High Close 2025

We have exclusive use of this wonderful space in the Lake District where we can share time with Men who love Men.

We envisage a week of socialising and relaxing as well as having the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of workshops. What we do depends on the activities/workshops participants offer and our individual wishes. We invite everyone to bring along their own ideas and a willingness to share them with other attendees. There is usually something for everyone and nothing is compulsory.

Many take advantage of the venue’s central position in the Lake District to go for substantial fell-walks or leisurely strolls in the beautiful countryside on our doorstep. In the past participants have offered workshops on Dance, Music, Art, Meditation, Massage, Games and Crafts to name just a few.

The extensive grounds and arboretum surrounding the venue are lovely places to enjoy on fine days. The covered Veranda offers a space for socialising outside in dry or wet weather.

Loughrigg Tarn where many of us enjoy swimming is a twenty-minute walk away and there is usually a party heading down there every morning before breakfast.

We will round off the week with an informal soirée where we invite you to share a poem, a song or something else. It is fine to just be an audience member too. We will also have an auction of items and services one evening during the week. We will also mark ECC’s 40th anniversary.

We are a community, friends together. All attendees who offer activities are volunteers, and what actually happens is dependent on this gracious willingness to share. We invite everyone to join in this collaborative spirit.

Workshop facilitators will take reasonable care to create a safe environment. We are all responsible for our own safety and it is on this basis that we take part. Please remember that a long walk up a challenging fell or a swim in cold water or a stretching exercise in a relaxation workshop may have intrinsic risks. Please only do what you are comfortable with.

We plan to have base groups and/or heart circles for an hour each day before the evening meal. This provides an opportunity to share how we are feeling and to get to know 5 or 6 other participants really well.

A WhatsApp group for travel and general communications will be set up after booking opens.

Organisers

Your organisers this year are Peter Davey (bookings), Andy Paterson (accessibility & travel) and Paul Ryan (general enquiries).

Peter Davey:

ECC has been part of my life since attending my first gay men’s week in 1986. Back then we would describe our events as “a warm and supportive alternative to the commercial gay scene”, life changing for some and a good holiday for others.

Over the years I have helped organise many events, some general like this High Close, others with themes like “Gay Spirituality” and “Beyond Barriers”. What stands out for me is the journey that we have taken together and the close and enduring friendships that we have made along the way. Which I suppose is another way of describing “creating community”. I am very happy to be part of this year’s organising team, and very pleased to be doing it with Andy and Paul.

Andy Paterson:

High Close 2023 was my first ECC event. After a long journey I arrived tired, nervous, and unsure of what I’d signed up for. Once I’d let down some of my barriers, I had a wonderful week full of beautiful walks, meaningful conversations, and a lot of warm memories. I’ve since become a regular attendee and organiser and hope to help others get the same positive experience I’ve had. Paul and Peter are a great team to be working with, and I hope that we can create an event with the energy and variety of last year and provide more men with the same kind of experience we’ve all had with ECC.

Paul Ryan:

My first ECC event was at Wasdale in August 2017, from the very first day I felt I had discovered something very special in ECC, my gay family. I have been to August events at High Close and new year events at Wasdale and Dufton near Appleby. It is hard to describe what I get from these events, a sense of community, friendships and lots more, because of this I wanted to give back to the community first by becoming the treasurer in November 2024 and now organising High Close for August 2025. I am looking forward to working with Peter and Andy.

Essential Information

VENUE: Langdale Youth Hostel, High Close, Loughrigg, Ambleside LA22 9HJ
Website: www.yha.org.uk | A history of High Close

DATES: Tuesday 19th – Tuesday 26th August 2025

ARRIVAL: Please arrive after 5pm on Tuesday 19th August. As the hostel is open to the public on the day prior to our arrival, cleaning and preparation for our group will take most of the afternoon so we ask any early arrivals not to enter the building until everything is ready.

DEPARTURE: We need to leave the hostel by 10.30am on Tuesday 26th August.

PARTICIPANTS: There will be space for up to 55 of us. 13 spaces will be held for first timers to an ECC event until May 31st. (Please be aware that when booking opens places are likely to go very quickly. There is usually a waiting list.)

ACCOMMODATION: Dormitories containing between 4 – 12 beds. These are bunkbeds but the intention is, where possible, to use only the bottom bunks. There are no available single rooms.

FOOD: Breakfast, Lunch and Evening Meal are provided by the hostel. We will also supply some basic snacks such as biscuits alongside tea, instant coffee, and dairy milk. Anything other than these items will need to be provided by yourselves. There is a members’ kitchen available where food can be stored and there are 2 fridges as well as toasters, microwaves, hobs, and ovens which we may use. Food would need to be labelled with your name so as not to be confused with communal supplies.

NEAREST SHOPS: Chapel Stile 2 miles, Grasmere 2 miles, Ambleside 5 miles.

HEALTH: Please consider the welfare of everyone on the event and if you are unwell within 48 hours of the scheduled arrival please cancel your place to avoid spreading the infection. Please see ECC’s Covid update.

Travel

Travelling to and from the venue is the responsibility of participants.

The nearest railway station is 9 miles away at Windermere. National Express buses travel to Windermere also. The nearest bus stop to the hostel is 2 miles away at Grasmere or 1 mile away at Elterwater Village. Buses for Grasmere and Elterwater can be caught from Windermere Railway Station.

There are plenty of taxis from Windermere and taxi sharing would make costs reasonable. The WhatsApp group is a good place to co-ordinate taxi sharing etc.

Accessibility

YHA Langdale is an old building which can make accessibility difficult. There is one bedroom available on the ground floor with an accessible bathroom. We are working with YHA Langdale to see if improvements can be made as we are aware that the accessible bathroom presents difficulties for some users.

The ground floor is accessible, and workshops, meals and socialising spaces are all on the ground floor.

Please contact Andy prior to booking if you have any concerns about the building or grounds and how this may affect your stay. We will work with you to resolve any concerns as best we can.

There are a limited number of taxis in the area that can accommodate wheelchairs. If you require one of these taxis please ensure you book them in advance of your arrival and departure.

Whilst we are a friendly and helpful group, we are not in a position to offer any form of individual personal care.