Walking Festival Success in Castle Morpeth
Participants at this years festival
"The biggest, best and most successful event yet" was the verdict of everyone associated with this year's Castle Morpeth Walking Festival, staged across the Borough of Castle Morpeth over the October half-term school holidays.
Sponsored by Northumberland Sport through the Get Active Northumberland campaign, this festival was organised by Castle Morpeth Borough Council's leisure and cultural services department.
This popular festival attracted more than 1,500 walkers of all ages who took part in what was the Borough's fourth Walking Festival, which was 500 more than joined in the festival 12 months ago!
Other activities included an orienteering competition involving more than 350 pupils from local first schools and exercise sessions on
This week long festival laid on eight different guided walks each day. They ranged from the full day nine-mile 'Roman Route' from Netherwitton to Morpeth and 'String of Pearls' from the mouth of the River Wansbeck at Newbiggin to Morpeth, to the 1½-mile 'short strolls' in Carlisle Park. A 'wheelchair wander' offered a leisurely alternative for people with powered or assisted wheelchairs.
Leanne Beattie, Castle Morpeth's Cultural Development Manager said "we were delighted that the number of walkers was substantially up on last year, and again we will be looking to build on that again when we start planning for 2008."
