OutdoorLads Family Christmas 2023
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EVENT UPDATE - 17 December - sadly this event is now closed for additional bookings as it is at maximum capacity.
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UPDATED EVENT PAGE!!!! Before we know it Christmas will be upon us once again, and we will gather at Hagg Farm for our annual celebration. The walks below will most likely remain on the cards, along with the traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings (and maybe a surprise or two...), Secret Santa and Boxing Day festivities.
I'll be working on the menu over the coming weeks and all dietary requirements will be met as usual, including excellent vegetarian and vegan options. Of course there will be the standard Christmas delights - mince pies, homemade egg nog, mulled wine and cider.
Keep up to date on all the planning and chat on this Telegram group; and make sure you tell your friends about this wonderful tradition - there is still a number of places available!
THREE nights with OutdoorLads over actual Christmas!
Yes....we are BACK for 2023! Family Christmas returns in style as we make our location even more awesome than previous years! Simon and Chris will host you at a centre hidden in the beautiful Derwent Valley of the Peak District National Park! Our accommodation has a comfy lounge, a games room and library, a big dining room, masses of bedroom space, a peaceful location and lovely local walks, making this the perfect place to spend Christmas. Dig out your Christmas jumper and join us for a fantastic 3 nights over the festive period.
We will have all of the usual laughs, games and a belly or two full of home cooked food (and of course homemade egg nog). If you fancy walking, then our setting is perfect for some hills or just a stroll around the valley. Alternatively, put your feet up with some mulled cider and read a book or take in a film or play a board game.
We will plan a short stroll on Christmas Day and then perhaps something a bit more strenuous on Boxing Day (perhaps this 12 - 13km hike around Ladybower and the Derwent Dam); after all we've got to work off that egg nog somehow...!). Many of us are familiar with this corner of the Peak District, with its incredible hikes as well as excellent road and mountain biking routes. So maybe bring your bike if you fancy something different; but beware of possible snow and/or ice!
This event truly does enshrine all of the magic of what OutdoorLads does. After a busy year, facing the festive period can a difficult time for many; we don't want anyone to be alone or stuck in the family cycle on Christmas. It may just be that you fancy doing something a little different this year, so get us in your diary and we will see you there!
Dogs: Unfortunately dogs are not allowed at Hagg Farm.
Accessibility Statement: This venue has some stairs and the dining room is on the first floor. Bedrooms are on the ground floor and share bathrooms between them. The site is a Council run building based in a converted farm and often hosts school groups.
Photos: Photos provided by Simon and Chris and reused with permission. Photos of venue and some of the surrounds used under fair use license and provided by venue manager.
OUTDOORLADS FOUNDATION Fancy coming along but having a difficult time of it (for whatever reason), and/or finding it hard to justify the expense? Apply for a place on this event through the OutdoorLads Foundation! Nobody apart from staff members will know and we don't need lots of financial info from you either. To apply through the Foundation, you'll need to complete a very short form, which can be found along with more information here.
WANT TO PAY IN INSTALMENTS? You can arrange to pay in instalments if that helps. Please contact the office on support@outdoorlads.com who will help you to secure a place and set up paying in instalments. The event must be fully paid up a week before the event takes place.
IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement
You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend.
What to bring
Secret Santa: Please do bring a Secret Santa gift, something in the £10 range seems reasonable (oh look - more pe*nis pasta...), something you wouldn't mind receiving yourself!
Should you need any of the items below, remember that ODL members get a discount at Cotswold Outdoors, Berghaus and Snow + Rock
Boots: As it is December in the Peak District, full hiking boots are a better option than mid-ankle hiking shoes. Waterproof and breathable are the best options.
Socks: Merino wool socks provide the best moisture-wicking but almost any decent walking sock from an outdoor shop or even good quality cotton or wool socks will provide a number of affordable "quick-dry" options.
Walking Trousers: There are several styles of affordable walking trousers. It is always worth trying them on to make sure they fit your comfortably, a webbing style belt is often useful, as well as zippable pockets and should be water-repellent.
Waterproof Trousers: As above, many outdoor shops all stock an excellent selection of waterproof trousers. It is recommended that you have a pair just in case the weather turns.
Base Layer: A breathable base layer should be chosen in order to let sweat escape from the body. This could be a cheaper sports top or you could go top of the range with a merino top, as cotton t-shirts can become damp and uncomfortable as our bodies heat up when hiking.
Other Layers: On top of your base layer, you can have a variety of options such as a micro fleece, a fleece jacket or a rugby/sports top can sometimes be good. Having one or two additional layers gives you flexibility when the weather is changeable – the more layers, the more flexible you can be in adapting to the weather.
Waterproof Jacket: Good waterproof jackets can range from £30 to over £300! At a minimum, the jacket should have fully taped seams, an adjustable hem, elastic cuffs and at least 1 inside pocket.
Hat: A good hat (that covers your ears) like a wool beany provides warmth and wicking properties.
Gloves: As it will be winter, a good pair of (preferably) water- and wind-proof gloves is an essential piece of kit.
Rucksack: For day walks a 20-30 litre capacity rucksack should be sufficient for carrying the essentials. Ideally it should have padded waist straps, several outside pockets and a rain cover.
Map & Compass: If you want to learn to be a leader or you just like to know where you are, then you can bring a map that covers the area - Ordnance Survey Explorer 01 is the best for the area. It is best to bring your map either in a map case or purchase maps which are waterproof.
Food & drink
UPDATED 08 Dec 23 -
Christmas Eve (Dinner): We will have the traditional ODL buffet, something that works as an easy dinner after travelling up to this amazing event. There willb e mince pies, homemade egg nog and mulled wine / cider, along with your wonderful homemade nibbles!! Please note that there are not a lot of shops around Hagg Farm so plan on stopping en-route!
Christmas Day Breakfast: Instead of the old-fashioned full English this morning, we will welcome the day with BBQ pulled pork hash, along with mimosas and the "standard" breakfast offerings (cereals, juices, porridge, toast, etc.).
Christmas Day Lunch: If you are hiking then plan on taking something from the hostel as I don't believe there aren't any pubs or shops along the way.
Christmas Day Afternoon: Upon returning from our hike there will be a variety of sweets and nibbles, along with tea and coffee while someone is roped into playing Secret Santa!!
Christmas Day Dinner: Get ready to tuck into a full roast turkey dinner with all the trimmings! Roasted chestnut soup to start, then Goose fat roasted potatoes, Brussel sprouts with bacon, parsnips, pigs in blanket and cranberry sauce. Then it's lights out for Baked Alaska for dessert!!!
Boxing Day Breakfast: Break out the maple syrup and bacon - it's time for delicious buttermilk pancakes (American style - not those thin little things...!). Yes the standard fare will also be on offer.
Boxing Day Lunch: This is the same as on Christmas Day so plan accordingly.
Boxing Day Dinner: Personally I think one of the great things about Christmas is looking forward to leftovers! So tonight's dinner will most likely be something along the lines of a turkey tetrazzini and garlic bread.
27th December Breakfast: I still haven't decided on this yet. We don't have to check out until after 12.00 so there is no hurry to do much of anything this morning.