This time we are hiring the mighty Conwy YHA, from Sunday Dec 28 to Thu Jan 1 2026. The hostel has a capacity to accommodate 86 guests across 26 bedrooms and 27 bathrooms. There will be no problems with allocating segregated dorms in a place this size.
We are running Food Club again this year, see below for details.
Activities:
Several of the participants usually publish hikes for each of the days and the area is surrounded by sand, sea and mountains - the majestic mountains of Snodownia are not far away and Anglesey is within easy reach. There are historic towns aplenty so there will always be something to do. Conwy is not short of pubs. Please feel free to throw your hat in the ring if you wish to lead an activity. It's good to have a few things to choose from. If the weather is good then some of us may kayak the Conwy river on NYE - look for updates in the WhatsApp chat. There is a non-zero chance that I wil take a dip in the sea on New Year's Day, you're welcome to join me if you're feeling brave. There might be some partying - bring music, bring booze, but also bring your best behaviour please.
I'm managing this via the WhatsApp chat as it is advertised in several places. Please just send your full name and your mobile number once you have paid for your place - I will do my bet to respond swiftly.
How this will work:
. Account details: 08-91-04 01250396 - Co-Operative bank, Andrew Gladwell. Please use your FULL NAME as the reference, otherwise I will not know who paid me. Please then send me a message with your phone number so that I can add you to the WhatsApp group.
. The price is £148.50 - you may stay as many of the available nights as suits you, same price.
. I have decided to remove a barrier to entry and am prepared to refund the full amount, right up to the day before the event - so there is no reason not to commit.
. We shall need to do some tidying up before we leave, so we will need to all muck in with that - strip the beds, vacuum, mopping round etc.
. We have meals planned:
Menu:
Every single meal is either vegetarian, or has a veggie option.
Night 1
veggie chilli + jacket spuds with cheesy nachos
Cheese cake for dessert.
Night 2
Pasta bake with spicy rich cheese sauce sauce, with grilled tomato and broccoli
Dessert: fruit and cream
Night 3: Quiche + New potatoes and chips
Bacon & Chorizo for the omnivores
vegetable quiche for the vegetarians with onion + cheese
Mixed veg to accompany
Ice Cream for dessert
Night 4: Thai Green mushroom and vegetable curry
Dessert: fruit crumble with cream or custard or ice cream (much depends upon how much of everything we have left)
Lunches:
We have a choice of: Grated cheese, ham, chicken.
Served with bistro salad and Branston pickle.
Bread is a seeded batch loaf, spread with proper butter.
Sandwiches come with crisps, apple or orange (choose) and choccie bar.
. Anyone enjoying this food may be called upon for prep and washing up. The hostel is close to the town centre if you wish to enjoy a meal out, there are a plethora of options to choose from.
