Guided Walks
St
Cuthbert's Outdoor Festival
Boat
trip to LindisfarneSAINT CUTHBERT - The Natural World
On the night that Aidan died at Bamburgh in 651AD, a young shepherd boy called Cuthbert had a vision of Aidan’s soul being carried to Heaven by angels. He was moved to become a novice monk in the monastery of Mailros (Old Melrose), a daughter-house of Lindisfarne. Cuthbert later became prior of Mailros and then prior and ultimately bishop of Lindisfarne.
There are many stories that associate Cuthbert with the natural world. Bede recounts an incident when Cuthbert was visiting St. Ebba at Coldingham on the Berwickshire coast. He stood praying for several hours in the cold waters of the North Sea. When he came to shore two otters dried him by rubbing their fur against him.
As prior and later bishop of Lindisfarne, Cuthbert spent much of his time in retreat on the Farne Islands. His closeness to the resident eider ducks led to them being affectionately known by locals to this day as “Cuthbert’s” or “Cuddy’s Ducks”. Statues and stained glass images often depict Cuthbert accompanied by an eider duck, a seal or an otter.
Cuthbert was buried in the church on Lindisfarne. In the 9th century, Viking raids forced the monks to abandon the island and take Cuthbert’s body on 100 year journey to eventually find sanctuary at Durham.
Several local sites, such as Cuthbert's Cave near Belford, are traditionally identified with places where Cuthbert’s body was rested.
Our festival includes a variety of themed guided walks and other outdoor activities to enable visitors to explore some of the unspoiled landscapes and historic sites associated with characters and events of Northumbria’s Golden Age.
ST. CUTHBERT'S WAY is a long-distance walking route leads from Melrose, where Cuthbert first became a monk, to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Information packs with maps and details of places to visit and to stay along the route can be purchased from local tourist information centre.
For
more information about St. Cuthbert's Way, click here
ST. OSWALD'S WAY long distance footpath begins on Holy
Island, then follows a route along the Northumberland coast to King Oswald's
ropyal capital of Bamburgh, before turning south-westwards through Northumberland
to end at Heavenfield, 
where
Oswald defeated his pagan enemies in 633AD.
For more information about St. Oswald' Way, click here
Programme of Events
The Natural World
GUIDED WALKS
The Golden Age of Northumbria Festival includes a programme of themed outdoor activities. The organisers very much appreciate the considerable contribution made by Derrick Joanes and the Berwick Ramblers in creating the programnme of walks.
As well as experienced walk leaders, each activity will include expert
interpretation of the historical or natural heritage, living history or
other performances relating to the theme of the Golden Age of Northumbria.
Wherever possible, the activities are organised to be accessible for people
using cars or public transport to or from Berwick-upon-Tweed. Where necessary
a free shuttle bus will operate. The walks are free of charge.
Details of car parking, public transport and shuttle bus arrangements for
each activity are available from here or from
Berwick TIC on 01289 330733.
For any activity involving shuttle transport, booking is required by 5pm
two days prior to the event. Tickets for the boat trips can be booked in
advance or paid for on the day of the activity, but spaces are limited.
All participants are requested to wear appropriate footwear and clothing,
and bring packed lunches. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent
or guardian. No dogs allowed.
The walks are free but booking is required. Tel: 01289 330218 by 5pm two days before the event.
Saturday
22nd March
Melrose - St. Boswells
Start 10.45am, Melrose Abbey
7.5 miles 4.5 hours
The first section of St. Cuthberts Way begins at Melrose, where Cuthbert first became a monk. The route along the Tweed Valley passes Dryburgh Abbey and ends at St. Boswells, a small town named after St. Boisil, who first recognised Cuthbert’s holiness.
Easter
Monday 24th March
Holy Island Holy Island - Cuthbert's Cave
Start 10.00am, Holy Island Market Cross
9 miles 5.5 - 6 hours
The route covers the last section of St. Cuthbert’s Way, ending at the cave where it is said Cuthbert’s body was taken for safety when the monks abandoned Lindisfarne.
Thursday 17th July
Tweedmouth - Hallowstell
Start 7.30pm, Tweedmouth Church
2 miles 1.5 hours
An easy riverside walk linking the themes of saints and salmon!
Organised by Berwick Civic Society in association with the Crowning of the Tweedmouth Salmon Queen.
.jpg)
Saturday
2nd August
Holy Island - Belford
Start 9.45am, Holy Island Market Cross
12 miles 6 hours
A walk along the first section of St. Oswald’s Way long-distance
route in the company of Aisling Lannin, North Northumberland Coast Marine
Site Officer.
Click here for details of parking and
transport
FREE walk
Sunday
3rd August
Beadnell - Bamburgh
Start 10.00am, Beadnell Craster Arms
7 miles 4.5 hours
A section of St. Oswald’s Way ending at the site of Oswald’s
royal capital at Bamburgh accompanied by Martin Parminter, creator of this
long distance route.
Organised in association with St. Oswald’s Anglo-Saxon Living History
Festival.
Click here for
details of parking and transport
FREE walk
Saturday
23rd August
Coldingham - St Abbs
Start 11.00am, Coldingham Cross
6 miles 4 hours
An easy coastal walk to celebrate St. Ebba’s Day.
Click here for
details of parking and transport
FREE walk (Booking required - tel: 01289 330218 by 5pm on 20th August)
ST. CUTHBERT'S OUTDOOR FESTIVAL
Monday
1st September
Melrose-St. Boswells
Start 10.45am, Melrose Abbey
7.5 miles 4.5 hours
The walk covers the first section of St. Cuthbert’s Way, beginning
at Melrose where Cuthbert became a monk. The route along the Tweed Valley
passes Dryburgh Abbey and ends at St. Boswells, named after St. Boisil who
was the first to recognise Cuthbert’s holiness. Along the way you
will meet Boisil who will tell you some of his stories about Cuthbert's
early life. The walk is organised in association with the Borders Festival
of Walking.
Click here for
more information about the Borders Festival of Walking
Click here for details of parking
and transport.
FREE walk
Tuesday
2nd September
Boat trip to Lindisfarne
Start 2.30pm, Seahouses harbour
4 hours (Includes 2 hours landing)
Journey by boat past the Farne Islands, where Cuthbert spent many years
as a hermit. Landing on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne you will hear about
seals and seabirds and learn about life in the monastery.
Click here for details of parking
and transport.
Charge for TICKET ON BOAT (adult £12 - child £3 - tel: Billy
Shiel on 01665 720316 to book tickets)
For more information about boat trips out of Seahouses Harbour visit Billy Shiel, the Farne Islands Boatman
Wednesday
3rd September
Old Yeavering-Kirknewton
Start 11.00am, Old Yeavering
6 miles - 4 hours
(note walk can be very steep in places)
The event begins with an introduction to the 7th century Ad Gefrin site by archaeologist Roger Miket of the Gefrin Trust. Non walkers are welcome to enjoy this lively short tour. The first section of the walk is steep, leading to Northumberland's largest Iron-Age hill-fort on Yeavering Bell. The route becomes easier as it descends to Kirknewton church, dedicated to St. Gregory the Great (Feast Day 3rd September).
From 2pm-4pm refreshments will be on sale iin the Village Hall and a display
illustrates aspects of the history of the Kirknewton district.
Click here for
details of parking and transport
FREE walk
Thursday
4th September
Cornhill-Twizel-Norham
Start 11.45am, Cornhill Collingwood Arms
8 miles 5 hours
Celebrate the Feast of St. Cuthbert’s Translation with a walk along an attractive route beside the River Tweed, past the ruins of the l;ittle chapel at Twizel, and ending at St. Cuthbert’s Church in Norham, where you can hear stories about life in the Anglo-Saxon village. Non walkers are welcome to join the story telling at Norham Church between 4.30pm and 5.15pm.
Click here for
details of parking and transport.
FREE walk
Friday
5th September
Boat trip to The Farne Islands
Start 2.30pm, Seahouses Harbour
3 hours (Includes 1 hour landing)
A special themed boat journey to experience the remote attractions of the
Farnes, where St. Aidan and St. Cuthbert found peace and solitude. Along
the way, in the company of Fr. Adrian Hughes, you will hear about the seals
and the sea-birds and learn about the relationship between the Celtic monks
and the natural world.
Click here for details of parking and
transport.
Charge for TICKET ON BOAT (adult £12 - child £3 - tel: Billy
Shiel on 01665 720316 to book tickets)
For more information about boat trips out of Seahouses Harbour visit Billy Shiel, the Farne Islands Boatman
Saturday
6th September
Wooler - St. Cuthbert’s Cave
Start 10.00am, Wooler Bus Station
9 miles 5 hours
Led by Ron Shaw, ceator of the St. Cuthbert’s Way long-distance
footpath, this walk ends at the cave where it is said St. Cuthbert's body
was taken for safety when Viking raiders forced the monks to abandon Lindisfarne.
Non walkers are welcome to join the group at the Cave to hear the story
of St. Cutubert's journey from Lindisfarne to Durham, presented by "Time
Bandits". Meet at 2.30pm at Hepburn Grange Car Park for the short walk
to the Cave for the "St. Cuthbert's Journey"
story.
Click here for details of parking
and transport.
FREE walk
Sunday
7th September
Guided Walk on Holy Island
Start 2.00pm, Holy Island Market Cross
4 miles 2.5 hours
An easy walk suitable for anyone with reasonable walking abilities to visit
sites and hear stories associated with Anglo-Saxon Lindisfarne, presented
by "Time Bandits".
Click here for
details of parking and transport.
FREE walk
Saturday13th
September
Holy Island - St. Cuthbert’s Cave - Chatton
Start 9.30am, Holy Island Car Park entrance
16 miles 6.5 hours
Cross the Pilgrims' Causeway to the well-known beauty spot associated with St. Cuthbert, then on to Chatton Church to celebrate Holy Cross Day.
