Haltwhistle Walking Festival: 30th April to 8th May 2011
Good news - a splendid programme with low prices
Christmas is over, 2011 has started and we are all back into our routines as though nothing has happened.
But amidst all of this the organising committee for the Haltwhistle Waking Festival has put the final touches on Spring Festival which is scheduled to run from Saturday 30th April to Sunday 8th May.
Haltwhistle sits in the middle of excellent walking country. There are walks in the Northumberland National Park, the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and "on and off" the Hadrian's Wall Trail.
"We are very conscious of the current economic climate, so we have continued to keep walks' fees as low as possible" said Colin Mills, one of the directors of Haltwhistle Walking Festival Ltd. "If we have to use a coach we have subsidised the costs. If possible, we use public transport to reach the start of walks outside Haltwhistle and the timing of walks is arranged to allow people to travel into Haltwhistle by bus or train. We want as many people as possible to come and enjoy the festival walks with us". The basic walk fee for the Festival is £6, and with a maximum of £10 if transport or refreshments are included.
Walks vary from 4 to 15 miles in length. Shorter walks are taken at a steadier pace: "Lambley and Featherstone", "Romans and Peasants", "Farmhouse tea at Wydon", "Beech and Burn Circular". Longer walks include "A walk on the wild side", "A Right Royal Walk", "Silly Wrea", "The Beauty (and the Beast) of Tindale". There are a few tougher walks aimed at more serious walkers: "Cross Fell", "Brampton to Haltwhistle", and two walks "On and off Hadrian's Wall".
Two walks return by popular request. The first is a Singing walk, this year led by David Burbidge of Sedbergh, who has years of experience organising Singing walks in the Lakes. The second is the Real Ale Walk. This is a 7 mile walk - not a pub crawl! - but walkers will visit a number of hostelries on their way and may sample the delights within.
"The Gilsland Experience", on Thursday May 5th is a whole day of walks based in and around this beautiful village. There is a Historical Walk of 7 miles and a walk of 12 miles in the Irthing Valley and around the perimeter of Spadeadam. "War Babies", those born at Gilsland Spa during WWII, will have a reunion on the same day, with a chance to revisit their place of birth.
Spring brings a renewed freshness to this area which is both wild and rugged as well as very beautiful, and the walks provide a great opportunity to see the best of this area in good company.
It is time to dust off your walking boots and prepare yourself for this brilliantly organised and well established walking festival.
For further details visit the website on www.haltwhistlewalkingfestival.org , or to request a brochure email haltywalkfest@btinternet.com or ring 01434 322025
