Ah the start of a new year for Walkwise and what better way to introduce it than a perfect weekend away in peaceful Northumbria.  A small group made the break away to Alnwick and probably managed to get one of the best weather days we've ever hadup there and sang along with one of the best bands too! 

Saturday saw us taking the old vintage bus along to the coast so we could experience the best walks possible and enjoy the linear route from Beadnell Bay, through high Newton, to Dunstanburgh, Craster, the bathing house, Boulmer to Alnwick.... Oh and what a day it turned out to be, lovely weather, blue skies and frost on the beach!!!! Perfert days..if a touch cold!
Then its back to the hotel for dinner before we headed out to see Hugh in the tanners Arms and what a great night followed...singing and dancing, to every happy song you know...and there were tamborines and castanettes too!!!

Sunday dawned and most of us were still singing... so the walks went out very very happy!!!  Don headed off into the Cheviots taking a small raiding party up Hedgehope where he managed to break the frost in a couple of places!!! Meanwhile I strolled around the old parks of Alnwick Castle, visiting the priory, the abbey, the castle, the farmers folly, Prizlee hill and the Duke Grave...  A great day but the best was yet to come.... Whilst sitting int he tea shop enjoying a celebratory tea cake, Ian, who had been search all weekend for a craster kipper., and always drawing a blank, stuck a repour with the cafe owner. She heard of his empty quest of the Craster Kipper and went out to fullfil his aim!!  10 minutes later she produced a Craster Kipper, made for Grannies and Ian, well he could not smile wide enough 

Another superb weekend!!  Lets hope the year continues in this vane

Ah winter is nice and quiet and for some reason not a lot of groups want to go away, but why??? Oh well I will find someting to do

Great Days, Great nights, Great people,  Great Walks, Great party, dancing, lots of laughter and lots of fun!!!  Thank you everyone for getting into the spitit of the occassion and just having fun!!!  I loved every moment, from struggling through the caravan park and slipping /sliding in the mud, to checking for unexploded bombs, the cliff warnings, the jogging hard party, the hot cider, bubbles fancy dress party in the town....cant wait to do it again....  If you werent there enjoy the photos, oh and a huge thanks to my fellow guides, Steve and Don....  Great days and great nights 
The walking was  a treat with routes over to studland and views over old harrys rocks, another day saw us exploring kimerridge bay where they managed to walk on water!!! Others checked out the Square and Compass with more hot muld cider...not sure its my thing.  But most people were looking forwards to new years eve.  A great meal, a few drinks more laughter and smiles brought the new year in with a roar.  Then we went out into town where everyone was out partying in fancy dress, lots of happy smily people all having fun...I guess it was like rag week, excellent night, but oo the morning came far to soon for some!!