Museum - The museum covers a large area with over 30 rock cut churches from the 9th century onwards complete with frescoes.
• Derinkuyu underground city & the Ihlara Valley, visit an underground city built as a Christian shelter during the Byzantine wars and the only lush green valley in Cappadocia nourished by the Melendiz river.

DIFFICULTY

On this trip will be hiking up to 10 miles each day on rough trails. Although we will not be hiking up any mountains there will still be some moderate ascents and descents so a good level of fitness is required.

WHAT IS INCLUDED:

• 5 nights cave hotel accommodation (various room options available)
• All breakfasts
• 3 hiking days guided by an experienced local hiking guide
• Airport transfers and minibus transport to/from the hikes
• One trip organiser
• Financial protection in accordance with the Package Travel Law 1992.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:

• Lunches and evening meals (There are many local restaurants to choose from around our hotel)
• Flights (See below)
• Entrance fees into the sites (Ihlara Valley, Open Air Museum, Uchisar Castle, Underground city)
• Optional hot air balloon excursion

RECOMMEDED FLIGHTS:

Our airport transfers will be organised to meet these flights, if you choose to book alternative travel to Cappadocia then you will need to meet us at our hotel in Goreme, which is reletively straight forward as shuttle busses connect Kayseri Airport to Goreme regularly.

It is also possible to fly from several other UK Airports to Istanbul and then catch the same group connecting flight from Istanbul to take advantage of the the airport tranfers.

Outbound - Thursday 2 April
Turkish Airlines - TK1982 & TK2020 (connection in Istanbul)
Departs LGW London Gatwick 10:55
Arrives ASR Kayseri 19:55

Return - Tuesday 7 April
Turkish Airlines - TK2013 & TK1997 (connection in Istanbul)
Departs ASR Kayseri 10:45
Arrives LGW London Gatwick 16:15

HOW TO BOOK A PLACE ON THIS TRIP:

To confirm your place on this trip use internet banking your RSVP is not enough to reserve a space on this trip. Please use CAPPADOCIA as your payment reference. The account details are:

Account Name: BACKABUSH XPLORERS
Sort Code: 090127
Account Number: 22440622

The following "terms and conditions" apply to all trip reservations:

Join us for a superb Easter weekend of amazing hiking in England's most mountainous and beautiful national park.

Number of nights - 3.

£369 for a bed in a shared twin room. For solo travellers (which is most people in the group) we will assign you a room buddy of the same gender.

£455 for a private single room.

£489 for a private double room (single occupancy).

With the most breathtaking natural landscapes and the highest mountains in England, there really is no other national park in the country to compare to the Lake District. Nowhere else can offer quite so much opportunity for outdoor adventure with the finest hiking options.

It is hard to imagine a more lovely place to spend the Easter holiday weekend. Delightful villages, craggy mountains, babbling streams, mossy woodland and beautiful wildflowers all add to the magic of this region at this time of year.

Our wonderful three star hotel is located high in the Cumbrian Fells, while the countryside setting ensures peace and quiet. It is the perfect place from which to hike and explore in the Lake District. We have visited the delightful Shap Wells Hotel a number of times as we love it's secluded valley and woodlands full of wildlife including native red squirrels in the grounds. You are virtually guaranteed to see them in the morning!

The rooms offer all the necessary comforts in a warm, relaxing, family run environment. This is a charming country hotel with a mile-long drive along a private road with breathtaking, rugged scenery in every direction. A pretty waterfall and trickling stream running by the front door will leave you with no doubts in your mind that this is a wonderful place in which to get away from it all. Evening meals are included and will be served at the hotel's restaurant.

We will have at least 2 hikes to choose from each day exploring the highlights of the local area. The Lake District boasts stunning views, picturesque villages and hikes which offer a mixture of rugged mountains, ancient woodlands, fields, riverside and lakeside walking.

On our last visit we have enjoyed many gorgeous hikes and the following are just some of the endless possibilities:

Place Fell & Ullswater from Patterdale (approx. 9 miles)

This is a great introduction to fell walking in the Lake District. Although the ascent to the summit of Place Fell (657m) is not too strenuous, the views across to many high peaks and along Ullswater are dramatic and extensive. The final section along the shores of Ullswater has been described in one walking guide book as the loveliest walk in the Lake District!

Watendlath, Borrowdale & Castle Crag from Derwent Water (approx. 10 miles).

This is an exceptionally beautiful hike and a personal favourite. Borrowdale is considered by many to be the most scenic valley in the Lake District and the ascent of Castle Crag adds a little adventure and superb views. There can be very few hikes as varied as this one and a couple of tea rooms in delightful villages along the way allow us to enjoy some light refreshment. Although we do not aim for any high summits there will be extensive views on a clear day. There are also a number of ascents (some long) but the only really steep ascent (up Castle Crag) is relatively short.

Blencathra and Atkinsons Pike via Hall's Fell (approx. 8 miles).

This is a superb route for hikers wanting to reach a significant Lakeland summit (Blencathra 868m) via an adventurous route but not wanting an overly strenuous day out. Starting from the village of Threlkeld this hike tackles the ascent of Blencathra via the steep and rocky hike/scramble up the cockrel's-comb rocky edge of Hall's Fell. The summits and ridges on this hike will offer superb and far reaching views across the Lake District and also the Vale of Eden. On a clear day the view from the summit of Blencathra is hard to beat and the overall route is wonderfully satisfying and somewhat adventurous. A head for heights is necessary.

Dove Crag, Hart Crag, Fairfield and St Sunday Crag from Brotherswater (approx. 12 miles)

This route offers superb fell walking territory from start to finish. Some ascents are steep and the terrain is somewhat challenging taking in several peaks. It is definitely a varied option with far reaching views of mountains and lakes. From the top of Fairfield (873m) we might be rewarded with views of Ullswater, Windermere, Striding Edge and Helvellyn.

The walk starts by heading up from Brotherswater, over Dove Crag and Hart Crag to the summit of Fairfield, the highest point of our hike. From there the excitement really begins as we enjoy a bit of scrambling over Corfa Pike and onwards over the ridge of St Sunday Crag. We then start our descent back down to our car park at Cow Bridge.

Kendal, Scout Scar and Cunswick Fell (approx. 7 miles)

This is a walk in the limestone country that lies on the south eastern fringes of the Lake District. From lovey market town of Kendal the route heads up out of the town and continues by way of field and moorland paths to the edge of the escarpment of Scout Scar, a superb viewpoint looking westwards towards the central Lakeland mountains. We then continue along a fine scenic path along the edge of the escarpment which leads onto Cunswick Fell and then over Kendal Fell before descending through woods back into town where there are plenty of pubs and cafes.

High Street, Harter Fell, Branstree & Selside Pike from Haweswater (approx. 11 miles)

Don't be fooled by the unusual title. At 828 metres High Street is a serious mountain, which gets its name from an ancient Roman road that once ran across the long summit ridge. The hike begins with a challenging and rocky ascent up Rough Crag. A series of summits then offers superb and extensive views for miles around. A true Lake District classic for those who don't mind a bit of rough terrain!

The full 11 miles would make this a strenuous hike but it is possible to safely return to the carpark along a clear track which descends from the pass between Harter Fell and Branstree. Although this shorter (7 miles) option cuts out two summits, it still involves a lot of ups and downs with some rocky ground, which makes it an "energetic" day out in the mountains.

Shap Abbey (approx. 5 miles)

Shap Abbey is a key feature on this delightful walk. Gaunt and evocative ruins rise up above the banks of the lovely River Lowther. There is more of interest on this walk besides the ruin, not least a huge and mysterious monolith early in the walk, created by stone age settlers of this region. The tiny village of Keld is also very attractive and we can enjoy miles of wild moorland where skylarks trill from high above.

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We will have experienced hike leaders offering fabulous hikes of different length and difficulty each day so you can choose exactly the kind of walk you like.

Don't miss this fabulous weekend away! :D

PRICE INCLUDES:

• 3 nights quality hotel accommodation.
• 3 breakfasts.
• 3 delicious three-course evening meals.
• A choice of guided hikes. Our leaders are Mountain Leader (MLTE) trained and qualified first aiders.
• Financial protection in accordance with the Package Travel Law 1992.

Amazing value!!! :D

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Transport expenses.
• Lunches - depending on the hike you choose we can either take a packed lunch with us or stop in a village pub.

To confirm your place on this trip please use internet banking. The account details are:

Account Name: BACKABUSH XPLORERS
Sort Code: 090127
Account Number: 22440622

The following "terms and conditions" apply to all trip reservations:

Join Backabush on the bank holiday for some clifftop, riverside and ancient woodland hiking with historic hotel accommodation in the heart of beautiful Chepstow town.

Number of nights - 3.
£285 - Shared twin room
£385 - Private single room

We have booked our group into a charming 3 star Welsh hotel which has all the modern comforts you would expect whilst retaining the charm and character of a 16th century coaching inn. Located right in the centre of town and just a few minutes walk from the train station this is the perfect location to base ourselves for a weekend of exploring.

There are also many great places to eat in Chepstow around our accommodation. We will organise reservations at some local restaurants so that our group can dine together each night and have a sociable evening after our day on the trails.

From Chepstow we will have some stunning walks following the River Wye straight from the door, as well as the opportunity to explore the view points, villages and ancient woodland of the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean only a short drive away. Here are some of the local highlights we hope to include in our itinerary of hikes...

Wynd Cliff, Tintern Abbey, the Devil's Pulpit and Brockweir - The classic 'Grand Tour' of the Wye Valley, including the magnificent vista of the meandering river from the 'Eagles Nest' on top of the precipitous Wynd Cliff. We will also get a chance to visit Tintern, where the famous abbey is considered to be the most beautiful and superbly situated monastic ruin in the country.

Chepstow Castle, Wintour's Leap, Lancaut and Tidenham Chase
This lovely walk is not challenging but offers splendid views across a dramatic stretch of the Wye. We can set out on foot straight from our hotel to follow the Wye upstream to where the river makes a great curve around the Lancaut peninsula. We can take in the spectacular viewpoint of Wintour's Leap and return to Chepstow to visit the Medieval Castle.

Symonds Yat Rock, the Hand Pulled Ferry and the Wobbly Bridge - Symonds Yat is one of the most iconic and beautiful locations in the entire Wye Valley and a fantastic opportunity to watch Peregrine Falcons. There is the novel opportunity of crossing the Wye on a hand pulled barge, the trail then winds up past King Arthurs Caves to an Iron Age Hill Fort.

We also hope to find time to visit the some other local beauty spots like Puzzlewood, Cannop Ponds and the Forest of Dean Sculpture trail. Join us for a weekend of superb hiking in this lovely valley. A perfect weekend away! :D

WHAT IS INLCUDED:

• 3 nights hotel accommodation in single or twin share rooms.
• 3 cooked breakfasts.
• An itinerary of guided hikes by trained Mountain Leaders (MLTE) and qualified first aiders
• Financial protection in accordance with the Package Travel Law 1992

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:

• Transport expenses.
• Lunches & evening Meals
• Travel insurance

HOW TO BOOK A PLACE ON THIS TRIP

To book onto this trip please email nathancapay@googlemail.com and send full payment to the Backabush account. Please use WYE as your payment reference...

Account Name: BACKABUSH XPLORERS
Sort Code: 090127
Account Number: 22440622

Your RSVP alone is NOT enough to secure your place, full payment is needed to make a reservation.