2024 CLUB INFORMATION
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 50 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
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Sund
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.
2024 Saturday Walks |
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3rd February | Rothbury | 27th July | |
2nd March |
Teesdale / High Force |
17th August |
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6th April | Runswick Bay & Staithes Coastal Walk | 14th September | |
27th April |
5th October | ||
18th May | 26th October | ||
8th June | 30th November | ||
6th July |
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.
2024 Sunday Walks |
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21st January | Craster/Howick | 21st July | Housesteads/Hadrian's Wall |
18th February |
Waskerley Way |
25th August |
Wolsingham/Frosterley |
24th March | Alston | 22nd September | Circuit of Crook |
21st April | Staindrop and Cleatlam | 20th October | Sedgefield |
26th May |
Barnard Castle/Cornerstone | 17th November | Bolam Lake and Shaftoe Crags |
23rd June | Middleton One Row | 15th December | Durham Riverside |
Bookings for Sunday walks 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.
2024 Weekend Events |
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Patterdale Long Weekend | Saturday 16th to Tuesday 19th March |
Whilst Lynn Ford, Ronnie Willison, Lyn Boyle, Neil Waite, Anne Marie Forster & Claire O'Sullivan will be staying in a Lodge on the magnificent Patterdale Hall Estate for seven nights (16th to 23rd March 2024) at a cost of £107 per member, Ian Storey, Natalie Goodman, Ian Goodman, Carol Lonsdale, Mike Morrison, Liz Beech & Paul Gertig will be spending three nights in the chalets at a cost of £95 per member. Should you also wish to participate, please contact the Secretary as soon as possible.
WEEK TRIPS:
2024 Week Events |
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Oakfield House & Cottage, Tobermory, Isle of Mull | 4th-11th May |
Anne Marie Forster, Neil Waite, Lynn Ford, Ronnie Willison, Ian Storey, Claire O'Sullivan, Ellen Morrison, Mike Morrison, Carol Lonsdale, Ailie Langston, Margaret Andison, Malcolm McVey, Jean Walker & Steve Walker will be spending a week in Oakfield House & Cottage which have spectacular views over Tobermory Bay and the Sound of Mull at a cost of £243 per member. Should you also wish to participate, please contact the Secretary as soon as possible.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS - These are held at least every six months in Gateshead Civic Centre.
2024 Committee |
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Officers |
Other Members |
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Secretary |
Graeme Page | Evelyn Brown |
David Ellerington |
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Lynn Ford | ||
Anne Marie Forster | ||
Assistant Secretary |
Ania Retkowska |
Alan Ross |
Roger Smith |
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Ian Storey |
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".
FURTHER INFORMATION
- If you require additional information, please: