GENERAL - The Club was originally founded in June 1983 for NALGO (now UNISON) Trade's Union members, however in January 1994 previous membership restrictions were removed and the Club name changed. The Club is an affiliate member of Connected Voice and stages events throughout the year. There is a Saturday & Sunday walk each month; one or two weekend trips are arranged each year; and we have an annual week trip. When selecting the locations of walks, the Club Committee have tried to cater for the varying standards and capabilities of our 54 members; however, the nature of the terrain is such that we have to assume that both members and invitees/guests have a reasonable level of fitness as a minimum (see grading guidance below).

GRADING GUIDANCE -  Sunday Walks are usually graded Leisurely or Moderate. Saturday Walks are graded either Leisurely/Moderate for suggested lower-level routes or Strenuous/Technical for suggested higher-level routes:
Leisurely - walks for those with a reasonable level of fitness and ideally a little country walking experience. May include unsurfaced rural paths. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are recommended;
Moderate - walks for those with country walking experience and a good level of fitness. May include some steep paths and open country, and may be at a brisk pace. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are essential.
Strenuous - walks for experienced fellwalkers with an above average level of fitness. May include hills and rough country, and may be at a brisk pace. Walking boots and warm, waterproof clothing are essential.
Technical - walks for experienced and very fit fellwalkers with additional technical skills. May require scrambling and, if snow/ice is encountered, the use of ice axes or crampons.

Bookings open two calendar months in advance of any Saturday walk involving use of a Denton Travel Services’ minibus and can be made either by email or phone/text message. Anyone who insists in using their car to travel to an event or wants to return early (i.e. miss out the refreshment stop) will not qualify for petrol expenses and must pay the required £1 per participant BACS payment within 3 working days. If notification of a cancellation is received at any time prior to 08:00am on the morning of the walk and it is still possible to fill all seats in all Club transport, the fare will be waived/refunded. If notification of cancellation is not received, unfortunately the full fare will remain due.

2025 Sunday Walks
19th January	Craster - Low Newton 10am Craster car park NE66 3TW	20th July	Corbridge, Aydon Castle & Stagshaw 10am Corbridge bridge car park
16th February	Waskerley 4 reservoirs 10am Waskerley station car park	17th August	Cotherstone - Romaldskirk 10am Fox & Hounds pub Cotherstone DL12 9PF
23rd March	Hartburn and Rothley castle 10am Hartburn church car park NE61 4JB	21st September	Blanchland, Birkside Fell & Beldon burn 10am Blanchland car park DH8 9TA
20th April	Old Ingram valley 10am Ingram cafe car park NE66 4LT	19th October	Haltwhistle south Tyne 10am Haltwhistle station car park
18th May	Newbrough and Roman wall 10am Newbrough town hall NE47 5AR	16th November	Herrington & Penshaw 10am Herrington country park car park
15th June	Willington circular 10am Jubilee Bridge car park Stony bank DL15 0DJ	14th December	Whitburn & Cleadon coastal 10am Marsden Grotto NE34 7BS

Bookings open one calendar month in advance of any Sunday walk and can be made either by email or phone/text message and confirmed within 3 working days by submitting the required £1 per participant BACS payment. In line with all Club events, the event Co-Ordinator will attempt, whenever possible, to allocate bookings on a 'first come, first served' basis.

WEEKEND TRIPS - For weekend trips we invariably hire self-catering cottages, although we occasionally stay in youth hostels or camp. Walks are usually planned on the day after studying a map and the local weather forecast.

WEEK TRIPS:

In March 2025, Claire O'Sullivan, Lyn Boyle, Lynn Ford, Ronnie Willison, Liz Beech, Anne Marie Forster, Neil Waite, Ian Goodman & Natalie Goodman will be staying in Lodge 1 and Chalet 1 on the Patterdale Hall Estate at a cost of £142 per member. This 300-acre private estate is located in the breath-taking Ullswater valley, wrapped around the southern tip of Ullswater, England’s most beautiful lake. Ideally located at the foot of some of Lakeland's most magnificent and scenic mountains (Place Fell, St Sunday Crag, Helvellyn, High Street) and, at the same time, for exploring by car the whole of the Lake District as it is within a short drive of Penrith, Keswick, Windermere, Ambleside, Bowness and Kendal. In May 2025, Lynn Ford, Ronnie Willison, Claire O'Sullivan, Carol Lonsdale, Ian Storey, Ellen Morrison, Mike Morrison, Jean Walker, Steve Walker, Malcolm McVey, Ailie Langston, Margaret Andison, John Costello & Lucy Topping will be spending 7-nights in Craigard Lodge, Boat of Garten, within the Cairngorms National Park at a maximum cost of £257 per member. This is a grand and spacious Highland self catering lodge with cinema room, games room, hot tub, wine cellar, stained glass windows, rain showers, very impressive staircase and mountain views from turreted rooms. Should you also wish to participate in either event, please contact the Secretary as soon as possible.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS - These are held at least every six months in Gateshead Civic Centre. 

NAVIGATION - New or inexperienced members are more than welcome to accompany the more experienced members on walks that take place during Club events. However, for those with little experience of navigation it is advisable, for member's own safety and enjoyment, to use Club walks to learn and/or develop navigational skills. Experienced members will always be ready to give help and advice about navigation during Club walks. For members wishing to learn the basic principles of navigation, the Club has a very readable reference book called ‘Mountain Navigation’ by Peter Cliff.

SHOPPING - Privileged shopping facilities (usually 10%) are available to members at NevisSport, 100 Grainger Street, Newcastle, on production of a current Club membership card.

MAP READING - A map is a representation, on flat paper, of the three-dimensional features of the earth. Some members boast that given a map of some part of the country, they can scan a part of it and have a mental picture of the landscape it represents. This is possibly an exaggeration. The map certainly details the bones of the landscape, the flesh is left to the imagination. The Club has some experienced map-readers, however that task is invariably left to them. This is unwise; everyone should take a turn! Map reading is important as it is the key to enjoying the countryside. Anyone who lacks this easily acquired skill is denied an essential freedom.

CLOTHING, EQUIPMENT and PREPARATION - Safety, efficiency and comfort should be your guide. Clothing should be warm, comfortable, windproof, waterproof and colourful. The longer and higher the route, the better the equipment which is required.

Winter conditions (i.e. any time when there is snow, ice or frozen turf underfoot), plus the reduced daylight hours, can transform a pleasant summer stroll into an epic journey and paths normally posing no real dangers or problems can change overnight. It is obviously essential, in such conditions, that the correct equipment is carried and clothing worn.

€ Obtain a local weather forecast with fell conditions.

€ Learn how to use a compass, read a map and administer simple first aid.

€ Walk in company - it is safer and more enjoyable.

€ Start the day with a cooked breakfast.

€ Plan your route beforehand, balancing the terrain, the hours of daylight, the fell and weather conditions against your own experience and ability. You should allow at least 1hr for every 4km [2.5 miles] of your route plus 1 minute for every 10m contour line crossed during ascent.

€ Allow a large safety margin and always anticipate the worst.

€ Ensure that other party members are adequately clothed and equipped and that no one is overburdened.

€ Before you set off leave precise written details of your party, intended route (with possible variations) and expected time of return with a responsible person.

INSURANCE - The Club have both Employer's (£10,000,000) & Public (£1,000,000) Liability Insurance. Such cover specifically excludes any Club activities involving the use of "ropes".

APPLICATION FORM

FURTHER INFORMATION - If you require additional information, please: