Issue No 268 Walk Northumbria
Winter 2009/2010


Index
Marine & Coastal Access      Training Courses          Lake District Weekend   Workington before the floods      In Memoriam      Message from Tom



Weekend in Workington (See Workington before the floods)




The ramblers nationally are making a major commitment to changeover to email based communications and the recent issue of a new version of volunteer news was entirely sent by email. Whilst as an area we are making increased usage of electronic systems, we will continue to produce and post out this newsletter to all our members.
The significant events this month have included the passing of the new coastal access bill this is indeed very welcome as it will open up previously restricted areas and as importantly preserve our right of access to stretches we have been using without a right to be there.
We also had a visit from our National Chair and Chief Executive who came to Durham for what was the first of a series of regional meetings with ramblers across the UK. Whilst the short notice given and the time and location of the meeting were not ideal, I and seven members from our area attended. Amongst the issues raised were: how important it was that members felt that they where getting value for their membership fee, the worry that if increased responsibilities are put upon walks leaders as against all members taking responsibility then we might see difficulty in keeping/getting walks leaders. We stressed the real need to get the members data system working properly, we requested support for members’ training, and we pointed out the limits of relying totally on email based communications.
The Northumbria area has been selected to take part in the piloting of another element in the steps to improve communication between areas, groups and the ramblers nationally. As an area/groups we now have a direct link to the Ramblers Trustees via a nominated member Jo Bird, Barnard Castle 637756 or jobird9@tiscali.co.uk and to the Senior Management team via John Wightman who is Head of Marketing 020 7339 8511 john.wightman@ramblers.org.uk
Whilst we may be making some progress locally, (note the advert for training in this newsletter), and nationally there is still the need for continued vigilance. Recently we have had reports coming of difficulties with a local gamekeeper, mountain bikes in the forest and motorised trail riders in the hills.

Dave Turnbull
Chair Northumbria Area

Success stories

Two recent developments have been good news for walkers in the Cheviots. One of these developments is that work has begun on the repair and realignment of Brandon Bridge in the Ingram Valley. This has been unsafe for years but the local communities in the villages of Brandon, Branton and Fawdon will soon have their communication link restored while an important connection in the rights of way network will be recovered for walkers.
The second development concerns the restoration of the ancient trade route, the Salters’ Road which runs from Alnham over to the Border Ridge. Large stretches of this historic route had become impassable because of illegal trail-bike riding. This year, several sections have been drained and strengthened and the rest are due to be completed next year.
Both of these success stories have been achieved in part by pressure from Northumbria RA working with local communities or alongside groups with similar interests. In the case of Brandon Bridge, we added our voice to that of Ingram Parish Council and local residents to call for action. The reclamation work on Salters’ Road has been achieved through the mutual support of all legitimate users such as horse-riders, cycling groups and the Long Distance Walkers as well as the RA. Working together and supporting the local farmers and gamekeepers who were incensed by the noise and degradation caused by trail-bikes particularly during the lambing and nesting seasons, we have helped each other to bring about a pleasing resolution which again benefits local residents as well as walkers and all other legitimate users. Finally, staff at Northumberland County Council say how much they welcome the involvement of RA volunteers. If problems are brought to the attention of council officers, they can then provide evidence of need when decisions are being made about where Highways Department money should be spent. Sometimes RA members express a certain unease about the campaigning role of the organisation. Campaigning, however, doesn’t have to be confrontational and aggressive. The co-operation and mutual support described above have brought about successful outcomes which benefit people in the local areas as well as walkers. Everyone is happy.

Judith Taylor
Tyneside Group






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Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009

The Marine and Coastal Access Bill received Royal Assent on 12 November, following many years of campaigning and assistance from members, which included activities such as letter writing and kite flying! This Act will create a duty to put in place a continuous coastal path around England which will join with the Welsh Coastal Path, due to be completed by 2012, and the existing rights of access in Scotland to give the public the right to walk around the entire British coast for the first time. Natural England will fund the establishment of the coastal access route, and will be consulting with local authorities and also with access authorities on the proposals.
Currently nearly 50% of the English coast has no public right of way along it, and the public can only walk an average 1.9 miles on the coast on a ‘secure or satisfactory path’, as defined by Natural England. The coastal path is expected to bring unprecedented access to millions of people and provide a vital boost to the rural economy.
Members might be interested to learn that some 33% of the northeast coast is currently not accessible by what is described as a ‘satisfactory legally secure path’, and this is not just the areas around ports and harbours. For example the Northumberland Coast Path currently does a long inland diversion from Bamburgh through Belford and over the Kyloe Hills, rather than follow Budle Bay, Ross Links and Fenham Flats to the Lindisfarne Causeway! There are also areas where the coastal path is in danger of being lost by erosion, and an alternative route needs to be negotiated. This will be simplified by new provisions allowing for the coastal route to 'roll back' where erosion occurs.
Please report any issues that you may have on coastal paths to the Ramblers, to HQ on their website ( www.ramblers.org.uk/freedom/restrictionsonCROWaccessland/problemreportform.htm ) or by phone or post, as they are keeping a register of these issues, the local authority, the Local Access Forum, or myself. (See Natural England’s web site for a plan: www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/enjoying/places/coastalaccess/englandscoastpath ) Hopefully we will be able to walk around most of our coast within the next 10 years! .

Nuala Wright
Tyneside Group
e-mail: nuala999@hotmail.co.uk

Will readers please note that from now on Walk Northumbria will be produced twice a year instead of four times but please keep the articles coming!! Ed

Diversion of Pennine Way at Knaresdale

The Secretary of State confirmed the creation of two small diversions on the Pennine Way (PW) near Knaresdale on 11th August 2009 and a consequent extinguishment of part of the PW by Northumberland County Council (NCC) followed a few days later. The Pennine Way Association (PWA) was fully consulted on these matters some two years ago and felt that the new route was an improvement on the existing one although the reason for the diversion was to move the route away from Burnstones. The first diversion just to the north east of Side House at GR 673548 diverts the PW to the west of a small disused quarry and eliminates a short descent and ascent while the second diversion commences at the viaduct on the north side of the Thinhope Burn through a kissing gate and follows the exact line of the Maiden Way on a better surface for 240 metres to a further kissing gate at GR 674545 where it rejoins the existing route. After some of the wet surfaces near Whitley Castle, this improved surface will be appreciated.
The Maiden Way which the PW follows from here to a point just over 1500 metres north of the Glendue Burn on the A689 west of Lambley was a Roman road from their base at Kirkby Thore to their base on Hadrian’s Wall at Carvoran just off the PW to the north east of Greenhead.
Whilst for most walkers the opportunities to go on diversions are limited, the one mile diversion here to Lambley and it’s magnificent restored viaduct in dramatic surroundings, is well worth a visit. For those opting to walk on the South Tyne Trail instead of the official route, it is even less as they walk along the road from Bowden Banks where the trail is left for a short distance.
Frank Duerden in his Great Walks PW book makes reference in this area to the fact that the South Tyne valley was the major drove route for Scottish cattle from the Highlands, which were then taken to Falkirk and then moved south along the South Tyne. They then generally went down towards Teesdale on the south bank before crossing lowland Co Durham and the Tees between Darlington and Stockton. They ascended to the Cleveland Escarpment and south on a route now followed by the Cleveland Way from Sutton Bank northwards before continuing south on gentler terrain. However Knarsdale also was on another later drove route which crossed the hills to the west, passing near to the RSPB Geltsdale Reserve to Croglin. This was used for the transport of cattle and sheep being taken to fairs on Tyneside and possibly in the reverse direction to Kirkoswald Auction Mart and those walkers who appreciate real solitude should try to walk this route.
Observant readers may here note that the hamlet as well as the Knars Beck are spelt without the ‘e’ while the parish of Knaresdale with Kirkhaugh has an ‘e’. The church at Knarsdale contains the grave of Robert Baxter, a local shepherd who died in 1796 after eating some food he found on the moor and at that date, I cannot see it being poisoned food put out for hen harriers which, after a great struggle against criminal gamekeepers or egg collectors, now breed in this vicinity. Frank Duerden, who again supplies this information, quotes the inscription on Robert Baxter’s gravestone as follows:

All you that please these lines to read
It will cause a tender heart to bleed
I murdered was, upon the fell
And by the man I know full well
By bread and butter which he’d laid
I being harmless, was betrayed
I hope he will rewarded be
That laid the poison there for me.


< The suspicion was never proved but it makes for an interesting story as does the story of the ghost of Knarsdale Hall. The story goes that the owner, who was middle aged, acquired a young wife with her parents’ consent, much as still happens in many countries currently. However, some time after arriving in the household, the wife struck up an illicit relationship with her husband’s nephew. Ultimately, they were found out by his sister and, fearful that she would expose their secret, he murdered his sister, dumping her body, on a stormy night, in a nearby pond. Her ghost was seen at times to cross the hall and go to the pond.
At Knarsdale also is the Kirkstyle Inn which is open at lunchtime in summer up to the end of October for food and with real ale on tap. Walkers are advised to check during winter months by telephone (01434 381559) but the detour is only a matter of five minutes from the viaduct over Thinhope Burn on the PW, the pub being adjacent to the church and very close to the hall.
If any readers have additional information on either of these macabre tales, I would be pleased to hear from them!

Bill Gallon





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Training courses

These courses will be on offer in 2010 and free to RA members. For GPS courses you will need your own equipment. We have collected several names and will be in touch when dates are available. Anyone who hasn’t expressed an interest and would like to take part, please contact Ann Key on 0191 281 3289 and annkey@talktalk.net or Mark Nugent markontyne@hotmail.com

Courses are:
Emergency First Aid
Walking Group Leadership
Navigation
Global Positioning Systems - GPS


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Northumbria Short Circuits at the Lakes



Lake District Weekend 9th to 11th October 2009

We travelled from the north east “Coast to Coast” via Carlisle and then south west along the “West Cumbria Highway” to Whitehaven, a pleasant enough route which eventually borders on our proposed walking destinations in the Lake District.
The approach to Whitehaven afforded excellent panoramic views of both the town and the harbour which had its reputation extended by the “visit” of John Paul Jones during the 18th century. Our weather, however, is far better than he encountered during his short stay- the rain causing him to turn tail in disdain and abandon all plans of sabotaging Whitehaven.
We found our accommodation, the Chase Hotel without mishap or deviation, thanks largely to the excellent directions provided by Tom (Turnbull) who was standing close to the hotel entrance, just in case our navigational skills failed at the last hurdle. Well done Tom!
Helen and Tom, who led this particular trip, convened a meeting on Friday morning for coffee and to confirm the proposals for the next 3 days and co-opted myself to write a report (probably when I was not paying proper attention and it was too late to hide!) So here it is.

Friday 9th October 2009 Ennerdale

It started well at Bowness Knott car park walking south easterly parallel to Ennerdale Water along a fairly level footpath – the old railway line. We were fortunate enough to have decent weather, amicable company, and pleasant views of the lake and surrounding countryside. The walk soon veered left into Bowness Woods and we began a climb generally along the side of Smithy Beck. The climb was in total about 150 metres and as forecast (by H&T) there was the odd fallen tree which of course further tested our fitness and physical prowess.
We began our descent leaving Smithy Beck in a south easterly direction following the footpath which at times was rather steep and involved some scrambling. However this was well within the capabilities of the assembled ramblers and there were no serious mishaps and we eventually arrived at the lakeside from where we walked westerly back to the car park. Some took a short extension to the walk while others relaxed by the lake surveying the views of Ennerdale and the fells.
A most enjoyable walk and after a hearty dinner the exercise certainly contributed to a good night’s sleep.

Saturday 10th October 2009 Latrigg

This is a little gem of a walk. Starting at the leisure centre car park in Keswick we walked along the old railway line towards Threlkeld and Penrith. This is the reverse of most guides and was chosen by Helen who believes that the views are much better in this direction and I am sure she is right. We walked along this popular route for a couple of miles and then turned left by what looked like an old railway halt and ascended towards the summit of Latrigg Fell.
After a short steep ascent the walk follows a gradual climb to the aforesaid summit where, unexpectedly, a wonderful panoramic view of Keswick and Derwentwater dramatically appears before you. Anyone who has walked this way before will appreciate that the vista here changes from day to day, season to season, varying with the light and weather making this one of our favourite walks. At times, the mountains were broody and mysterious and then the clouds cleared lifting both our mood and the surrounding fells with welcome sunshine. We ate our packed lunch at the summit and then followed a zigzag descent to the west of Latrigg touching the Cumbria Way to Briar Rigg and back to the leisure centre car park. Another excellent walk - well worth repeating.

Sunday 12th October 2009 Loweswater

Alas, this was our last walk of the weekend and a fine conclusion it turned out to be. Intent on a comparatively short walk of about 3 miles on relatively flat terrain, we left the car park at Maggie’s Bridge and headed to Loweswater near Watergate Farm. We followed the lakeside through Holme Wood, climbed slightly away from the lake and returned to Watergate Farm again through the woods where Helen took us on an optional extension across arable land and back to the National Trust car park. The weather was warm and fine. Our last view of the lake, with calm reflections and bracken on the fells in all its glorious autumn colours, will sustain us through cold winter days.
All in all, a superb, well-planned weekend with the weather kind and the company entertaining. We laughed, walked, paused for breath and marvelled at the scenery a great deal ...all vying for the ‘Greatest number of Slips Award.’...sorry Angela no-one quite beat your expertise here! There were, however, certainly a number of contenders for the’Limbo-ing under or Vaulting Over the Tree-trunks ‘section. So many variations on a theme.
Thanks once again to our party leaders Tom and Helen who know this part of the Lakes so well and enjoyed sharing their experiences with the rest of us. A job very well done!

Jonne Robinson
Short Circuits Group





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Weekend in Workington - November 2009

Workington is not the most likely of places for a weekend break in November. However, it proved to be a very good base with access to Western Lakes a short drive away. We stayed at the comfortable Cumberland Hotel in the town and were given a very warm, friendly and rather floral welcome. On the Saturday some of the group thought they'd take a trip to the Sellafield Nuclear Power Station. It's supposed to be a great day out. However, the visitors centre was shut !
For those who fancied a walk we ventured into Eskdale and Wasdale. The weather had been very wet and the ground was saturated and very muddy. Mick Cavanagh led an interesting 9 mile paddle from Santon Bridge (home of the World's Biggest Liar competition) to finish in the lovely little village of Nether Wasdale. Quite early on in the walk we managed to cross the river one bridge too soon and inadvertently wandered into Eric Robson's farmyard (he's the TV broadcaster and famous for all things Wainwright) Mrs Robson came out and had a chat and pointed us in the right direction and said not to worry - it happened quite a lot and walkers were always dropping by. Eric wasn't home - he was away in Newcastle giving a talk, but we did get to meet his Border Terrier, Raq. Even though the cloud was low, the views over Wastwater and up to " Britains Favourite View " at Wasdale Head were grand.
Mike Ford took his intrepid party from Wasdale over into Mitredale, around to Burnmoor Tarn and back along the top of Whin Rigg above the Wastwater Screes and into Nether Wasdale. A bit wet and wild !

Sunday proved just as wet underfoot and with very heavy showers it was a case of " hoods up " and off into Ennerdale. Many thanks go to Denise and Don for leading us to the Shepherds Arms in Ennerdale Bridge.
For those who didn't fancy getting soaked (again) the coach dropped them in Whitehaven for a look around.
To round off the weekend we stopped off in Keswick on the way home for refreshments. Considering we only had two days away we certainly got out and about to parts of the District that we don't often visit. Once again, special thanks must go to our organiser, Ken Walker, who did a superb job, as usual, to ensure everything ran smoothly.
We're all really looking forward to the next weekend away to the Patterdale Hotel in February 2010.

Brenda Cavanagh
Tyneside Ramblers

PS Unbelievably, a week after we had been enjoying ourselves there, as you know, the area was devastated by massive floods. We only hope the district and residents can recover quickly from the upheaval and destruction caused.

The situation in Workington and other parts of Cumbria have been and are really dreadful. I’m sure all our readers will echo Brenda’s sentiments. Ed

Letter to the editor

The Braid, Amble

I was interested to read the letter from Ian Hanson re the Braid at Amble across which Northumberland Estates are proposing to build an access road to a new supermarket. As someone who is concerned more about the environment, rather than retail stimulus, I was actively involved in the successful application to register the Braid as a Town Green.
Firstly, Northumberland County Council were recommending that the planning application be refused because of the effect of the access road on the Braid. English Heritage, Northumberland Wildlife Trust and the Open Spaces Society also objected to the access road, as indeed did 90% of those who wrote in to object to the scheme. Even Northumberland Estate’s own Impact Assessment report admitted that the road would have a ‘major adverse impact’ on the Braid.
Secondly, an alternative access route is available that would not involve crossing the Braid and is a much shorter and more direct link with the centre of Amble. The planners preferred this route and were encouraging the developers to progress this option, only for Northumberland Estates to withdraw it the day before the planning committee met. They hope to see housing being developed on the Braid and this road would form part of the infrastructure for this.

I was one of the organisers of the two Town Meetings which were held recently in Amble to discuss the supermarket scheme, both of which were attended by over 100 local residents. As they made clear to Mr Hinson on both occasions, the great majority of those present did not share his views. We carried out a survey in which over 200 residents took part and while 81% favoured a new supermarket only 26% would like to see it located next to the Braid, 38% saying they used it every day and a further 36% every week. Perhaps the most damning findings of the survey were that 79% didn’t feel that they had been properly consulted by the County Council over the scheme or by Northumberland Estates (81%).
Mr Hinson cites as an example of ‘democracy in action’ the fact that the only councillor from Amble who sits on Northumberland County Council’s Area North Planning Committee chose to ignore planning officers’ advise, plus much local feeling and instead persuaded his fellow committee members from much further afield to approve the scheme. Surely a much more appropriate example was when Mr Hinson failed to be re-elected as a County Councillor last year in the local elections.

Roger Armsden
Rivergreen
Amble

Walking in circles

Many years, whilst walking on the moors to the north of Blanchland, we found ourselves in a very dense fog. The major objective of the walk was to visit the black-headed gull colony on Cow Byers Fell. This was duly done and we got very close to the nests before being bombarded by the agitated birds, as the scout birds, if they were even in the air, had been unable to pick us up. After this we took a compass bearing and proceeded to head north without any further consultation of the compass, fully expecting to emerge at the side of Slaley Forest, which hereabouts runs broadly in a west to east direction for over two miles.
After about three quarters of an hour, we discovered what we thought was another colony but to our surprise we had walked round in a complete circle and had arrived back at the original colony! We had heard, like most of us, that people, when lost, walk round in circles and we therefore took our compass and walked on a north bearing until we reached Slaley Forst, turned west along the forest edge and descended into Devils Water where there was some limited visibility.
An article in the current issue of ‘Strider’, which is the journal of the Long Distance Walkers Association, states that walking in circles is natural. A group based at the Max Planck Institute at Tubingen in Germany, recently carried out a study into this phenomenon. The researchers used GPS to track people’s routes both in a large forest and in the Sahara Desert. While walkers trying to keep a constant direction were able to follow a fairly straight course if the sun was visible, they tended to walk round in circles if they could not see the sun or other distinct landmark. They also observed walkers trying to go in a straight line when blindfolded and found that they walked in surprisingly small circles, often in a diameter of less than 20 metres, (YES 20!). The paper in Current Biology suggests that ‘walking in circles is a result of accumulating noise in the sensorimotor system’.
The problem is, of course, resolved by always having your compass with you and using it continually if there is poor visibility and no known landmarks. Some might even add, ‘Do not walk with noisy people’ and I wonder who they might be!

Bill Gallon

New book

The Hills of Upper Coquetdale

The River Coquet rises on the remote upper slopes of Brownhart Law, close to the Roman Military complex of Chew Green and for the first 10 miles of a long and wayward journey to the North Sea this magnificent river rubs shoulders with some of the finest hills in Northumberland. Here , seemingly light years from the stresses and strains of 21st century life, the ‘Hills of Upper Coquetdale’ offer walking of the highest quality.

A book of eight self-guided walks entitled ‘The Hills of Coquetdale’, by outdoor writer Geoff Holland has just been published by Darlington-based Trailguides Limited.

The eight walks, with detailed, easy to follow route description, range between 7.5 and 12 miles and the book, which contains a selection of both colour and black and white photographs and a host of fascinating information about the area, retails at £7.50. It ia available online from www.trailguides.co.uk and from bookshops and Tourist Information Centres.






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In remembrance of Maureen Hall

Maureen died on Tuesday, 22nd September 2009, finally succumbing after a 3 year battle against cancer – ever hopeful.
She joined the Ramblers in 1989 and was quickly into the organisation of things. Whilst running her own business and enjoying the longer walks with the Ramblers, she also found time and enthusiasm to take on the job of Social Secretary, organising dances, ‘bit of a do’s and numerous parties every year for the whole of the Tyneside Ramblers.
Over the years, she also ran more than a dozen holidays for our members in the Isle of Wight (sometimes three in a year) which were so popular that the booking sheets were eagerly awaited and quickly filled. Their popularity reflected their success. The local group on the island were keen to join in and help. After resigning from the Social Secretary’s duties, Maureen took over as Coach Booking Secretary for the ‘Ten o’clockers’, staying on the committee but identified more with the Wednesday walking group. Meanwhile she also organised numerous coach trips to Scotland and even Belfast for us.
In 2000, Maureen relinquished the Coach Booking Secretary’s duties when she was elected Treasurer for the Tyneside group where she applied herself with typical enthusiasm and thoroughness. Six years later, when she became too ill to carry on, the handover to her successor was seamless.
She will be remembered for her cheery, patient disposition, her huge appetite for work and her big smile. Maureen’s funeral was supported by a huge Ramblers’ presence along with a host of friends from other walks of life, as befitting her popularity.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her. A wonderful companion and a dear, dear friend.

Joe Bradley
Tyneside Ramblers

John Nash 1936 – 2009

John Nash died suddenly on 23rd September 2009. He joined the Ramblers some 25 years ago, with his first hill being Place Fell in the Lake District, accompanied by his parents. John loved the great outdoors and was an active Ramblers member, enjoying hard walks on Sundays as well as participating in LDWA challenge walks.
John enjoyed the long distance footpaths, home and abroad and walked extensively in Scotland and Wales as well as most of the counties in England, Dorset being among his favourite places.
He had many interests during his life and was an excellent, golfer, winning many competitions, including the Durham County and Whickam Gold club championships.
On leaving school, John worked for the Evening Chronicle, broken by a spell in the RAF on National Service, then back to working on the newspaper, before becoming a self-employed photographer up until his retirement.
As well as being knowledgeable about jazz, folk and classical music, John was a fan of real ale and a member of CAMRA.
John is, and will always be, a miss to the club.

Brian Harvey
Tyneside Ramblers

Butterfly Bridge

Butterfly Bridge, which crossed over the River Derwent into Derwent Park just off the Derwent Walk, was swept away last August. Derwent Walk is an important path on a track used by Cromwell in the Civil War and probably by the Romans from their fort at Whickham and, indeed, is believed to date back even further.

Work on designing a replacement bridge for walkers and cyclists is underway, with Gateshead Council and the Environment Agency working together on the project.

The new bridge, to be built in 2010/11on the site of the previous one, will cost £250,000. A ford for equestrians will be added.

Bill Gallon

To all readers! If you are willing to receive Ramblers communications via email and you haven’t already supplied your email address, could you please contact your secretary with your details. Ed



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Message from Tom Franklin

I write this having just finished about twenty radio interviews, alongside the intrepid explorer Ben Fogle, promoting the fabulous Ramblers Festival of Winter Walks, which we’re putting on with the help of Nature Valley this year. Over 700 walks in just nine days, in every nook and cranny of Britain – and all of them hosted by our own band of intrepid Ramblers volunteers. Ben was so enthusiastic about the work the Ramblers does as Britain’s walking charity and he’ll be joining some of the walks himself. You’ll be glad to know I got a plug in for Northumbria by mentioning Hadrian’s Wall as my favourite walk of the year!
It’s been quite a year for the Ramblers. We finally achieved our dream of legislation for a round Britain Coastal Walking route, after a year of intense lobbying in the Westminster corridors of power. And we’ve secured the final National Park, in the South Downs, from the original ‘wish list’ from more than sixty years ago – long way from Northumbria but still an important milestone. At the same time, we’ve also been taking on new activities – like encouraging people new to walking to give it a go through our Get Walking, Keep Walking scheme, and trying out walks for children and families (apparently the secret of getting children onto walks is not to call them walks! Call them ‘treasure trails’ or ‘nature hunts’ instead). As well as our successes, we’ve had to cope with the recession and a drop in our income. Trustees have needed to take very painful decisions and we’ve had to make some staff redundant. Like many charities, we’ve needed to adapt to survive – and this hasn’t always been popular. I’d like to thank members and volunteers for their continued support during difficult times.
As we go into the new year, we have some big things we want to achieve in 2010. We have a goal of 500 footpaths opened, unblocked or recorded as a result of our work. And the work to implement the Coastal route gets going in earnest. It’s also, of course, our 75th anniversary and we have plans for a round Britain walk – it’ll start in the south west on New Year’s Eve, with Northumbria taking part during the summer.
Whatever you’re doing this festive season, have a fabulous time and enjoy some crisp winter walking.

Tom

Stockton Riverside

Some time ago, a Sunderland group member passed through Stockton on Tees and mused that we, as a group, had never done a walk in that area. He told me of his thoughts and I looked on the internet to see if there was anything suitable to include in our next programme.
I found a walk which we both felt would be very interesting, Stockton having an abundance of industrial history. We subsequently did a planning walk there and were pleased to discover it an easy walk with lots to see and plenty of information boards on the route.
We started from the Tees Barrage, itself of great importance, and walked upstream on the north side of the river, passing under the Princess of Wales bridge and the Teesside Millennium Bridge and then walking passed the replica of Captain Cook's ship, The Endeavour. A little further upstream we reached the Victoria Bridge where we crossed over to the south side of the river and commenced walking back downstream in the area known as Teesdale, the once derelict site which was transformed into a busy place with university, business facilities and housing.
Very soon we were back at the Barrage and continued along the river to Newport Bridge and headed on to where we can see on the other side of the Tees the transformed area where the iron and steel works used to be. In the distance we saw the Transporter Bridge from here but turned at this point and retraced our steps to the Newport Bridge where we crossed over again and returned to the Barrage. This urban walk is so different from any we had done before. There is so much to see and talk about and we thoroughly enjoyed our day. It really is worth putting on your programme!! We did!

Pat Jackson
Sunderland Group

Deadline for issue 269: 23rd May, 2010
Contributions please to Pat Jackson at
73 Houghton Road, Hetton le Hole
Tyne & Wear, DH5 9PQ
email:
patricia@jackson95.wanadoo.co.uk
or text 07901684913

Published on web 14/12/09