News Article

How the Sea Came to Be

16 November - 31 December 10.30am & 1.30pm Discovery Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne Tickets: £7.75/£5.75 Discount for parties of over 10 Box Office: 0871 7000 125.  Northern Stage theatre company has joined forces with Discovery Museum to transform the Great Hall into a theatrical wonderland. A world of magic, music and colour will delight under sixes and families.

Cinema India: The Art of Bollywood Cinema India

10 December 2005 - 26 Feburary 2006 at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.  The Art of Bollywood celebrates the vibrant visual culture of Indian film and explores the stylistic and historical development of Indian cinema art. The exhibition features more than 70 posters capturing the excitement and glamour of Bollywood from the early stages of the industry to present day films.

Jack & The Beanstalk

Friday 16th December 2005 The Gala Theatre, Durham City Runs until Sunday 8th January.
Stars Rainbow's Geoffrey Hayes as King, Paul Hartley as Fleshcreep, Mike Newman Jnr. as Jack, Peter Thorne as Dame Durden and Kirsti McDonagh as Princess.

Christmas Day Eucharist

25th December 2005 St. Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne

Lions Club of Sunderland Boxing Day Dip

(26/12/2005) Charity fancy-dress competition and then a grand procession to the sea, dippers sponsor local charities and organisations.  As many as 800 dippers go into the sea, watched by up to 3,000 spectators.  The procession is led out by the Mayor and Mayoress and raised £35,000 last year.

Walking Guide

Get out and about over the holiday period and walk off the Christmas excess by trying out one of the walks from the latest edition of the ‘Walking Guide’.  As it says on the cover “It’s amazing where our walks can lead you”.

Saltburn Gill and Cliff Tops

An incredibly bracing country walk, which takes in two nature reserves and breathtaking coastal and hill views. Saltburn’s Inclined Tramway and the Victorian pier and beach are all close by, or you can discover the history and legends of the Saltburn Smugglers in the town.  DISTANCE: 13.0 KM (8.0 MILES) GRADE OF WALK: MODERATE TIME: 3-4 HOURS

Roseberry Topping

Blow the cobwebs away on one of Tees Valley’s most famous landmarks. You can take a diversion to Nature’s World at the Botanic Centre, Middlesbrough, or visit Captain Cook’s Birthplace Museum nearby. Alternatively, recharge those batteries at Pinchinthorpe Hall, with superb food and a tour of the microbrewery. DISTANCE: 6.5 KM (4.0 MILES) GRADE OF WALK: STRENUOUS TIME: 2-3 HOURS

Durham Dales, Stanhope

A potted introduction to classic Dales scenery and heritage. There are villages worth exploring nearby, as well as living history in the shape of Auckland Castle, country residence of Durham’s famous Prince Bishops; Weardale Museum and High House Chapel, the oldest Methodist Chapel in the world; and Locomotion, The National Railway Museum at Shildon. DISTANCE: 5.5 KM (3.5 MILES) GRADE OF WALK: MODERATE TIME: 2-3 HOURS

Classic Hadrian's Wall

Built over 1,800 years ago to defend the northern boundary of the Roman Empire, Hadrian’s Wall is now a World Heritage Site, with huge stretches of its superbly-engineered span still standing proud today. From this route you can visit excavated Roman Forts at Housesteads and Vindolanda, with amazing tales of Roman life and fascinating finds on display. The surrounding villages are worth a look too, with traditional stores and farm shops bursting with fine local produce. DISTANCE: 12.0 KM (7.5 MILES) GRADE OF WALK: MODERATE TIME: 3-4 HOURS

Fatfield to South Hylton

This winding route along the River Wear could be your starting point for a number of diversions including a visit to the adjacent Washington Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust reserve, a short climb uphill to Penshaw Monument, built in 1844 to commemorate the 1st Earl of Durham, or a trip to Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens. And why not stop for a bite to eat at one of the pubs on route? DISTANCE: 14.5 KM (9.0 MILES) GRADE OF WALK: MODERATE TIME: 3-4 HOURS

Craster to Dunstanburgh

No wonder this is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Here you can marvel at wide, unspoilt beaches, a dramatic 14th Century castle and the traditional fishing village of Craster – try one of the famous kippers from the Robson family smokehouse. Dunstanburgh Castle grounds are open to the public and well worth a visit. Fantastic water features and the world’s largest tree-house can be found at The Alnwick Garden, a few miles inland.  DISTANCE: 7.0 KM (4.5 MILES) GRADE OF WALK: MODERATE
TIME: 2-3 HOURS

To view a list of walks in the North East, check out our online walking guide at www.visitnortheastengland.co.uk/walking.  The guide includes lots of detailed routes and maps for walks in the region as well as advice and contact information.
For further information on the region call 08701 601 781 or log onto www.visitnortheastengland.co.uk call into your local Tourist Information Centre.

Contacts

Discovery Museum Blandford House, Blandford Square,
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 4JA
T: (0191) 232 6789
F: (0191) 233 1088
W: http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/discovery 
E: discovery@twmuseums.org.uk

Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens
Mowbray Gardens, Burdon Road,
Sunderland, SR1 1PP
T: 01915 532323
F: 01915 537828
W: http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/sunderland 
E: sunderland@twmuseums.org.uk

The Gala Theatre, Durham City
Contact Box Office 0191 332 4041
 www.galadurham.co.uk

Gibside,
Burnopfield, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE16 6BG
T: (01207) 541820
F: (01207) 542741
W: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk 
E: gibside@nationaltrust.org.uk

Contact Countryside Sect. 0191 3834144
11 miles MEDIUM/LONG, David Butler ~ Local Historian.
Pay when you arrive: Adults £2.00; Children, Over 60s and Unwaged £1.00.

St Nicholas Cathedral, St Nicholas Street,
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 1PF
T: (0191) 232 1939
F: (0191) 230 0735
W: http://www.newcastle-ang-cathedral-stnciholas.org.uk 
E: tombowling@stnicnewcastle.co.uk

Seaburn Centre, Seaburn,
Sunderland, SR6 8DB
T: (0191) 5844556
E: stuartlkohn@btopenworld.com

To view a list of walks in the North East, check out our online walking guide at www.visitnortheastengland.co.uk/walking.  The guide includes lots of detailed routes and maps for walks in the region as well as advice and contact information.