High Close Spring 2025

An invitation to join, on the cusp of Spring, a group of around 35 gay men at a long-time favourite venue, High Close

We envisage workshops which are likely to include walking. Hardy souls may wish to take a dip in the nearby Loughrigg Tarn. There will be a cosy fireside for chatting and reading. Good vegetarian and vegan food will be supplied by Jonathan and Phil, our caterers.

We have exclusive use of this space. The extensive grounds and arboretum surrounding the venue are lovely places to enjoy on fine days. The covered veranda offers a space for being outside whatever the weather.

We envisage a week where we can socialise and relax as well as having the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of workshops. Perhaps the week will be a little more laid-back compared to our August weeks. 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 the other attendees. Nothing is compulsory and there is usually something for everyone.

Langdale Youth Hostel

HELPING OUT:  Before booking, please note that all participants will need to help with keeping the building clean and doing the washing up. We are on our own this week and there aren’t any staff to clean for us. In effect this would mean a rota where each of us would be expected to help our community on three occasions during the event. It can be quite fun working together in this way and it help keep our environment pleasant.

SOIRÉE: We plan to round off the week with an informal Soirée where all are invited to share a poem, a song or something else. It is fine to just be an audience member too.

PARTICIPATION: As all activities are offered by volunteers amongst those attending, then what actually happens is dependent on this gracious willingness to share. We are all invited to partake in this spirit.

WORKSHOPS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: We are a community, friends together. When a workshop is proposed, the facilitator will take reasonable care to create a safe environment. We are all responsible for our own safety and it is on that 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.

BASE GROUPS/HEART CIRCLE: We will have Base Groups and/or Heart Circles for an hour each day before the evening meal. This provides an opportunity to get to know 5 or 6 of the other participants really well and to have an opportunity to share how we are feeling.

WHATSAPP GROUP:  A WhatsApp group for travel and general communications will be set up from 18th January.

COVID-19: Following the Autumn Gathering in November, ECC decided to relax its covid-19 testing protocols. We will no longer be testing participants on arrival, but we still urge caution in line with this update.

Loughrigg Tarn

Essential Information

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

DATES: Friday 14th March – Friday 21st March 2025.

ARRIVAL: Please arrive after 5pm and by 6pm on Friday 14th March. The organisers do not have access to the building much before this. We ask any early arrivals not to enter the building until all is ready and there may be the need for Covid testing to take place.

DEPARTURE: We need to leave the hostel by 10.30am on Friday 21st  March.

PARTICIPANTS: There will be space for up to 35 of us. A proportion of spaces will be held for newcomers to an ECC event until 11th January.  To retain a booking, balances must be paid by 8th February. After that date, spaces will be offered to anyone on the waiting list, should there be one.

ACCOMMODATION: Dormitories contain between 4 and 14 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 caterers. 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 personal foods can be stored. Storage will be much more limited than it is in August as the kitchen is first and foremost for the use of the caterers. Food would need to be labelled with your name so as not to be confused with communal supplies. Please assume that there will be no room to store personal items in the fridges. If this creates a problem for you please let us know when booking.

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 presented difficulties for some users. 

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

Please contact us prior to booking if you have any concerns about the building or grounds and how it 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 care.

Buddy System

There will be an optional buddy system in place where newcomers will be able to talk to a more experienced member before and during the event. Please indicate on the booking form if you're willing to be a buddy for a newcomer, or if you are a newcomer, if you'd welcome this extra support.

Travel

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

The nearest train 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. (Nearer the time, a WhatsApp group will be set up to help co-ordinate taxi sharing etc.)

Organisers

Your organisers for High Close March 2025 are Paul Scott and Andy Paterson. Paul will handle bookings and any general enquiries. Andy will be dealing with accessibility and travel enquiries. To contact them, please use the form at the bottom of this page.

Paul Scott:
My first ECC event was at High Close in 2002 and I have been back there, and to other venues, every year since then. High Close has remained my favourite. I was disappointed with the standard of catering being offered to us at August High Close. In response I initiated this new event, bringing in outside caterers. These events have always been more than a holiday to me. I look forward to being part of a caring and vibrant community. I am pleased to be organising with Andy again.

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 I make a great organising team, and I look forward to creating another memorable event with him.