The pictures come from an online project called Geograph Britain and Ireland which aims to collect photographs of every square kilometre of Great Britain, Ireland, and the Isle of Man. These images are licenced for other sites to use, which is how we’re able to use them on our site.

Photographers in the group might like to join Geograph and submit some of the pictures they take from around the country.

As you know, each event the group organises has its own page on the website which includes a map of where the event is taking place. The maps are powered by a free service from Google called the Google Maps Javascript API. The changes I’ve made are a result of moving to the latest version of the service.

A couple of features have been lost in the new version. The overview map that used to appear in the bottom-right corner has disappeared, as have the grey markers that used to mark other group events. I may reinstate the latter when I work out how to do it, but I’m not sure anybody notices them anyway. What’s more important is two exciting new features that I’ve been able to add…

The first is Google Street View. Click on the orange “peg man” that appears to the left of each map and drag him onto any street on the map. You’re rewarded with a photographic reconstruction of the street in question that you can explore at your leisure. Google’s efforts to photograph the whole country might be controversial, but there’s no denying it’s a brilliant way to get a sneak preview of where you’ll be staying/walking!

The second is the addition of driving directions below each map. Type in where you’re starting from (I suggest using your postcode), click the “Show” button, and you get turn-by-turn instructions on how to get to the event. The route’s marked on the map too. It’ll tell you how to go all the way to Ratagan if you ask it to! Try the street view there too.

If you’re looking at our maps and not seeing any of the changes outlined above, you’re probably using a really old web browser called Internet Explorer 6. The latest version of Google Maps doesn’t work with IE6, so you’ll still get the old version. You might want to consider upgrading to something more up-to-date.

So, have a play, and let me know if you encounter any problems.

Each calendar costs £9 (though once you add in postage and VAT, it comes to about £14), which includes a small contribution to group funds.

A preview of what you’ll get for your money can be seen below:

You can order your calendar direct from lulu.com. Order before 31st December and you can get a 10% discount by entering the code NEWYEAR355 at the checkout. Order by the 19th December, use the code UKWEEK3, and get a 30% discount!

Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. What I didn’t realise is just how often the forecasts changed – meaning the feed is swamped with messages that the temperature is one degree higher or lower, or the outlook has changed from sunny with showers to showery with sunny spells.

So it’s all changed! The system now checks the programme every morning, and tweets about any events happening on the following day or in 7 days time. It also checks for the date when advance payments are due and reports them too – so you have a reminder to send Dave your cheques!

Another twittering problem has been with slideshows. It’s supposed to tweet whenever a show is added or when new pictures are added to an existing show. The problem is, now that all the pictures are hosted on Flickr, their search facility is not 100% reliable. Sometimes they give the wrong number of pictures for a particular show – leading to spurious “new picture” notifications.

So, with regret, I’ve changed the system to only report when a whole new show is added. If pictures are added subsequently, I’ll report it with a manually added tweet.

Now that we have a more useful Twitter feed, how can you use it in a way that suits you? Originally, when I was designing this part of the site, I was going to have my own “What’s New?” change notification feature. The reason I chose to route those notifications through Twitter instead is to make use of all the ways a Twitter stream can be read, without needing any extra work. So here are a few ways to keep up-to-date:

Join Twitter yourself (it’s free) and follow our feed. You can do so either through the Twitter website, or via a range of client programs.

If you’d rather get an email sent to you instead, you can sign up with a service like TweetByMail to mail our tweets to you when they happen.

If you use a news reader to keep track of blogs, there’s an RSS version of our Twitter feed that you can subscribe to.

Finally, and most simply, you can keep an eye on the Twitter box on the home page of this site, or click the link at the bottom of each page.

Saturday dawned bright and sunny, full of promise for the day ahead. We decamped to the Old Dungeon Ghyll car park near the head of the valley, and were soon striding out towards Stool End farm and the beginning of the walk proper. Ahead of us loomed The Band – a rugged promontory bearing a steep path to the col between Crinkle Crags and Bowfell.

Before long, our own rugged band were labouring their way to the top, making frequent pauses to look over their shoulders at the fine view of Langdale in the hazy sunshine (and not to take a breather, honest!). Progress was steady, interrupted only by the customary elevenses break, and we soon reached the three small tarns which mark the top of The Band.

It was too windy to spend much time resting – once the group were gathered we turned right to climb towards the summit of Bowfell. After a lunch break in a sheltering outcrop of rocks, we reached the top and were able to take in the view. Bowfell is a wonderful vantage point – in the dead centre of the Lake District it commands great views in all directions. Sadly it was too hazy to see any great distance, but still ample reward for our efforts to get there.

Taking our leave from the summit, we picked our way across the rocky landscape towards our next objective. In places, patches of snow lay as a reminder of the winter. Seasoned by our experience on Cader Idris, we were able to cross them without incident – dropping down to Ore Gap before climbing once more to the top of Esk Pike.

Finally we reached Esk Hause, a crossroads high in the hills where paths meet from Borrowdale, Wasdale, Eskdale and Langdale. Ahead of us stood Scafell, Scafell Pike and Great Gable, but they would have to wait for another day – it was time to head for home. Bearing right, we took the path down to Angle Tarn. Mickleden valley was bathed in evening sunshine as we descended alongside Rossett Gill and folloed the Cumbria Way back to the car park – the completion of a splendid (if demanding) day’s walking.

Sunday was distinctly less promising in terms of weather, but still good enough to entice us back into the hills. This time the walk started at the hostel gate, following Langdale Beck towards Chapel Stile. The church bells rang out as we approached the village. I don’t think they were warning the inhabitants of our arrival, but in any case we were soon through and into the country beyond.

A brisk climb brought us to Dow Bank, in the middle of a line of high ground separating Elterwater from Grasmere. Turning eastwards we followed this “gently undulating” ridge to the beginning of Loughrigg Terrace.

The second climb of the day took us to the top of Loughrigg Fell. We passed a large party of Chinese students coming down, who were apparently on some kind of exchange trip. They seemed to be enjoying the experience, though some of them weren’t exactly dressed for it. On reaching the trig point we sat down to rest, and to enjoy both the view and a well-earned lunch.

Rested and refreshed, we began our descent back into the valley. Picking our way around the lumps and bumps which grace the top of Loughrigg, we were soon dropping towards Skelwith Bridge. A break for further refreshment in that village’s well-stocked tea shop was followed by a final mile along the shore of Elter Water back to the cars.

Another excellent group weekend, my thanks go to the drivers and everybody else who made it so enjoyable.

Despite winning the President’s Award this year, the old design was looking tired and dated. Since Christmas, I’ve been working on a new layout that would refresh the site’s appearance and pull together the group’s various online activities more effectively. These efforts are finally ready for a public airing. Here are just a few features of the new design:

• Colour Scheme:  The new scheme uses a range of natural greens, yellows and browns. As well as being appropriate to our outdoor activities, these colours complement the new banner image and other pictures on the site.
• Google Search: As part of the new ethos of using freely available services instead of doing it ourselves, the site search has been outsourced to the leader in the field: Google. The prominent position of the search box might mean people use it more too.
• New Front Page: The home page has been totally rewritten, in order to better welcome people into the site. A Twitter widget (see below) and some news feeds give an at-a-glance guide to what’s happening in the group and in the wider world of hostelling.
• Twitter: We’ve been posting to Twitter for nearly a year now, but the new design makes it a lot more visible. Tweets are automatically generated whenever new content is added to the site, and can also be written manually by committee members. The widget on the front page makes it easy for everyone to see what’s been happening lately.
• Advertising: Nobody likes ads, but they do help to cover the costs of running the group. Placing ads above, below and (sometimes) beside the content of each page should attract a few clicks, and a few pennies!
• Footer: A new area at the foot of each page gives easy access to the Group’s other web outposts. As well as Twitter, we’re also on Facebook, Google Calendar and Flickr. You can also get to the group’s new Amazon store,  where every purchase earns us a small commission.

This is only phase one of the redesign. The next step will be to review each page on the site, correcting any outdated information and trying to make them easier to use. The “Frequently Asked Questions” section will be an early candidate for a revamp.

I’d be interested to hear any feedback – positive or negative – or ideas you may have for further improving the site. Please talk to me in person, by email, or in the comments section below.

The Presidents Awards is an annual competition between YHA groups, where they are judged on such aspects of their operation as publicity, programmes, newsletters and fundraising. The idea is that, by learning from the winners, all groups can improve.

Leicester group won the best website category for five years running, since its introduction in 1999. Though this year sees a return to winning form, the site will not be allowed to rest its laurels. A redesign of the site has been in preparation since the new year (ironically, partly in an effort to win this award!) and should go online in the next week or so.

A certificate and cheque (for the group, not for me!) were awarded by Caroline White, the Chief Executive of YHA. A full list of winners of all categories can be found on the yhagroup.org.uk site.

So I’ve changed it again! The “back end” is unchanged – the photos are still stored on Flickr and can be contributed by any member – but the page that shows the slides is totally different. Now all the slides are shown at once (in order!), and you just have to click one to start a big, impressive show. Take a look at the shots of our recent snowy ascent of Cader Idris to see what I mean.

On a related note, I’m still waiting for more photographers to come forward and contribute to the site. If it just falls on one or two people, they inevitably tire of the burden and the group suffers. Get in touch if you want to know how to help.

Day 1: Melrose to Harestanes (14 miles)

In what would become a daily routine, the four drivers set off to the end point of the walk, leaving three cars there and coming back in the fourth.  It seemed like an awful long way to drive, how would it feel to walk it? By the time we returned to the hostel, everyone was ready to find out.

We set off, passing by the ruined remains of Melrose Abbey before turning uphill towards the Eildon Hills. This distinctive trio of conical peaks stand just south of Melrose and dominate the little town. A stiff climb brought us to the col between the two highest tops, whence half the party made a side trip to the highest summit whilst the rest took the chance of an early elevenses stop.

The view from the top was impressive, and gave us a chance to survey the route ahead. Miles of rolling farmland and woodland stretched out to meet the distant line of the Cheviot Hills. We could also see an ominous bank of cloud approaching from the west, which sent us scuttling for our waterproofs.

By the time the group was reunited, a light rain had begun to fall. It continued as we descended the Eildons and passed through the villages of Bowden and Newtown St Boswells to the banks of the Tweed near Dryburgh. Here the rain stopped, allowing us to make a lunch break and nip over the Chain Bridge to visit the Temple of the Muses – a ninetenth century folly containing a modern sculpture.

The next stage of the journey followed the winding course of the Tweed, with the path climbing and descending the steep bank of the river to the extent that some wondered if St Cuthbert is the patron saint of steps! After a while the path levelled out, and we could enjoy the now-sunlit banks of the river with its herons and other waterfowl.

Near the village of Maxton we bade farewell to the Tweed and headed back toward the main road. Thus far, we had wound around by hill and river without making a lot of progress towards our goal. The next stage would be ruler-straight, following the line of an old Roman road.

Dere Street was once the main road from York to the Firth of Forth. In places it still is, as the A1 follows its route as far as Scotch Corner whilst the A68 follows it over Hadrian’s Wall and into Scotland. Here, though, it was reduced to a footpath, sometimes winding between small stands of trees, sometimes a wide drover’s path between stone walls. At the summit of a low hill we passed a monument to a particularly redoubtable local lassie:

Fair Maiden Lilliard lies under this stane,
Little was her stature but muckle was her fame;
Upon the English loons she laid many thumps,
And when her legs were cuttit off, she fought upon her stumps.

By this time our own legs were beginning to feel almost as worn down as Lady Lilliard’s. Sooi said that the soles of her feet were so sore that she had to walk on her heels, and the rest of us were pretty weary of the day’s exertions. Fortunately, the end was not too far off. A final descent through dense woodland brought us to the Harestanes Visitor Centre, the cars and back to the hostel.

Day 2: Harestanes to Morebattle (11 miles)

We packed up and left Melrose for the last time, and (after some car shuffling) re-convened at Harestanes just in time for the café to open. Resisting (most of) the temptations of tea and cake, we set off on another day’s walking.

Circling around the edge of Monteviot House Gardens, we soon found ourselves on the bank of the Teviot. A smart new suspension bridge carried the path over the river, replacing one that had been swept away by a flood in 1997. The new bridge looks set to resist all weather, but is still disconcertingly bouncy under the tread of twelve pairs of feet!

A short stretch along the banks of first the Teviot, then the Jed Water brought us back onto the course of Dere Street. Following the preferred route of the legionaries up a steady slope (did those guys never consider going round a hill?), we stopped for a rest in an open field beside the path. The sun was shining now, and we were able to enjoy a fine view of the Eildons and the country we had crossed on the day before.

Resuming our walk, we entered the first of a number of small woods that our route would take us through that day. Interspersed with sections of farmland, first a birch wood, then an oak wood, then a pine wood. Each had a distinct character not even hinted at by the bland green shading on a map. You have to walk through the countryside to appreciate such things.

At length, we came to the small settlement of Cessford. Nearby stands the remains of Cessford Castle, once one of the strongest defensive works along the troubled Anglo-Scottish border and a stronghold of the Ker family. With the coming of more peaceful times, the Kers decamped to nearby Floors Castle leaving Cessford to fall into ruin. After a brief inspection, keeping a respectful distance from its crumbling walls, we embarked on a three mile road walk to reach the cars at Morebattle.

That night we transferred to Kirk Yetholm YH, more famous for being at the end of the Pennine Way than the middle of the St Cuthbert’s. Finding the biggest pans we could, we set about making a communal meal. Neeps and Tatties were peeled, chopped, boiled and mashed. Haggis was roasted and portioned out. After a few lines of Burns the whole was demolished and followed up by fruit crumble and custard. Just the thing after a long day’s walk!

Day 3: Morebattle to Kirk Yetholm (6  miles)

Returning to Morebattle, we started the day with another mile along the road. A fine rain was falling and the sun was shining, filling the valley behind us with a colossal rainbow. We also had a strong westerly wind to blow us on our way.

Crossing a fast-flowing stream, we gratefully turned off the road and returned to open country. Hill country! The arable fields of the past two days were replaced by the fellsides that marked the edge of the Cheviot range.

Aided by the wind, we clambered to the top of Wideopen Hill. At 1200 feet, the summit of Wideopen Hill is the highest point of the walk and also the halfway point. The views were extensive, but rather hampered by the thick scotch mist covering most of the country to the north. Nonetheless, though the murk, the distinctive triple summit of the Eildons could be made out marking the already distant start of our trek.

The path followed a ridge for an exhilerating mile before dropping down into the valley for another stretch of road back to Town Yetholm. We arrived back at the hostel in the middle of the afternoon, whence the group split up to amuse themselves. I’ll leave it as an exercise for the reader’s imagination to work out which of the assembled company went for a further walk round a nearby loch, which pottered around Town Yetholm, which went shopping in Wooler and which spent the afternoon in the pub!

Day 4: Kirk Yetholm to Wooler (13 miles)

Bidding farewell to Kirk Yetholm hostel, we set off southbound along the Pennine Way. Edale lay a mere 270 miles ahead of us but, on balance, we decided to stick to the St Cuthbert’s when it came to the parting of the ways. We were now climbing, in brilliant sunshine, up into the northern edge of the Cheviot hills. We crossed the border into England and diverted a little off the path to reach Eccles Cairn.

A splendid view spread out to the North and West across the border country. Once again the Eildons could be clearly seen, their triple profile being a prominent feature on the horizon. They’d become a familiar, if constantly receding, sight over the past few days but this was time to bid them farewell as we headed further into the Cheviot range.

Descending into the College valley, we passed through a dense pine plantation that was as dark as midnight inside after the sunlit moorland that we’d been passing through. Then a farm track took us to the small settlement of Hethpool before we climbed once more into the moors.

Passing the ancient hill fort of Yeavering Bell on our left, we caught our first glimpse of the sea – a distant grey ribbon along the horizon to the north east. Striding out over broad, heather-clad moors we passed Tom Tallon’s Crag and a few other low heights before Wooler finally hove into view.

The town was a sight for sore eyes, or more specifically for sore feet, as this was probably the most strenuous day so far. The day wasn’t finished yet, as for once the route didn’t finish with a road walk into town (hooray!), but an extra half-mile loop (oops) that took us through a small pine wood instead.

Finally we reached the welcoming front door of Wooler YH, the third and final hostel of the trip.

Day 5: Wooler to Fenwick (12 miles)

Our last full day of walking, and once again one bathed in glorious sunshine. We were now out of the Cheviot hills and crossing farmland to get to the coast, though still taking in small patches of moorland such as Weetwood Moor, which stands just to the west of Wooler.

The last long road section of the walk took us from Weetwood bridge to the hamlet of Horton, heading all the time towards a long wooded ridge that formed the last high ground between us and the coast. A farm track took us to Hazelrigg, a short rest, and a rather extraordinary sight.

You know how it is: you go for ages without seeing anybody pushing a fridge, and then two come along all at once. Rolling along the road were two young men embarked upon “The Great Fridge Adventure” – each pushing a fridge from John O’Groats to Land’s End in order to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society. We put some money in their tin and wished them well before going our separate ways.

Next stop was St. Cuthbert’s cave. Really more of a rocky outcrop, this is reputed to have been the hiding place of monks who fled, carrying the relics of the saint, when the vikings attacked Lindisfarne in 875. St Cuthbert would make a long posthumous journey before finding a truly final resting place in Durham over a hundred years later.

Our own final resting place was still a few miles off, so after a little boulder climbing in the surroundings of the cave, we set off up the hill. A short climb brought us to the top of Greensheen Hill.

Looking back at the way we’d come, we could see the expanse of fields between us and Wooler. We could see the mass of the Cheviot Hills stretching out behind the town. Far away on the horizon, we could even see the unmistakable outline of the Eildon hills, thirty miles away as the crow flies (and positively their last appearance on our walk).

However, it was the other direction that drew our attention most. Ahead of us stretched the Northumberland coastline, with the holy island of Lindisfarne right in front. We could see the narrow causeway stretching across the sands, and Lindisfarne Castle standing on its rocky mount. It seemed close enough to touch, but we still had a few miles to cover to get there.

The remainder of the day was spent crossing fields and woodlands, with our final objective almost always within view. We reached Fenwick and drove back to the hostel, eagerly anticipating the last step of the journey.

Day 6: Fenwick to Lindisfarne (6 miles)

The first task of the day was one of the most challenging: crossing the A1. Having safely tackled that obstacle we were faced, a couple of miles later, with crossing the east coast main line. A phone call to the signalman ensured that there were no 125mph trains bearing down on us as we went on our way. After passing those two barriers, could something as minor as the sea keep us from our goal?

Fortunately, the tide was in our favour and already a long way out when we reached the causeway. Taking shoes and socks off, we left the road and followed the “pilgrim’s path” across the sands to the island. The feeling of the cool sand against tired feet was bliss – you can pay good money for spa treatment like that, and we were getting it for free!

On reaching the island, we regrouped and reshod. All that remained was a short stroll along the road to reach Lindisfarne Priory, St Cuthbert’s final destination and also ours. After a visit to the pub and a walk out to the castle, the group dispersed. Alan and Dave heading south to the YHA AGM in York, the rest taking a look round the island before heading back to a B&B on the mainland. The next day, everyone was on the long road back to Leicester.

Conclusion

All-in-all an excellent week’s walking, complete with fine weather, views and company. As always, Kathy did an excellent job organising the trip, and thanks are due to the drivers, cooks, washers up and everybody else that made it so enjoyable.

Plans are already afoot to tackle the Cleveland Way next year. Personally, I can’t wait…