Project to promote walking in Barnard Castle makes a big stride forward

IT was a case of best foot forward at the official launch of Barnard Castle’s Walkers are Welcome group earlier this month.

The group took a stall at the Farmers’ Market and welcomed hundreds of locals and visitors who were keen to learn more. The volunteers helped Barnard Castle become the first Walkers are Welcome town in the county to be officially recognised as a place which actively encourages people to get out and about.
The launch included a series of walks around Barney’s yards and alleyways as well as a family trek through Flatts and Deepdale woods.
Barnard Castle mayor Cllr John Blissett also presented the group with their Walkers are Welcome accreditation certificate.
Walkers are Welcome chairman Alan Rayner said the day had gone well. He said more than 100 Walkers are Welcome leaflets were distributed to visitors to the stall.
“We had lots of interest both from locals and people who had just come into town for the day,” he said.
“Everyone was happy with the yard walks and learnt a lot about the town – even local people who had not taken too much notice of things around them.”
More than 20 people headed off to the woods for an afternoon of walking and other activities with guide Honia Devlin.
The official launch of the group was Mr Rayner’s last act as chairman.
With plans to move out of the area, he has handed the reins over to Alex Sijpesteijn, who is well known in the area through her work with the Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership.