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NORTHUMBRIA BACKPACKERS
The web site of the
Northumbrian members of the Backpackers Club |
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Everyone is Welcome to the
Northumbrian Backpacker's event of 2007.
The event will take place from Friday, April 27 to Sunday April 29.
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Every year The Backpackers Club hold their agm weekend in
a different part of the country. In April 2007 the meeting will be
based right on the Pennine Way at Demense Farm Camping Site,
Bellingham. In this Rievers Country town the Club will also take
over the lofty Town Hall for the sign-in, social networking and the
afternoon business side of things. The Town Hall will be open to
visitors, not just Club members.
There will be a short business meeting on Saturday afternoon, but
for the rest of the time Backpackers Club members will be looking
forward to welcoming hikers and others who want to find out more
about the world of backpacking and lightweight camping. It will be a
good time for their enthusiasm to rub off on you, so come along! |
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The Backpackers Club co-founder Peter Lumley and TBC’s local liaison
delegate Bryan Crick are heading up the Northumbria Group of members
staging the event for the national organisation. "It’s a real pleasure
to be able to put something back into the Club" he says, "and in my
wildest dreams I had hardly expected to be working with a group of
members for an annual general meeting 35 years on from when the Club was
founded. The Club has every right to be proud of their backpacking
heritage and the Bellingham weekend will be a time when we will be
celebrating the ways of going lightweight".
There has always been the helping hand when backpackers meet. The
national movement that is now The Backpackers Club was popularised not
just as a Practical Camper magazine benefit in the early days, but was
supported by the other camping journal of the day, Camping Magazine. The
UK roots of the Club were well and firmly planted on the pages of that
publications, where readers there were entertained with the fun-loving
approach in a "Travelling Light" series that was written about
backpacking life by Robin Adshead.
Robin had taken over the original Travelling Light feature pages by
Derrick Booth in Camping magazine, the other half of a keen backpacking
partnership that between them resulted in the 1974 production of
Backpacking in Britain, a really inspiring hardback book about the
pastime.
These writers and their colleagues all knew that magazine readers needed
only a little encouragement to take a look beyond the horizon, and the
tradition of Club members writing and working to enhance the appeal of
backpacking continues right to today. At Bellingham will be the Club’s
president Cameron McNeish, now editor of TGO magazine, who was first a
youth hostel warden, then ski and climbing instructor and who later
partnered the launch and publication of the outdoor magazine Footloose
in 1982. Since then he has been editor of Climber and Rambler magazine,
and is now editor of tgo magazine.
Today's writers help reflect the attitude of Backpackers Club members,
who are mostly looking for a tent that is as secure as a stone-built
mansion in bad weather, yet weighing little more than a cobblestone or
two. To carry their equipment as they travel light, backpackers are
still searching for the rucksack that can contain a shoulder of lamb and
a peck of potatoes - to cook on the coal range they’ll be carrying with
them, of course - yet none of this weighing much more than the helium
filled balloon you buy at the seaside or on a visit to the fairground.
Backpacking can sound a little spartan at times, it may look a little
too rustic for some and there are those who’d imagine it’s a fate worse
than sleeping in the freezer to be camping on a high hillside in
mid-winter. Yet, in truth, backpacking is an art form, a way of life,
the culture of involving yourself in the freedom of self-sustained
travel, taking with you overnight accommodation and everything else you
need to be happy, safe and rewarded for getting outdoors and enjoying
the experience.
At Bellingham over the April 27-29 weekend there is the opportunity to
see how Backpackers Club members do their thing year round, up high or
on valley floors. It’s the opportunity to ask questions and get a
touchy-freely introduction to kit that is used by them. This is the
place to find experience and the helping hand so willingly offered.
There’ll be literature and photos, authors and photographers, mountain
lovers and those people who have an inclination to wander canal and
river banks or coastal footpaths.
Above all Bellingham will see the gathering of Backpackers Club members
from all around Britain. All are country-goers, they all love to pick up
a rucksack and go travel. So go join them . . . get to Bellingham,
you’ll be made very welcome.
There is a Help Line for information, e-mail:
tbcagm@tiscali.co.uk. |
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READING MATTER: For
local routes - a book to check: The Roman Ring, looping to the south of the
Wall from Lanercost Priory to Halton Chesters, with the mid-section of the
Hadrian's Wall Path, produces a long walk equal in length to the full
National Trail - for most walkers this will be the dream ticket to savour in
a seven-day trip.
The Roman Ring by Mark Richards is published by Shepherd’s Walks. price
£9.99
ISBN 0-955262-40-2
online: www.theromanring.com or
phone 01830 54045
Download brochure
(high res - 478kb) |
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For more info on walks in the
nearby Cheviot hills visit
http://www.cheviotwalks.co.uk/ |
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Download
event poster for display in shops, libraries etc (PDF 80kb) |
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backpacking on the press trip
The magazines and newspapers have been good to us, with lots of coverage
about backpacking to help raise the Bellingham weekend profile. With all
this coverage, it can only heighten awareness of the culture of countryside
living that is backpacking.
At one week before the Bellingham weekend, the prominent regional morning
daily newspaper The Journal has done us more than proud with an article by
Tony Henderson in his regular 'environment today' series. His spread also
mentioned the passing of local member Ron Johnson and the funeral on Friday,
where several Backpackers Club members were among the mourners. |
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Right from the turn of the year the specialist consumer magazines have all
helped raised the profile of the agm weekend meeting and the min-exhibition
that takes place at the Town Hall and on Demesne Farm on Saturday, April 28.
As well as the regular backpacking features and event coverage in TGO,
Camping magazine have added their support, along with OE magazine, the
Camping & Caravan Club magazine and Country Walking.
Experience, which is the One North East tourism business newsletter, also
ran the “Passionate about backpacking” story to a broad and influential
readership. Their Image & Press department have also been busy publicising
the Northumberland happening with stories to the local press, tv and radio. |
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a day of ease
Alan Sloman would have had a restful day with wife Lynnie at Dufton - except
that the Northumbria Backpackers’ very own official photographer Jonathan
Lane, along with Peter Lumley, turned up at Brow Farm to disrupt their day.
Result is a few more images from the trip of a lifetime that Alan is making
from Lands End to John O’Groats.
The daily blog that Alan is compiling - go to
www.alansloman.blogspot.com
- is giving the inside story of the people he meets, along with the joy, but
sometimes the frustrating side of walking the length of the UK mainland.
After walking along part of Hadrian’s Wall, Alan is expecting to stroll into
Bellingham just before tea-time on Tuesday, and try a pint or two to help
re-hydrate. Come the morning the route is up the Pennine Way in company with
Peter Shepherd, heading for Byrness, where they should be meeting Club
member Ian Shiel, walking in from Scotland. |
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there are two directions you may
take on the Pennine Way - Alan is heading north. |
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the Sue Ryder Cares badge on Alan's
rucksack was
embroidered by Lynnie
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actively involved
presidents
When Backpackers Club was founded in 1972 the activists setting up the
movement were lucky enough to find a kindred spirit in John Hillaby. Author,
tv and radio man, environmentalist and a great traveller who knew what it
was like to carry a rucksack and sleep in a tent.
It was on an early days backpacking trek along The Ridgeway that John
Hillaby taught us Club members so much about moles that burrow and holes
that birds frequent. It was almost a world and a half away from his
escapades related in his book Journey to the Jade Sea but so close to the
interest in our countryside that has been generated by his sequel - Journey
through Britain. Then there was Journey through Love and Journey Home, books
that anyone loving the ways of a backpacker will find so inspirational.
The remark remembered most from John, who sadly left this life some years
back, was as he prepared to pick up a Camp Trails rucksack and go tramping
in America. Ever the one to see possibilities, he said “I’ll take the
Trangia, and if I do happen to run out of fuel then I can at least boil
water for my coffee over a few moose turds.”
The span of years from when John Hillaby was Club president to the present
time of Cameron McNeish in that role, is probably the only real assessable
change in what backpacking, and the Backpackers Club, is all about. Just as
with John Hillaby, the tag of author, tv and radio man, environmentalist and
a great traveller sits easily on the shoulders of our man from the Highlands
who heads up the Club movement.
From his first book called Highland Ways to the latest of many coffee-table
books and dvd presentations, magazine articles and radio broadcasts, Cameron
McNeish has woven words and pictures in such a way that people feel they
must simply be part of this life that is backpacking. He’ll be at
Bellingham, helping to inspire people to develop their understanding and
appreciation of the culture that is backpacking. |
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Backpackers Club president Cameron
McNeish |
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The Saturday Programme, April 28 |
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The Town Hall
presentation is about gear and the how-to of backpacking. Open to
the public from 10am to 4pm
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There'll be tasters from
First Choice Expedition Foods during the day, after the Hall opens at
10am.
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During the day there will
be talk-ins and audio-vis presentations, along with Trade personnel on
hand to discuss the equipment and clothing they will have on show and to
buy.
Presentations include:
Chris Townsend on Winter in Yellowstone National Park.
John Manning on UK's Triple Crown.
Mark Richards on the Roman Ring and the Conservation Corridor.
Kieron MacKenzie on high level trekking and his push to the very summit
of Everest.
There will also be videos from Cameron McNeish on the Wasdale Round &
the Howgills.
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At Demesne Farm Camping
site will be an outdoor demonstration of backpacking tents and
equipment, open all day. Closed to the public at 5pm
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All day in the Town Hall
there will be served tea, coffee, biscuits - but not all free of charge.
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Happy
Birthday Helpings
some of the features at
Bellingham
The "Passionate people"
touch comes from the regional development agency One North East who quickly put their marketing might to
helping the Northumbria group of Backpackers Club stage the 35th
agm weekend, and from their stand at the Ordnance Survey Outdoor Show in
Birmingham have told the nation’s media that Bellingham is the place to be
on April 27-29.
Just as smart
has been the reaction of companies in the outdoor equipment supply chain who
are helping Northumbria Backpackers in the celebrations - special gifts for
members, and support that is a great encouragement for the band of local
members making sure that Bellingham 2007 is a real “meet the backpackers”
occasion to be remembered.
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The
Backpackers Club AGM &
tgo Ultralight Fest will be attracting the following
exhibitors: |
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Ultralight Outdoor Gear is
a small company barely a year old specialising in the supply of lightweight
gear for backpacking, trekking, hut-touring and camping.
Owned and inspired by Mark Richardson the company was formed to address the
lack of availability of ultralight gear from the US. In particular we are
proud to offer Granite Gear rucksacks, Integral Designs Bivy bags, Vargo
Titanium cookware and GoLite clothing and equipment.
In addition to these brands we offer home grown lightweight gear from Terra
Nova, Montane, Karrimor and many others. Recently we have included high
quality rucksacks and tents from Vaude, a leading edge manufacturer turning
its attention to the lightweight revolution. |
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Backpackinglight.co.uk are rapidly getting known for finding and
bringing to the UK market many useful and practical products to make the
hikers life more enjoyable and easy. After all who else has pot cosy kits,
food dehydrators and sleeping bag refresh packs?
They are also the pioneers in podcasting. Radio programs you are able to
download from the website, which contain a wealth of free information and
inspiration to help people get out on the hills and enjoy the beautiful
world around us.
Podcast Bob hopes to be bringing a range of solo and duo tents, all fitting
the lightweight category, plus tarps and accessories which will give you the
ability to compare like for like in one place, something of a rarity these
days.
He'll also be bringing along the latest models of lightweight rucksacks to
suit most needs. These have already gained a lot of attention and stocks are
moving fast, however the BPC will be able to judge for themselves if it is
time to upgrade.
There are always accessories which help lighten the load, be it cookwear,
clothing or general camp gear, and there will be plenty of the latest
products on show to see and 'fondle'!
Plus of course, the ever popular 'clearance corner'. A special box which Bob
has already put aside especially for the show, containing items which have
been super-seeded, and this already includes tents, rucksacks and clothing.
So it is worth the trip for you? I hope so, and if you have any orders from
the website you would like to collect from Bellingham, please let them know
and they will bring them along! |
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Alpkit was born out of a passion for outdoor activity and not accepting the
costs involved in getting quality kit in our sacks. Wedesign and source all
our goodies allowing us to sell them direct to you at competitive prices
whilst giving you service and customer support second to none. This means
you can spend less on your kit knowing it will out perform many other brands
when you are out doing more, because you can afford too!
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The
Outdoor Warehouse tell us that they'll be big on OMM at Bellingham, both
with the rucksacks such as Mountain Mover and also the new "quiet fabric"
waterproofs. OMM stands for Original Mountain Marathon, a name which derives
from the long involvement and running of KIMM, itself part of the UK
backpacking heritage until the name change last year.
Lakeland based Outdoor Warehouse, who have their shop in Windermere as well
as the web presence, will bring to Bellingham a full complement of Go-Lite
equipment, tarps, tents, clothing and rucksacks. They'll have Montane gear,
stuff from Innov8 - including a new pack and something a bit special from
Aku. |
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In a Lakeland town that
boasts a big crop of outdoor shops, you could walk by the Winwood
Outdoor shop and pass it off as another outdoor clothing retailer.
But Winwoods in Keswick have found the way to draw you indoors, they
are unlocking countrywide interest with Ultralight as the
catch-word. Two brands that fit this keyword are Gossamer Gear,
clothing and tents, and Antigravity Gear, the alcohol Pepsi can
cooker and pans people. Their products are imported as exclusives
and offered over the counter to shoppers or through the company’s
website.
With this useful website helping, Winwoods is building a first class
reputation and as Ian (pictured left) tells us, "these brands and
the product bring customers here, which helps us move other stock".
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As the interest has built there’s the
awareness that in the coming month or so they will need to expand
the display to show a broader collection of the lighter gear offered
for the outdoor scene.
Rails and displays carry a good selection from Helly Hansen, Montane,
Buff headwear, Children’s buff, Bolle, Children’s Bolle sunglasses,
Craghoppers, Columbia, Gelert, Lafuma, Leatherman multi tools, to
mention some. Ian again: "we specialize in Helly Hansen Lifa
baselayers, eVent jackets from Montane, Craghoppers fleeces and
their Kiwi walking trousers. To cater for the demand, Winwoods also
carry a range of women’s outdoor clothing from Montane.
"We are pleased to carry Gossamer Gear, this outdoor clothing from
the US is said to be the lightest ultralight hiking equipment in the
world. There’s the G4 Ultralight rucksack, the Mariposa Ultralight
rucksack and the Whisper Ultralight rucksack as well as the
ultralight Spinnshelter. As for AntiGravityGear, their quality
ultralight stoves and general ultralight cooking gear is making
waves among the minimalists and those who see ultralight as their
territory". |
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supporting
mountain rescue - and helping celebrations, too
Victorinox,
the makers of the Original Swiss Army Knife, have formed a partnership to
promote how essential it is for people to be properly equipped when
venturing into the great outdoors. Stockists of the handy knife from all
over the UK are displaying a range of promotional materials to promote the
campaign strapline: Essential Kit Mountain Rescue.
Victorinox are setting out to create high
visibility for and to encourage visitors to the Mountain Rescue websites.
All point of sale material that is being used to promote the Victorinox
Climber knife will now carry the England & Wales and Scotland Mountain
Rescue website addresses.
here’s one you can
try yourself:
www.mountain.rescue.org.uk
Victorinox
product is distributed in the UK by the Leicester company Burton McCall, and
to help Backpackers Club members celebrate their 35 years they have given
35 Victorinox Climber knives for a special lucky draw at the Club’s 35th
Birthday Supper in Bellingham.
Visit
the website:
www.burton-mccall.co.uk to find out more about the company’s products
for outdoor living such as Mag-Lite, Bridgedale, Sigg, Go Gas and SatMap
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just watch - see what
you can do with a Buff
There’s an outdoor shop near you where you
can watch a very quick pair of hands turn a tube shaped piece of fabric into
a hat, a neckerchief, a scarf, a balaclava, all manner of things to help you
keep cool or warm or trendy looking. The dvd man is demonstrating a Buff.
On a day when there’s not a shop near you
then try going to www.buffwear.com - you’ll find the demonstrations on how
to make Buffwear work for you are just as informative, just as attention
grabbing.
To celebrate their 35th year
Backpackers Club members can now follow the how-to that’s in these video
clips with their very own specially designed Buff, one that carries the
image of a backpacker that has been the centrepiece of the Backpackers Club
badge since 1972.
All Club members at the Bellingham agm
gathering will get their own Buff, this little slice of history that is also
being reserved for the first 50 membership enrolments on Saturday, April 28.
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in the Buff |
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Backpackers Club AGM organisers
Bryan Crick (left) & Peter Lumley (right) pose with Ross Mellows, the
Northumbria Backpackers webmaster sporting the commemorative Buff. |
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the Vango Base Camp
feature
A company with a place in the heritage of
backpacking will be providing Club members with a dome of a tent on the
Demesne camping ground. This is the AMG Group and Vango helping make life
more comfortable. It’s not exactly in the style of the famous Force Ten
orange specials that have played such a big part in the introduction of
Youth Groups and Outward Bound parties to outdoor living. Nor is it the
lightweight home that Alan Hinkes took onto the likes of Everest. But this
is a truly Base Camp feature on the Demesne camping site where Backpackers
Club members, who will be spending the weekend in tents that are mostly
micro-sized, compact units, will be able to appreciate a little more
headroom, a shade more elbow space when they meet to chat.
In the Town Hall, AMG will be demonstrating
things Trangia and also showing how a
Storm of a product can actually make
it easier to keep dry.
more about the company at
www.amg-group.co.uk
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Ron Johnston
The glasses will rise at Bellingham to remember the backpacking life of Ron
Johnston, who died just over a week before his local group would be
celebrating their 35th year of activity. With Bryan Crick, three years ago
Ron backpacked Lands End to John O’Groats. It was a trip that Bryan will
remember for ever. “Ron was such a great country-loving person. He climbed
all the Scottish Munros and was always there to enjoy our backpacking
weekends. Bellingham will be when we salute his memory” says Bryan Crick. |
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Camping for members |
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Camping for non-members |
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TRAVEL -
click here |
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Friday & Saturday Travel. The bus service from Hexham
will be augmented by offers of lifts from Members - but you must book.
Click here to download bus
timetable in PDF format (265kb) |
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Sunday Travel. There is NO bus service.
Northumbria Backpackers have booked a small coach The Vango Bus to operate one service
from Bellingham at approx Sunday noon, first to Hexham and then on to
Newcastle. Please make your booking with us now. e-mail:
tbcagm@tiscali.co.uk |
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Garage The
garage by the camping site closes at noon on Saturday. |
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Newspapers
to be sure of your copy then please ORDER at Bellingham News by Thursday -
01434 220 220 (the shop is on the corner of the street) Baker, stores,
butcher - they are all along on the left from Demesne, towards the Town
Hall. |
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Bank At
the junction with the main street of Bellingham, from Demesne it is across
the street in front of you.
There is a cash-point machine. |
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Shops Baker, stores, butcher
- they are all along on the left from Demesne, towards the Town Hall. |
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Cafe To
the right of the Bank: Fountain Cottage Tea Rooms. We have requested that
they serve breakfasts and the like from 7.30am. The special is a "belly
buster" that includes all the fried things like black pudding. If you have
dietary requirement their phone number is 01434 220 707 |
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Parking
there is limited parking out on the streets of
Bellingham, and the locals come first - it's their home. Delivery vans and
other vehicles must be parked as directed by the organising Team. Demesne is
a working farm so please do not leave unaccompanied vehicles by gates or
obstructing access. |
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ONE NORTH EAST and the countryside. Visitors to the area will find two guides developed by the North East’s
Regional Development Agency, One North East, helping them tune in to the
attractions on the ground or open to public viewing. There’s a walking guide
and a cycling guide. The cycling guide, is published by One North East in
partnership with sustainable transport charity, Sustrans together with the
assistance of regional partners including Forestry Commission England.
For a copy of the cycling guide call 08701 601 778 .
For a copy of the walking guide call 0870 225 0129 or visit
www.visitnortheastengland.co.uk/walking. |
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Click here for a brief look at the
history of the Backpackers Club |
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Click here for a look at unique
Northumberland |
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Go to www.kielder.org for information
on Bellingham and Kielder. Also, Bellingham Tourist Information Centre,
on 01434 220643 |
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