Wasdale New Year

Our traditional ECC winter week returns to Wasdale. This cosy youth hostel is ideal for winter events. The lakeside venue gives access to the amazing, and lesser-known, Western Fells. The hostel has large lakeside grounds alongside the dramatic Wastwater. Roaring fires, and the company of lovely men combine to make this a great way to see out the old year and welcome in the New Year. The vegetarian food will fill you up so you can enjoy the fells, wander along the lake or lounge round the fire. So whether you are looking for a magical and different way to spend your New Year, or are returning for more Wasdale wonders - come and join us in the Lake District for a week of ECC sparkle!

Wasdale Hall Youth Hostel

The Organisers

Your organisers this year are Adrian Steel (booking enquiries), Stephen Messinger (travel enquiries) and Ian Williams (general event enquiries). All are ECC veterans and have organised events before. We all look forward to spending time with you! We are also always well-looked after by the YHA team led by Steve the Wasdale hostel manager.

Adrian Steel
I have been involved with ECC for 25 years and have attended numerous events over this time. I shall never forget my first GMW at High Close, having arrived feeling anxious and unsure of myself. Something melted inside me during that week and I have never looked back since. Now, when I attend an ECC event it feels like a homecoming. This the second time I have been an organiser for an event, and I am looking forward to the New Year's week in this cozy venue at Wasdale.

Stephen Messinger
Joining ECC has led to some of the most beautiful and special things I've ever experienced with other men who love men. I still remember clearly, my arrival at Laurieston Hall in 2016 for my first ECC event. It had been a very long drive from Southampton and all I could think of on arrival was using the loo and getting a cuppa. There were 60 or so others and most seemed to have arrived already. How I controlled my over-stretched bladder I’ll never know because wonderful, warmly welcoming men barred my way to the toilet with greetings and friendly enquiries about who I was.

The nearest comparable experiences before that day were numerious residential psychotherapy training conferences. There were always many new faces to meet, workshops to attend, conversations, meals and drinks to share. So it wasn’t the presence of so many people that took me by surprise. It was the welcoming, authentic and warm community that deeply touched me. I enjoy being a part of the event organising team and happily draw upon the event planning work I did before my retirement in 2016. It's a pleasure to set up the space with other organisers where our community gathers, and then to become a part of that community as it fills and shares that space.

Ian Williams
I have been involved with ECC since the 1990s and keep returning. I have been an organiser on quite a few official ECC events as well as unofficial ones in other countries. I look forward to returning to Wasdale.

What to Expect

The stunning Wasdale landscape attracts keen walkers and there are spectacular walks for all abilities. Short low-level walks for those seeking exercise or maybe just a little stroll (to the local pub or the tea rooms). There are also more intrepid and challenging mountainous hikes suitable for the more weathered, experienced walkers or those who want to try it out. You'll definitely need suitable boots and warm waterproof clothing if you're planning to go out on the high fells. More information about what to bring will be sent out nearer the event.

Though many people take advantage of the local scenery, Wasdale isn’t just for walkers. There will be indoor activities and you may want to spend time relaxing in front of the fire, be cosy with a book, play games, sit up late chatting, make new friends, talk seriously, share hugs and laughter, and have fun with other men who love men. There will be plenty of scope both to facilitate and participate in activities and workshops - it all depends what those attending decide to bring and contribute. In recent years it's included dancing, singing, quizzes, meditation, massage, touch, yoga and Pilates, story-reading, graphology, making bread, drawing, outdoor theatre, a cabaret soiree (we have a decent music system and an excellent keyboard - so if you
play please bring along some music) and a New Year celebration.

There’s a special feeling of Midwinter at the Wasdale events - with the reflection of the moon in the lake or views of the moon through quick-moving clouds and the silhouette of the crags opposite. Inside, we usually gather round the fire and it’s cosy. Then as the New Year approaches, we can go out to the bonfire on the lake shore to mark the changing of the year. We often mark the winter changes in other ways too with a time together to reflect on and leave the past year and share aspects of what it’s meant to each of us and with hopes for the new. It is one of the things that brings a sense of togetherness within our temporary community. This year people may like to bring ideas or objects to help honour that change. We can talk in more detail about what we’d like to do to mark the New Year when we’re there.

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.

Essential Information

Where: YHA Wasdale Hall, Wasdale, Seascale, Cumbria CA20 1ET

Number of places: 26 places will be available on the week, and we'll reserve a proportion for first-time attenders until the end of October.  Places can fill up very quickly, so book soon!

Arrival: Saturday 28th December 2024 from 4pm to 6pm

Departure: Saturday 4th January 2025 by 11am

Access:  The building can present some physical challenges for people with mobility difficulties. The hostel website at  yha.org.uk has a link to their detailed access statement.

If you have further concerns or queries please contact us before booking.

Alcohol:  Wasdale Youth Hostel has a licensed bar selling local ales as well as a selection of wines and spirits. Licensing laws don't allow visitors to bring or consume alcohol that has been bought elsewhere, and we ask that you respect this.

Nearest shops: In Gosforth village about a 10-minute drive away. Please be aware that the Youth Hostel is in a beautiful but isolated spot.