Club Accommodation in Wales

Peter Burgess

New member
I am interested to know what cavers who regularly stay at club accommodation in Wales think of the places they have stayed at. There are four regularly used places, I think.

South Wales Caving Club
Chelsea Speleological Society
Westminster Speleological Group
Croydon Caving Club

Forgive me if I have forgotten anyone!

Think of the accommodation in terms of

Convenient access to caves
Cost
Facilities
The welcome you got
Comfort

If you don't use such places, please don't turn the topic into (another) argument about club accommodation!
 

ianball11

Active member
I was made very welcome at SWCC at Easter a couple years ago.  It was cheap, excellantly near to caves but attracted the worst snorer I've ever heard.  We left and slept in the bus, so cost wise it was crap.

Ian B.
 

Les W

Active member
You've forgotten the Swindon cottage (opposite SWCC).  :(

We (Wessex) stay at the Westminster Cottage at Penderyn (near Hirwuan) It is very nice but also quite small (by comparison to Upper Pitts)
 

zomjon

Member
Only ever seem to use SWCC and can't think of any reason to change that...talking about the place, I'll be there tomorrow! A life times more caving before I stop taking wrong turnings in OFD   (y)
 

rsch

Member
ianball11 said:
the worst snorer I've ever heard

Ah, you just need a particular poster to put regularly updated intended location/accommodation plans in their profile so you know where to avoid - it's probably the logical next step after club membership in any case.
 

Geoff R

New member
Interesting question Peter

Ive only ever "done Wales" at SWCC and love its excellent location, kitchens, friendly fgood people etc  so cant comment on anywhere else around the area. Maybe I would take a tent if I knew some younger parties were booked in and the weather was okish ! 

I mark accommodation on 

· Minimal fuss on arrival / departure. 

· Hot showers, (clean and hoseable) with dry area for clothes
· Warmth and dryness throughout 
· Large easy to use kitchens
· Excellent fast drying rooms with spin dryer

· Boot room - before moving to clean areas

· Privacy of bedrooms - Mass bunks are out in modern living 
· Place you would be happy to take your wife and kids too,  so
· Various bedrooms suiting max 4 persons (ie privacy for family or small group)
· with good clothes storage space in the bedroom
· Dry and well ventilated, away from noise of the party room. 

· Camping spaces,  so outside loo access (and power?)
· Flush Toilets and plenty of hot water - clean
· Outside wash -down area with "proper drainage area" 

AND  GOOD  PEOPLE  -  who go a long way to offsetting the "less than ideal" 

Now about "Wales"  accom - others would be best advising
 

paul

Moderator
My club usually stay at Penwyllt (SWCC) or Whitewalls (CSS) depending on which caves we are planning on visiting. In case of Penwyllt not being available due to numbers, we often use a bunkhouse at Crai up the road towards Brecon and have even camped at Danyr-Ogof's camp site.
 

paul

Moderator
Peter Burgess said:
In case of Penwyllt not being available due to numbers, we often use a bunkhouse at Crai up the road towards Brecon and have even camped at Danyr-Ogof's camp site.

Does this happen often?

I can do if you happen to pick the weeekend of the SWCC AGM or some other "do" when there are large numbers about. The advantage of the SWCC is their online booking system at least gives you an idea if there is room when you carry out a booking.
 

Peter Burgess

New member
This has reminded me of a time last year when I was planning to take my two boys caving, and initially hoped to stay at Penwyllt. Unfortunately, the only weekend that would have been convenient was one when the accommodation was unavailable. I took them to Somerset, and we had a great time. The online booking system seems like a really good idea. Do others find themselves camping or aborting plans for similar reasons? With all the talk of declining numbers and so on, it seems there is still a good demand for somewhere to stay in Wales, at certain weekends of the year anyway.
 

badger

Active member
peter stayed at SWCC friendly helpful and close to caves, also when have gone as a big group stayed at http://www.cyat.org/ run by chichester youth, depending on which caves plan to do is good location for the some
 

damian

Active member
Croydon, SWCC, Chelsea all great. It depends what you are after really.

If you're caving on Llangattock it has to be the Chelsea (even though it's a long walk to a pub and the drive to and from the hut is very hairy if - occasionally - it's snowy).

If you're caving in OFD, you'd be pretty silly not to stay at SWCC (same comments about pub though).

The Croydon is a lovely, quaint hut with a superb staircase (you almost need a ladder!) and a pub just down the road ... where we were once given free beer to leave (at about 2am!)
 

Peter Burgess

New member
Seems Penwyllt is pretty popular for good reasons. You just need to plan ahead to make sure it isn't booked up when you want to go.
 
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