The 2026 Autumn Meet and Committee Meeting will take place at Alston Cumbria between Monday 5^th Oct and Fri 9^th Oct.

The Committee Meeting is planned to be held at Alston Hostel on Wednesday 7^th Oct at about 5.00PM.

Some will be staying at the hostel, and others may stay in the Town at Hotels, Inns or B&B. Some may well be in campervans. Some may stay for all 4 or 5 days others may not, your choice. 

At present the warden has kindly locked the On-line booking of the hostel, so only RSF members can book at present using the method I will explain below. I don’t expect that we will fill the hostel ! and have not asked (or indeed paid) for a whole hostel booking. So if you don’t act quickly places could well fill up. 

Alston Hostel, The Firs, Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3RW.

The Warden, Mat, Mobile 07912 970963 or Tel 01434 381509.

Comprises: - Rm 1, sleeps 2 (already booked & paid);  Rm 2, sleeps 6;  Rm 3, sleeps 6;  Rm 5 sleeps 4;  Rm 6, sleeps 4;  Rm 7, sleeps 6. I don’t know where Rm 4 has gone in the numbering but the hostel sleeps a total of 28.

Facilities :- 1 Gents Toilet (2 cubicles, 3 sinks and a shower), 1 Ladies toilet (2 cubicles, 3 sinks and a shower),  2 Separate showers and another toilet downstairs. It also has cycle storage.

The hostel would be happy, at extra cost, to cater for breakfasts, light or cooked & evening meals. I am told that these can all be organised closer to the time.  People may also choose to eat at one of several establishments in the town, which is but a short walk away.  Self catering is also possible at the hostel and there are several small supermarkets or stores in the town or BYO.

To book, pay and reserve your hostel stay, either individually or as a group if you want to share. Please contact Mat direct on the above numbers, Quoting; The RSF Autumn Meet and dates you wish to stay.  Give your name and an email and Mat will send you a confirmation & payment email inviting you to pay.  It works well I think, I have just actioned my own, Rm 1 for myself and George Nutt.

Note that this is a hostel and we have not gone for a whole hostel booking, you might end up sharing with someone that you don’t yet know and have never slept with before !

I also intend to organise one group meal, on the evening of the Committee Meeting at The Alston House Hotel.

Other accommodation in the Town, please contact them yourselves :-

The Cumberland Inn, CA9 3HX, Tel 01434 381875, has 3 doubles & 2 twin rooms.

Alston House Hotel, CA9 3RN, Tel 01434 382200, has 8 rooms in total.

Temple Croft B&B, CA9 3RL, Tel 01434 382660, seems to have 3 rooms plus an 8 bedded dorm.

I think most also have cycle storage as Alston is on the C2C but do ask.

If you also let me know that you are coming, and on which dates and where staying. It will give me confidence of numbers and enable me to chase you for your food choices for the Wednesday evening meal.  

Allan Henson

RSF General Sec