Category: Public

Hiring Hag Dyke

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All Money from hiring hag dyke goes back into maintaining and developing this resource for future generations.

Everyone involved with HagDyke are volunteers.

Pricing

The prices are as follows :

  • Per Person: £12 per night
  • Minimum charge: £240 per night
  • Maximum charge: £432 per night
  • Stays longer than 3 nights, price can be negotiated.

It is possible to take vehicles up to Hag Dyke at the following rates:

  • First Vehicle: Free
  • Additional Vehicles: £6 each
  • You must declare your intention to take vehicles to the hostel.  Fees will be payable with accommodation fees.

A Landrover or other capable 4×4 is required for the track. A normal road vehicle will not make it up to Hag Dyke.

Please keep to the track, however tempting do not drive over the fields.  Thank you

Availability

Please check the booking calendar to see whether Hag Dyke is available for the dates you require.  If it looks available complete the Enquiry Form below and we will get back to you with confirmation.

If we confirm availability for the dates you require, complete the Booking Form in the section below and we will organise with you to collect a £75 non returnable deposit to secure your booking.

To Book

Please contact us for availability using the form below and we will contact you to confirm dates and details on how to pay your £75 deposit should you wish to book.

    If your preferred dates aren't available, would you consider other possible dates nearby?

    As an alternative to completing the above form online, you can complete the general enquiry form below or email hagdyke@benrhyddingscoutsandguides.org.uk directly.

    Enquiries

    If you have any other enquiries we can help with, then fill out the contact form below and we will get back to you as quickly as we can.

      Hag Dyke

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      Hag Dyke on the slopes of Great Whernside near Kettlewell in the Yorkshire Dales

      Hag Dyke, in the picturesque Yorkshire Dales is a Scout Hostel administered by the Ben Rhydding Scout and Guide Group in Ben Rhydding, Ilkley. The Hostel was bequeathed to the group in 1947 and has been run by a group of volunteer wardens for the benefit of Scouts and other Youth Groups ever since.

      The building was originally a farmhouse and its occupants traced back to 1730, but it is probably older and could have housed miners working in Dowber Ghyll lead mines opened in 1680, the area of the kitchen is the oldest. At 1525 feet it was believed to be the highest house in the former West Riding. A “Dyke” in Dales dialect means a mountain dividing wall and “Hag” means enclosed land or an intake (from the moor in this case). The name therefore means the wall bounding the intake from the moor. The house is reputed to be haunted!!

      In 1959/60 the farmhouse was entirely rebuilt as a Scout hostel. A new roof and new floors were installed. The long barn (with its’ traditional width of 16 to 18 feet to allow turning of 2 oxen) was pulled down and rebuilt as a common room and dormitories. The original roof beams were preserved and a 44 inch thick wall excavated to provide a connecting door, nearly killing a workman in the process. Rebuilding took a year, with everything being brought up by local farmers tractors. Workmen stayed at Hay Tongue farm and the weather was incredibly fierce

      The Chapel
      At 1533 feet it is the highest in England. First opened in memory of late Group Scoutmaster Cecil Findlay in 1954 being converted from a hay-store of the adjoining barn. In 1966 the chapel was extended with a memorial window to the late County Commissioner John Foster Beaver Jnr. It was dedicated by the Bishop of Bradford on July 23rd 1966. An additional window in memory of Ronnie “Skipper” Ibbetson was installed in 1985.

      The District

      Kettlewell was an Anglican village dating from about 700A.D. and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Later it was occupied by Norse farmers who gave Norse names to most of the area. Due to nearby monasteries and its position on cross roads it was a busy place in the Middle Ages. A weekly market was granted to Kettlewell in 1320 A.D. Later the main London to Richmond trunk road ran through the village and over Park Rash. Posting inns were the Kings Head Kettlewell and Horse House in Coverdale. Later the opening of the lead mines made it even busier. Most of the village was destroyed in June1686 A.D. by a cloudburst and extensive flooding. The Kings Head is one of only four in the whole country named after Charles 1st. The Tor Dyke crossing the Park Rash road near the cattle grid was built in 69 A.D. by the Brigantes as an outlying defence of their tribal centre at Stanwick against the Romans. Later it marked the boundary of Scale Park, a medieval hunting park, used amongst others by Charles II.

      Live View

      This image will update every two hours during daylight.

      Summer Camp – Closing Date and Parents Meeting

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      As you will have seen from the Summer Camp circular, the closing date for deposits to be paid is Friday 13th January 2012.

      Camp this year is a fantastic opportunity to spend two weeks in The Netherlands, spending time with our Dutch friends (many of which you will have met on last year’s camp) and to experience a week camping and a week living in the home of a Dutch family during the hospitality week in The Hague.

      We appreciate that before signing up to camp you may have some questions.  Therefore, there will be a parents meeting on Friday 13th January at 20:45 in the Scout Hut.  The meeting is for anyone considering going to camp and parents of those already signed up to go.  It will be an opportunity for us to give you more information about camp, and for you to ask any questions.  You will be able to sign up to camp and leave the deposit at the end of meeting.

      For more information and a copy of the first circular, please click here.

      We really hope as many Scouts are able to go to Holland as possible, and look forward to seeing you at the meeting on Friday.

       

      Happy New (Scouting) Year

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      HNY, or as I prefer to say, Happy New Year!

      Please note, Scouts starts back today (6th January) at the normal meeting time.  We will be at the Scout Hut and you should come in uniform.

      There are a couple of things to remember:

      1. The deadline for Hag Dyke is today.  Please bring your money and form.

      2. Places for Big Camp are limited, so get your money and form brought back to Scouts as soon as possible to reserve your place.

      3. The deadline for Summer Camp in Holland is Friday 13th January.  There will be a parents meeting to explain more about camp on 13th January (more details to follow this weekend) and you will be able to sign up for it then.

      The new programme for this term will be posted here as soon as it is finalised.

      We look forward to seeing you all for the start of a fantastic year of Scouting.

      Hag Dyke – 20th to 22nd January 2012

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      As we approach the end of the year, our attention is turning to planning and exciting and interesting programme for 2012.

      Our first big event will be a visit to Hag Dyke on the weekend of 20th to 22nd January 2012.  Please click on the links below to open up a letter about the weekend and a permission form that must be completed and returned to Scouts on Friday 6th January.

      Hag Dyke January 2012 Letter

      Nights Away Permission Form January Hag Dyke 2012

      If you have any questions, please ask a Leader.

      The Queen’s Jubilee

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      In 2012 Her Majesty the Queen celebrates 60 years as the British Monarch.  The official celebration weekend takes place from 2-15 June 2012.

      The Scout Association has produced an official badge to celebrate the occasion that can be worn on your uniform througout 2012.  Those of you who were at Scouts on 9th December will have received the Jubilee Badge, so please get this sewn on your uniform in time for starting back at Scouts in the New Year.  The badge is to be worn on your shirt in the ‘occasional badge’ position above the left breast pocket.

      Please click on the link below to see the position of all badges on the uniform.

      Uniform Badge positions

      If you were not at Scouts on 9th December, you will be able to get your badge in the New Year.

      Santa Float – Friday 17th December

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      Just a reminder that on Friday 17th December we will be supporting the Ilkley Round Table by helping with their Santa Float.

      The meeting will start earlier at 18:30, but will finish at the normal time of 21:15.  Please meet at the Scout Hut.  As we will be outside, please come prepared with warm clothing and waterproofs.

      No uniform is required, and if you want to get in the festive spirit with a Santa hat, or something similar, then please do.

      This will be the last meeting of 2011, there will be no Scouts on 23rd December.  Therefore, we wish you and your family a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Scouts will restart on Friday 6th January 2012.

      THE BIG CAMP 4th to 7th May 2012

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      THE BIG CAMP is a West Yorkshire County Scout event planned for the weekend of 4th to 7th May 2012.  It is set to be the largest County event for over 10 years, and there are some fantastic activities planned.

      Please click on the link below to open a letter about the camp.  For more information about the camp, visit the web site at www.thebigcamp.net

      The Big Camp Letter 1

      Please note, spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.  So, get your forms back as quick as you can.

      2012 Summer Camp in Holland

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      On Friday, all Scouts were given the first circular about next year’s summer camp, which will be held in The Netherlands as the guests of our Dutch friends.

      Please click the link below to see a copy of the circular.

      2012 Summer Camp Circular No 1

      Unfortunately, the circular was not made available to the Scouts when it should have been, and therefore, the closing date has been extended.  The closing date for camp will be Friday 13th January 2012.  We must have firm entries then in order to begin making the necessary transport arrangements.

      If you are able to return the form and deposit before then, it would help greatly with our planning.

      In order to answer any questions you have, I would like to invite you to attend a short parents meeting at 20:30 on Friday 13th January at the Scout Hut, where we will be on hand to tell you as much as we know about camp.  In the meantime, if you have any burning questions, please ask a leader.

      You will see that there is a new page on this web site for Summer Camp 2012 where all circulars, forms and other information will be stored.

      Important Programme Changes

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      Please click on the link below to see a notice containing details of important programme changes between now and the end of the year.

      Notice December 2011

      If you have any questions, please ask a leader.