Access to Checkpoints for Friends and Families


Support!

We all know that in recent years increasing numbers of friends and family members have taken to following and supporting their people on the Hundred, so we expect there will be no shortage of followers this year too.

However it does present the organising committee with a serious problem as not all checkpoints are able to manage the numbers of vehicles that arrive and remain parked awaiting to cheer and applaud their participants. Where there are no practical difficulties we are all for welcoming supporters, adding as they do to the overall spirit of the event, but at other times the sudden and unexpected arrival of supporters can have a very negative impact and consequently become a real threat to the good name of the LDWA.

Those walkers with several hundreds under their belt will be aware of this and even have encountered instances of the discomforting behaviour of some individuals who are determined to catch sight of their entrant. Organisers from previous years will perhaps have witnessed occasions when the LDWA had not been well served by its own members. Accordingly we are providing guidance on those checkpoints where there are no difficulties and those where we ask anyone not actually taking part in the event to avoid. Even at those location we see as being welcoming, we ask anyone arriving hoping to give their support to exercise every care, to follow guidance from the marshals and above all despite their excitement to show respect and awareness to local residents, who may be householders, farmers or other legitimate interests.

Given the potential seriousness of any incident, those individuals behaving irresponsibly or even without due care and attention of their surroundings will be brought to the attention of the checkpoint manager who if involved will expect immediate cooperation and compliance with any reasonable request. If in the very unlikely case of anything not being resolved at once the incident will be reported to the 100 Review Group with the possibility of subsequent sanctions for any LDWA member involved.

So, let’s see just how things are at checkpoints, and for that matter convenient viewing points between checkpoints. We should say here that nobody who is not an entrant in the event will be allowed access into a checkpoint, including HQ, unless permission has been given by one of the volunteer supporters at that location.

Directions, grid references, opening/closing times and any other guidance should be taken from the Route Descriptions issued to all participants.


HQ Queen Elizabeth High School Hexham. There should be no real difficult here although all available parking at the school will be in use by organisers and entrants. The start of the HH will be from The Sele (Hexham’s Park), some five to eight minutes from the school entrance. Parking should be at the Hexham main car park (note carefully the disc parking arrangements) or on street, again disc parking. Hexham is a busy market town, and this is a Bank Holiday! The parking discs can be purchased in some shops, and also at the Queens Hall, the Wentworth Leisure Centre (next to the main car park) and Hexham Courant offices.

Newbrough Town Hall. This should present few problems for supporters. Again parking will be a challenge. It is less than six miles from the start so we don’t think many people will be hanging around. It is however next door to a good pub and you will have a good view of the walkers coming through. Accommodation opportunities in Newbrough as well with several B&Bs, the pub and a bunkhouse.

Sewing Shields. No access. This is a private unsurfaced road.

Steel Rigg. The checkpoint is almost opposite the SR Northumberland National Park (NNPA) car park (charges) and we can expect it to be very busy and not a lot of room to spare. However the new NNPA Sill Visitor Centre is less than half a mile away on the main road (car park too, but not free) and there is a new footpath joining the Sill to Steel Rigg. Again although this could be hectic it is probably a good spot to meet your people.

Haltwhistle Leisure Centre. No great difficulties here, we have requested the HLC open their overflow car park at the adjacent school; this will be very useful.

Knarsdale Village Hall. Moving towards our more remote locations. A large village hall in a rural setting and although open until early morning should be a good spot to meet up. Please don’t use the village hall car park as this will be required for checkpoint volunteers. Also beware the farm entrance opposite the village hall.

Garrigill Village Hall. This village hall is just off the centre of the village but surrounded by homes and at a point where the road turns sharply, so if you do go here be sure to park some distance away and walk. Try the road beyond Garrigill as you head for Tynehead (the route of the walk after leaving the checkpoint). However people will be thinking about getting a good meal here and preparing themselves for the big traverse. Probably not a good place to visit, as you’ll be tired too with all that driving around.

Greg’s Hut. No access for normal vehicles, even 4WD’s will find this challenging and as it’s almost certain to be dark, no thank you!

Dun Fell Roadhead. Only a safety check, no access permitted along this private road. We have permission for the event. Pease don’t put the LDWA reputation at risk!

Dufton Village Hall. Breakfast Stop. Please don’t try to go there. We are doing our best to stay onside with the residents of Dufton and we feel it is in all out interests to stay away from the village. The Yorkshire Dales NP who look after this stretch of the Pennine Way don’t want us to go there and we think this is a reasonable request. Dufton is the only checkpoint on the eastern side of the Pennines and getting there (and back) will take a long time on what are generally very poor roads. Even if you stick around for a few days post-event don’t try the direct route between Melmerby and Dufton - awful.

Birkdale Farm. No access, locked gate anyway as the road leaves the Cows Green Reservoir car park.

If you are really desperate to go here, and it’s all still very remote, it might be worth trying the Cows Green Reservoir car park. Not a lot to look at while you’re waiting.

Watersmeeting Farm. Given that you’ve had no encouragement to meet your people for a while you might be tempted to see how it is here; Please Don’t. This is the location the organisers are most anxious about so please give it a wide berth. The checkpoint is at the end of a single track road all the way from the B6277. At the end of this road there are two farms and one large unsurfaced turning circle, the only possible place to turn around. We are on good terms with the farmers without whose cooperation the event would not go ahead. Let’s keep it that way!

Cowshill. A small village hall but by now no great rush expected. There is parking 100yds or so away (on the other side of the bridge) from the village hall and please don’t try to get any nearer as the roadway is very narrow here.

Allenheads. A village in upper Allendale. Don’t pack the area around the checkpoint; a small outdoor centre with very small car park but you ought not need to go too far to find space; follow the line of the walk on leaving the checkpoint and you’ll soon see where to go.

Allendale Town Village Hall. A large village hall but no car park of their own. Park in the centre the village, generally very busy.

West Greenridge Farm. WGF is at the end of the farm access road, the road does not go any further. Again a busy working farm where we owe our presence to the good natured farmer. Please don’t go there and put anything like this at risk. It’s not too far now anyway.

After going through West Dipton Wood and passing Hexham Racecourse the walkers will be back on the public road, still one track and high above Hexham but it might be worth seeing if you could stop briefly at the adjacent racecourse car park as the walkers will pass by here. Please don’t use Causey Hill Road. It’s very steep and not too wide. You are approaching a residential area now, the last mile to the finish at QEHS.

To summarise the supporting and cheering on opportunities the guidance is:

  • You should be alright on the Saturday, right through to Garrigill if you are that keen.
  • After this it is unwise to go across the Pennines to Dufton and please don’t venture into the remote uplands of Teesdale and Weardale, its just not worth it.
  • Once they reach Allendale you should be OK once more and able to give the support needed as they head north back towards Hexham.