Walks report for 2007
Another super year for Durham Ramblers. We’ve walked up and down and over and under. Up dale and down dale and places too numerous to recall in this report. We’ve walked along woodland paths, forests, valleys, farm tracks, disused railways, fields, coasts and moorlands. We’ve walked in dense fog (fret) minced through bog, basked in sunshine, gritted our teeth in biting cold and laughed at the rain ha! ha! We got Gortex ho! ho! ......oh and nearly got gloomed in dark forests! Compared to other groups in our region we are still small and typical turn out will be between 7 and 16. Monday walks have proved again to be the most popular.
Since our AGM last December we have (allegedly) walked as a group a total of 231 miles and completed a programme of 33 walks. A total made up of 9 Monday evening walks, 23 Sunday walks and one Wednesday walk. Thirty three walks being two less (or is that fewer?) than last year.... but we were treated to an extremely varied programme of walks with quality as a common denominator.
We may have planned less walks this year but Roger Carpenter and Rachel Orange weren’t going to let us get away with such sloth. They organised some supplementary walks for us.............
This was the year of the Use Your Paths Challenge. Some of our group, notably Roger Carpenter, set about walking every footpath and bridleway in County Durham.
On Saturday 21st April we were out as a group at the Black Horse at Waterhouses to help Roger complete the last of the 612 Rights of Way in our area. We were rewarded with a photo in the Advertiser. The following month, Tuesday 29th May, some of us made a successful ascent of Roseberry Topping (320m) accompanied by the world renowned mountaineer Alan Hinkes who has climbed every peak above 8000m. So there you have it; A year high-lighted by media attention and fêted by celebrity.
Was there more? Oh yes!
July we had our second ever picnic. Preceded by a walk followed by Cava and strawberries on the grassy banks of the River Wear. We wont talk about how it was financed let’s just say it was a result of a few recce.’s and some unwitting subsidy.
Also our second walking weekend. This time we went to Melrose and had a wonderful and memorable time. There was a wedding in Melrose – the bride cocooned in white, seated in the back of an open veteran car. Driven round twice in case anyone missed her the 1st time. As she approached the Church the young piper launched into that well known Scottish anthem; “Scotland the Brave” presumably an oblique reference to the groom or it may have been the weather! But I digress. Grateful thanks to Karen Kitchen for selecting and leading two superb walks. Saturday we walked above St. Mary’s Loch followed by lunch in Tibbie Shiels Inn and Sunday an ascent of the Eilden Hills 422m and descent to the Banks of the Tweed near a lofty viaduct and the site of a Roman Fort. Special thanks also to Jeff and Jean Foster for hosting our dinner on Saturday evening in their beautiful cottage near Selkirk.
Thank you to the Woodman on Gilesgate (NZ279 427) for hosting our walks planning meetings. A big – thank you to our Leaders – Roger, Tony, Paul, Rachel, Cliff, John and Karen.
And what of the future?
Planned are 18 Sunday and 8 Monday evening walks up to the end of August next year - not forgetting what has become our annual pilgrimage to the River Tyne for a fish and chip lunch in January. New for this year is the inauguration of a programme of 8 Wednesday walks. Thanks to Roger, Tony and Cliff for this welcome initiative. Also we have planned another picnic and another walking weekend – Friday 21st June Durham Ramblers are going to The Peak District. – oh yes!
Richard Fletcher
Walks Secretary