Just browsing a map book at w*rk, and Steff is right. Decent roads within a reasonable distance of Bradford, Leeds, Wakey and Cas which present a fair travel for everyone are gonna be very difficult.
Is anyone familiar with the Marsden, Meltham and Holmfirth areas, which are all quite close to J.23 M62 and not much further than FB used to be. It would place us at the northern edge of the Peaks, and within a reasonable commute of the Dales via Hebdon Bridge. Or what about Hebdon and Halifax ? Does anyone know that area ?
We could look at places on the route to Cubley, such as West Bretton and Denby Dale, or cross over the M1 to the Newmillerdam area. This would compromise the driving roads we ache for.
What about north east, towards Tadcaster ? Barwick/Sherburn in Elmet ? Again, the roads are not so good out Taddy/Smelby way

Is the main meet back at the TP for now ????

 

For a one-off, you could try the Crooked Billet at Saxton, near Sherburn In Elmet - giant Yorkshire puds done in loaft tins with a variety of fillings from the traditional to the wierd the last time I was here anyway...

Reasonable sized carpark and depending upon which way you go, can either be off A1 at Garforth and take A642 past Lotherton Hall entrance or take the backstreets to Sherburn and cut back across via Church Street AFAIR

just another 2p

 

Interesting, especially the Yorkshire puds Easily accessable via the A1 from Cass/Ponti and M1/A1 from everywhere else Looks quite rural on the map, so there may be some interesting roads (but nothing like the Peaks )

 

Good pub, IIRC....

 

Yes, very familiar. Will put thinking cap on....

 

It's a tricky one I guess. On the one side people we decent roads but the flipside of that is not wanting to spend ages getting to them! Following on from what Steff has said is there anywhere near where the ring road and Harrogate road meet (or on Harrogate road itself). That way we can be in West Yorks but get to the decent roads quite quickly? Similarly something Otley way would probably fit the criteria? Either of these are a little bit of a drag for myself been in South Leeds but I don't mind....guess it depends where everyone else is - for those of a Wakey persuasion may be a bit far. Maybe one North Leeds a month and one South of Leeds e.g. round FB area?

I don't mind......have Scooby, will travel!

 

This is on the same lines as Dave & I suggested a few posts back.

My thinking is that we have a 'dual centre' approach, and perhaps alternate between the two every other month.

With this in mind, what do people think? Would it make sense to retain the Trading Post as one centre?

After all, the advantages are:-

Big car park
Decent accessibility for most/all of the club's members
Reasonable accisibility for other clubs wanting to meet up
Child-friendly
Reasonable grub & service

Disadvantages:-

No good roads in the immediate vicinity, either for a run out, or simply to travel to the meeting.

I know I've said it before, but the Fenay Bridge seemed to work reasonably well on most counts.

It was just the recent sprog-hostile responses that put us off. The irony seems to be that, since we made the switch, there have been few if any instances of members actually bringing along their offspring.

So, is it an option to consider the TP one month, then the FB another?

Thoughts please?

 

I'm not sure about the venue switching. I think a single fixed base for our main monthly meet would be better, and varying the mid-monthers as we do now gives us a place the club can call home. It could be confusing and lead to people showing up at the wrong place at the wrong time, and gives an image of indecisiveness and lack of professionalism (not that we're that professional ).

I think a little more time and effort needs to be put in to research. I'll try and get out during the week for a recce on some of the areas suggested so far, and if people could add others or make comment I'm sure we can find somewhere suitable soon.

 

[QUOTE=Harry_Boy]

I know I've said it before, but the Fenay Bridge seemed to work reasonably well on most counts.
[\QUOTE]

I know the Fenay Bridge is 'before my time' as such but it seems to be a pretty good location for roads - I know myself and Barry headed back down some corkers around here the other night, and from FB to Strines was also pretty good. I think it's probably not too bad for people to get to also.

........BUT I guess it was ditched for a good reason!

 

......can I just add as a Computer Programmer, I'm quite appalled at what I just did with the [Quotes] above

I'll go and birch myself now.

 

Your choice mate...

PS. It's legal in the Isle of Man....


Incidentally, the FB was ditched because of the need to be 'kid-friendly'.... And yes, there is a slight hint of irony there, as this requirement actually transpires once in a blue moon.

 

I'm trying not get confused.

I tend to agree with Dave that a single home would be best. But unless this is both perfectly placed and completely suitable to our requirements, it will surely mean some people cannot make the venue..

Cubley, though very high scored in most areas, is to far South/West.

The 'dual home' approach seems to be a good compromise. I disagree with Dave () on the the unprofessional look and indecisiveness as, IMO, it looks perfectly professional to take the time to select multiple venues that cater for the drivers amongst us and it shows good solid deliberation and debate in deciding what is the best venue.. Unprofessional would be to have a knee jerk reaction.. It should also allow us to cater for everyone within a radius of good driving roads that can be reached by everyone within a reasonable time frame, thus allowing them to reach the start point without having to travel 45 mins just to get there.

The layout of urban areas around the county mean that good driving roads will be difficult to get to for a 7:30 start on a Thursday, especially if we have to traverse Leeds to get there..

We've not yet left the TP (though we will) and the single venue, if that perfect place is recce'd and found, will be the best option... Dual venues should not be ruled out and should be actively looked at to offer the best compromise..

Like England without Wembley, we may have to travel about a bit before we find the right place.. let the recce's begin..

 

Just called back via the Foxhouse Inn near Carlecotes where we had a previous mid-monther - still cracking grub and Huddersfield-ish but is this too far south as it's getting Holmfirth area?

One for the recce possibly and it lets Chris get his 4-wheel drift down the switchback

 

An excellent pub Andy. My only worry is that similar negatives apply as with Cubley Hall - ie. too far etc....

Incidentally, it's just on the border....
Any excuse....

 

Can't help but agree that this seems to be a good compromise in the meantime, until a single 'perfect' venue is found.

Al - do I take it that the month end meeting is back at the TP?

 

Unless something comes up this week from one of our 'Scouts'.. then I see no alternative? I'll post a separate thread and amend the Event list to clarify..

 

OK mate.

 

T'was too lovely a day to waste, so I went out on a little recce this aft. Headed over the M62 aiming to come off at J.23, only to find that you can't come off there westbound so after a little jaunt to Saddleworth I returned to J.23. Whilst going by "The Farm" in the middle of the 62 I remembered that pub overlooking the reservoir up there. Some stunning fast moorland roads up there, so I may have to go back and inspect the pub as I've never been in it.
Back where I was aiming for, I found a pub on the A640 Rochdale road called the Nont Sarah which looked interesting. Had a car park opposite that would suit and a play area for the younglings. Fast moorland roads (120 either kph or mph depending on who's reading ) but a little remote, and could be unreachable at certain times of year (there were signs warning of this all around the area). Above Slaithwaite there was another called the Jack o'Mitre which may be worth a look. On the outskirts of Marsden there was a nice looking hotel, but it looked more suited to cream teas than 20 burbling rally(esque) cars, so I headed towards Meltham. On the B6107 I spotted the White House and The Travellers Rest which gave a good first impression. Holmfirth seemed a little too populated with quite a few sCams, so I passed through and called in to see Chris (who was out damned inconvenient ) and wanted to ask him about The Foxholes (I think ) which looks like a reasonable sized olde worlde type pub a couple of miles south of Fenay. From there I crossed over Emley to have a nosey at The Station off the A636 near Great Cliff, and The Navigator at Calder Grove. Both of these had child facilities, but The Station was too small inside, and The Nav was both too small and had too little parking, but a lovely setting.

Anyone familiar with these areas who can add anywhere I may (probably) have missed ??

 

Hi mate. Heard you popped by to witness the grass being cut - sorry I was out.

Right - I'm familiar with just about all the pubs that you mention (mis-spent youth, researching cask-conditioned ales... )

So, comments as follows:-

Nont Sarahs

Not been in for a few years, but it's a largish room with a bar somewhere in the middle. Fine views over the valley and across to Scammonden, combined with some great roads (once did 155mph as a pillion past there... ), but just about completely inaccessible in the winter, 'cos, when it snows, it don't 'alf snow, if you get my, erm.... drift...

In all honesty, the pub used to be a bit grotty, but might benefit from a mid month jaunt out. I can remember every corner of every road round there - years of wagging off Friday afternoon physics in mi dad's Beetle, sideways wherever possible.

Slaithwaite - Jack 'o' Mitre?

Are you thinking of the J 'o' M further towards Huddersfield on the A640? Although this ain't Slawit (as the locals call it), there are signs to this area. If so, again it's OK, but nothing fantastic. Average to largish car park, but still nothing to write home about inside.

Further back into Hudds on the A640 is the Oldf Golf House. That's a hotel, but with a decent car park and pub facilities. Personally, I reckon it's pretty grim, but it might be worth a pint to look.

There's one up on the top of the hill that used to be called The Flying Horse. Can't remember what it's been renamed to (I can check), but that had a great car park, and was a reasonable pub, as well as being a hotel.

Marsden, Meltham and Holmfirth I'd tend to avoid, as they can be a bug**r to get to. They are somewhat out on a limb, as witness the other day when I popped over there for a bike ride. Went 25 miles, circled round them all, and it took a bl**dy age. Longest 25 miles I've ever done....

South of the Fenay?

Are you thinking of the Foxglove?

That's literally 400 yds from the bottom of our road... The one with the sloping car park...

Decent parking (despite the last comment), a good atmosphere with OK beer and good food. Although open plan, it also possesses some good club-friendly areas (a bit like the FB). IIRC, there's also some sort of kid area....

I'd recommend this one, and we did mention it as an alternative to the FB a while ago. Also has access to some decent roads, and is reasonably close for those needing to come from Leeds etc.

The Station

Been there once - didn't like it. 'Nuff said.

Navigator

Good location but, as Dave says, too small inside. Forget it.

So, two distinct possibles - The Foxglove (if that's the one you mean) and the Pub Formerly Known As The Flying Horse (if I can find the name).*

* The Pennine Manor.

PS. There's always The Sovereign, near the BP station on the way to the FB. Average sized car park, but otherwise very decent. Good access to roads over the tops....