Border Marches to take place in September

Release date: 22.04.08
Ref: BBC/PR/R&D/08/08

This year’s Border Marches event will take place over the weekend of Saturday, 27 and Sunday, 28 September.

Traditionally the event has taken place in May but has been moved so that the event can be substantially refreshed and more tourists and visitors to the Borough can be encouraged to take part.

Tourism Resources Officer Lorna Suthren said:
“The Border Marches is a great event and many locals and visitors have taken part but we want to develop it further. A September event will tie in with other walking festivals in the Borders, Castle Morpeth and the Golden Age of Northumbria’s St Cuthbert’s Way Walks so that we can attract more walking tourists from across Britain and beyond.”

There will be three walking routes, the 42km walk tests the endurance of the most seasoned walker, and for the less experienced there is a 26km and a 10km walk.
For families and the less energetic there will be a Toddle and All Abilities Stroll.

Sports Development Officer Paul Jones said:
“Moving the Border Marches until September will give us more time to refresh the walks and we will shortly be recruiting a new Physical Activity Development Officer who will also be heavily involved in organising the event.”

Over the next 11 months the Council will also be looking to find a potential external organisation to take over running the Border Marches so that the event can continue once the Borough Council is abolished in April 2009.

Further details of the event programme will be available in the next few months.