A few changes this year with a new organiser, an inland area somewhat further away than previous years and a more more upmarket hotel. Mike Beveridge was the organiser and we stayed at the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells. The hotel had a swimming pool, sauna and gym -- a number of us used the pool but I only saw Les and Iva in the gym! On each of the four days there was a choice of at least one long and one short walk. There was a bit of excitement on Saturday when Monica fell and broke her ankle and got picked up by a helicopter. Thanks to Andy for the photos of the rescue and to everyone else who has given me photographs

Rod Carne wrote this report on the 2009 Mendip Group Spring Holiday It has become a custom with the Mendip Group to have a spring holiday over the weekend before Easter when hotels are willing to offer some good deals in order to fill those empty rooms and to have a full house to get their staff in tune for the Bank Holiday rush! This year's vacation from Friday April 3rd until Monday April 6th was held at the Metropole, Llandridnod Wells and was organised by that affable Plymouthian Mike Beveridge ably assisted by Gill Moxey. The hotel proved an instant hit with the 60 members who travelled north! It was very well appointed with good sized rooms and we benefited from a swimming pool and Jacuzzi as well as a sauna, a steam room and a pretty good gym. Meals were also of a high standard and well presented. Everyone agreed that it was the best yet and despite the increase in price from previous years most wanted the "same again next year, please"! The only downside was an unfortunate accident which necessitated the air ambulance to airlift one of our party to hospital! Andy and Monica Hopkins from Axbridge, who only became acquainted with us at the end of February during a pub walk from The Lamb, signed up as members and took advantage of late cancellations to join the holiday. Sadly fate deprived Monica of much of her walking as she broke her leg. It happened during Saturday afternoon on the longer of the two walks which started from the Elan Valley visitor centre. It was a very pleasant day with good walking and the only blemish had been a trio of motor cyclists who passed us ploughing their way over the hills! Lunch was taken beside the reservoir whose shore we then followed for some way. Leaving a metalled track we had covered one and a half miles over soft ground and were descending a steep boggy and slippery bank when Monica's foot went into a hole. Before she could retrieve it her momentum caused her leg to break. An ambulance was called but lugging a stretcher over this sort of ground was not going to be a picnic so there was relief when a helicopter arrived and airlifted her to Hereford General Hospital. There she was duly plastered up before husband Andy brought her back to the hotel for dinner. Both a short and a long walk were available on each of the four days. Kington on the way on Friday, Elan Valley on Saturday and on Sunday we walked from the hotel. On our way home on Monday we started our walks from the Red Lion at Llanafan Fawre-- where we were a couple of days too late to take advantage of "2 meals for a £10er"! However the landlord kindly opened the St Afan's Church, which is across the road from the pub, for us Hats off to the walk leaders: Tony Parsons, Bob Berry, Hilary , Bill... Mike Beveridge, Owen Star, Terry .. who all took time out to travel to Wales and reccy their walks!

On Friday we travelled up to the area in thick mist which unfortunately persisted throughout our walks from Kington. I'm told we walked along Hergest Ridge but I was left definitely "mistified". A few photos from the longer walk which Tony led are shown below.

The weather was excellent on Saturday when we drove the short distance into the Elan Valley and enjoyed stiff climbs and great views. After lunch Monica missed the level walk back along the reservoir but got a bird's eye view from a helicopter. Photos are from the longer walk which Mike led

Owen led the longer walk on Sunday. It started from the hotel and although it was cold at times the weather stayed fine.

The weather was on the turn on Monday but luckily the rain only started properly after we'd completed the walks. The photos are from Bob's walk. Many folk stayed on to eat in the pub in Llanafan-Fawr.