Preperation for the seventh Morpeth Riverside Walking Festival is well underway. The festival will kick off on Thursday 9th September and run until Friday 17th September. It runs alongside the hugely successful Heritage Open Days, coordinated by our very own Heritage Officer, Tamsin Lilley.
The aim of the festival is to get people of all ages out and about on the country and riverside footpaths around and about the town. Exploring the Morpeth heritage and environment. This is the third year the event is being run by Greater Morpeth Development Trust (GMDT) as part of the Castles Woods & Water Initiative.
There will be more than 15 walks to choose from ranging from a gentle strolls around Morpeth to near 15 mile walks through some of the most beautiful and heritage rich countryside in Northumberland.
The week will also include history walks, health walks, story and nature walks for families, night walks, town trails and taster training sessions for would-be Nordic walkers (using poles to aid their walking techniques as well as toning their upper body muscles).
Colin Harvey, Director of GMDT's environment group, said they have responded to requests from people who took part in the Festival last year to include new and sometimes more challenging walks out into the Northumberland countryside.
"The old favourites are still there with some quite short walks suitable for people of all ages and abilities including children," he said. "But there are also some new slightly more rugged, longer walks for more experienced walkers.
The cost of taking part in Festival walks ranges from £6.00 to £8.00 depending on transport and eating arrangements, and each walk will be led by an experienced leader.
"The aim of the Festival remains the enjoyment by everyone taking part of the rivers, woodlands and coast in this part of Northumberland, and time will be taken by the leaders to make the most of the wonderful scenery and wildlife on our very doorsteps," added Colin.
When booking onto the walking festival you will receive a wonderful and colourful folder full of walking maps which you can follow at your own conveinience. These usually retail at £6.00 per pack and include 10 heritage maps. You can also purchase these from the website (please click on the walking map image on the home page).
Full details of all the walks can downloaded at the bottom of the page. You can also collect one at your local TIC.
To book onto the festival or be added to our mailing list please call Gemma Gadomski on 01670 503641 or email gemma.gadomski@gmdt.org
Booking arrangements are also contained in the booklet. They will also be widely available at local outlets or from GMDT at The Lodge in Morpeth's Carlisle Park soon. |
