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 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.

SATURDAY WALKS - We meet in the car park of Gateshead Civic Centre for a 08.00 departure to various destinations in the north of England. A Denton Travel minibus is usually provided; however, to enable more than 16 members to participate in each walk, members who either own or have access to a private vehicle are requested to allow it to be used as Club transport on a maximum of one occasion each year. In return, their £20 fare is refunded, petrol expenses @ 40p per mile are paid. Both high and lower-level routes are usually suggested; new or inexperienced members are requested to carefully consider which route they will best be able to safely complete in view of the terrain, fell and weather conditions and the hours of daylight - if in any doubt, please choose the lower level walk. We usually break our homeward journey for about half an hour with a fish and chip stop. Over the Summer months we usually arrive back at Gateshead Civic Centre by 22.00; in Winter we arrive back much earlier as walks are obviously more restricted by the hours of daylight.

2024 Saturday Walks

3rd February Rothbury 27th July  

2nd March

Teesdale / High Force

17th August

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

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

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

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

Officers

Other Members

Secretary

Graeme Page Evelyn Brown

David Ellerington

Lynn Ford
Anne Marie Forster

Assistant Secretary

Ania Retkowska

Alan Ross

Roger Smith

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".

APPLICATION FORM

 

FURTHER INFORMATION - If you require additional information, please: