Fancy something a bit different? Bored of the Lakes and the Peak? Why not launch forth and join my meet in Northumberland? I am planning to base the meet in or around Wooler or Belford where there are lots of campsites, hostels and bunkhouses. If people are prepared to commit and don’t want to slum it in some miserable tent then there is the cushty-looking Wooler independent hostel which at the time of writing has rooms available for the weekend of the meet (group discount available). Failing that, it will most likely be a campsite. I will work out where once I know group size as some sites have a ‘no groups’ policy. Please let me know if you are joining so I can plan ahead.

The countryside is beautiful, the beaches are pristine, there is walking in the Cheviot Hills, Bamburgh Castle if it rains, Lindisfarne off the coast and of course, rock climbing galore on the compact sandstone.

My climbing research says a day at Bowden Doors and a day at Kyloe is the way to go. That is my plan. Both crags are extensive, particularly Bowden, which looks like a mini Stanage in terms of size and variety. Grades range from Mod to E6. There is plenty of starred stuff to go at in the V Diff to HVS range on both crags though, in my limited experience of Kyloe, I would say that these crags are good places to climb within your grade.

So, sign up! Northumberland is Scotland without such a long drive (about 4.5 hours to Wooler). Hopefully the midges will stay north of the border though.

Disclaimer: Don’t blame me if the climbing is desperate. I thought Kyloe was excellent but I only did a day there so I might have got lucky. It looks great in the pictures!