Start at gateway to Gainford St Mary’s Church DL2 3DS (GR: NZ 170 167, What3Words: ///cleans.clashing.contexts) at 9.30am. 16 Miles. Hard. £7. This is a linear walk involving the use of public transport. Please see details of the proposed arrangements below. All participants will be contacted in advance to finalise appropriate travel options.

The Northern Saints Trails are a series of 6 routes converging on Durham Cathedral, and over 2 days we will follow the southerly route called “The Way of Life”,which runs from the church in the lovely spa village of Gainford north to Durham. It is said that the route corresponds to the last part of the journey of the body of St Cuthbert from Ripon to his final shrine in Durham. The same route forms part of the official Camino Ingles Pilgrimage. The two stages can be done separately or together. Our first day takes us through varied countryside, past Headlam and Ingleton to West Auckland, famous as the home of the first Football World Cup!  From here we start to see evidence of the railway history of the area as we walk along the Etherley Incline which formed part of the original Stockton and Darlington Railway. The area roundabout was an important centre for coal mining and iron works. We will reach Escomb, with its small Saxon Church, before following the Weardale Way to Bishop Auckland, where we take our chosen arrangements to get transport home. Those doing both legs may wish to arrange accommodation in Bishop Auckland overnight. Although this is relatively straightforward walking, the length of the route justifies the grading of hard and means we will need to maintain a good pace throughout.

RECOMMENDED TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS

It is considered that the most appropriate transport arrangements are based on those taking part making their way to Darlington at the start of the day. Assuming you will do that by car the best parking place is the Park Place West Car Park (DL1 1AA). Park at the western end of this nearest to Victoria Road.  From here it is an easy walk, allow 15 minutes to be safe, to the bus stop at Darlington Town Hall. Catch the X76 bus to Barnard Castle leaving at 9.03am. Alight at the Gainford Lord Nelson stop and walk to Gainford Green and the Church.  At the end of the day we will make our way to Bishop Auckland Railway Station and catch the train back to Darlington.  It is a short walk from the station in Darlington back to your car. The train runs hourly, and which we catch will depend on the pace we achieve on our walk. Remember to bring your railcard if you have one.

It is recognised that other options might prove more suitable to some, Your leader will contact you before the walk to confirm arrangements with you.

Leave Station car park 9.00am. Start at Buckden YDNP car park (GR: SD 941 774, What3Words: ///behalf.makeup.freely) at 10.00am. 5.5 miles. Hard. £7

Join Yorkshire Dales National Trust Rangers and Ecologist for a circular walk on Buckden Pike (2,303’). As always, the National Trust walk will be used to illustrate and discuss various aspects of the Trust’s conservation work in the Dales. The route will sometimes deviate off established paths to include areas of woodland creation, montane scrub planting, and peat bog restoration. Although short in distance terms this will be a strenuous walk. We head up the Rakes and the summit of Buckden Pike, along to the Polish Memorial, and then down to Eshber Wood to pick up the Millennium Path back to Buckden. Please bring lunch, these walks always take longer than expected as the objective is not to cover distance quickly!  

Supported by: The National Trust   

Leave Station car park 9.30am. Start at Mocha Café Car Park at Aske Hall DL10 5HQ (GR: NZ 178 037), What3Words: ///fidgeting,bypassed,solutions) at 10.00am. 8 miles. Moderate. £7

An undulating walk, all on good paths, with fine views and a variety of landscapes and historic features. We walk past the impressive Aske Hall, for a steady climb over Richmond Golf Course to reach the historic former racecourse. Our gentle climb continues to the viewpoint of Jockey Cap Hill. We then descend through woodland to return to the valley, passing Gillingwood Hall, and back to our start where there should be time to sample the coffee or chocolate at Mocha.

Cosy Stove Café, Scorton Road, Brompton on Swale, DL10 7EQ | 11:00am | £10 

Join naturalist and writer, Laurence Rose, for a talk celebrating ‘the extraordinary nature of ordinary nature’. Set in the Yorkshire countryside, his latest book Windhover does just that. Later, during a leisurely 3 - 4 mile flat walk around Scorton Lakes Nature Reserve Laurence will share his love and knowledge of the natural world, including readings from his books and literary field notes. This is an opportunity to experience nature through the eyes of a writer: for some it may be a whole new way of engaging with landscape, wildlife and ‘place’. Feel free to bring a notebook of your own writing if you would like to do so - Laurence is always happy to exchange ideas and challenges along the way.

The Station, Richmond, DL10 4LD | 2:00pm | £60 | café, bookstall, disabled access

Learn the art of bookbinding in this hands-on 3-hour workshop. Have you ever wondered how fine and antiquarian books were made? The art and craft of book making dates back over two thousand years, but whether that’s works from ancient China, Japanese designs, the rich tradition of Islamic bookbinding, or the leather-bound volumes of stately-home libraries, the principles are similar: papers are sewn together and secured within a protective, often decorated, casing.  In this workshop led by local bookbinder, Delphine Ruston, see for yourself how books start life by making two books of your own to take away – a 3-hole pamphlet (or chap book), and a single-section, hardback notebook. With a few materials, tools and simple skills, it’s possible to make attractive books to put to whatever use you wish.

Richmondshire Cricket Club, Hurgill Road, DL10 4AR | 7:30pm | £12 | bookstall | disabled access

A collection of selected poetry and prose celebrating The Shipping Forecast on the 100th anniversary of the first BBC broadcast.

Described variously as a litany, a mantra or a lullaby, the Shipping Forecast details wind, rain, pressure and visibility in the seas bordering the British Isles. Its thirty-one areas – cast like a safety net – take us on a virtual voyage that starts between the Shetlands and Norway, zig-zags down the North Sea, scoots westwards along the English Channel, down the coast of France, Spain and Portugal, and then via both sides of Ireland up to the west coast of Scotland and the nearest shard of Iceland.  The forecast is delivered using precise vocabulary and with all the expressive qualities of a metronome and yet, the nation loves it.  Good, Occasionally Rhyming is a love letter to this iconic radio broadcast.

Kathy Clugston is the current chairman and voice of Gardeners’ Question Time. As a BBC announcer she read the shipping forecast for many years. She has written a humorous word-play book, A Brief History of Tim, and co-created a stage musical about Radio 4, But First This.  

Rob Stepney writes about travel, science, medicine, and The Archers as well as being a published poet.