Festival fun in noble Northumberland

Posted by Tony Ryan on 04/08/2014
On the summit of The Cheviot, Northumberland's highest point.

Geoffrey Winthrop Young, founder of the BMC, thought there was no nobler country than that of Northumberland, so it’s fitting that in the BMC’s 70th anniversary year, we held a festival to celebrate the climbing and walking opportunities of England’s most tranquil place.

Over 50 climbers and walkers gathered in Wooler during the weekend of 11-13 July for the 2014 BMC North East Climbing & Walking Festival, a team from North Wales picking up the prize for furthest travelled.

Accommodation centred on the Highburn House Country Holiday Park, which offered free camping to BMC and MCofS members, and was conveniently located on the edge of Wooler village, where the Angel Inn provided a great location for evening entertainment.

The festival began on Friday night with a get-together in the pub and an entertaining and informative talk by Dave Blakemore from the North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team.

A good day of climbing and walking followed on Saturday. In the evening, festivalgoers enjoyed a free buffet in the pub, followed by a fun quiz that challenged both mountaineering and general knowledge, a talk by BMC CEO Dave Turnbull entitled “From Bowden to Patagonia” and additional entertainment provided by  local folk singer Mike Orchard.

Rain stopped play for a while on Sunday morning, but teams did eventually head to Kyloe In and the Cheviot range for some more climbing and walking.

Thanks to all involved – see you next year!

 

Photos by Paul Mitchinson.



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Anonymous User
08/08/2014
A tad petty but it was no nobler country not county that GWY wrote. Rockfax helped to spread the misquote on their North of England guide. I have to concur with his sentinent though but please dont tell everyone:)
Tony Ryan(author comment)
08/08/2014
Thanks for the correction. I have amended the article accordingly.
Anonymous User
11/08/2014
Thanks for the mention, and the chance to play for you all. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and hope you all did..... MIke Orchard

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