Overview of the day
- The bus normally leaves Tynemouth at 8.00 am, although some walk programmes may have some walks with an earlier start.
- The bus goes along the Broadway to Whitley Bay, up Front Street in Monkseaton and along the old coast road to South Gosforth picking up at various points along the way. See Coach Pick ups [LINK] for detailed information.
- You may put your rucksack and bag with a change of clothes in the boot of the bus, or take them onto the bus with you if there is room.
- After the last pick-up point, a check is made that the people on the bus match those that booked.
- An announcement will be made describing the walks for the day, the breakfast stop, and arrangements for the evening stop after the walks.
- Maps showing the day’s walks are circulated on the bus. There are usually 5 walks on a walk day, to accommodate the various levels of fitness and ability among members. They are also on the website so that you can look at them in advance of the day of the walk. You will need to choose which walk you are going to go on, see Choosing Your Walk for more information.
- A member of the committee will come round the bus and ask which walk you want to do. It is important that you go with that walk, if you change your mind you need to let the relevant walk leaders know.
- If you are paying for your walk on the day you need to put the correct money (or a cheque payable to St Edwards Fellwalkers) in an envelope with your name, the walk you are paying for and the amount and give this to the bookings secretary. See Booking a Walk for information about booking walks.
- The bus usually makes a 30 minute stop for breakfast and to enable members to use the toilet, although there is also a toilet on the bus. On longer journeys, we may stop for 15 minutes for a toilet stop only.
- We usually start walking between 10am and 11am. An announcement will advise when the starting point for each walk has been reached.
- Having enjoyed a good day’s walking when you arrive back at the bus you can change out of your walking gear into casual clothes for the evening if you wish. Men usually get changed outside whilst women get changed on the bus, but any member or guest can get changed on the bus if they wish. Women should get changed towards the back of the bus whilst men should get changed towards the front of the bus.
- There is a period for socialising at the end of the walk. Typically, this is around 90 minutes from the time all walks are due to be back, which is 5 pm for most of the year, but 4 pm when the days are shorter. This is allows all walkers the opportunity to get some refreshment and is a contingency in the event a walk is delayed for any reason. Some walks will get in sooner and will have more time to socialise; conversely, if walks get in late there will be less time to socialise. Members and guests are welcome to go to any pub or café of their choosing in the place where we finish the walks. Some members like to have a meal after a walk or get takeaway food such as fish and chips. Please bear in mind that no hot food or alcohol can be consumed on the bus, however.
- So that the bus can depart promptly, you should be on the bus at least 5 minutes before the departure time.
- The bus either retraces its route back home dropping off people on the way, or if it returns via the Tyne Tunnel it follows the pick-up route to South Gosforth. The return times will vary but the bus will arrive back in Tynemouth or South Gosforth no later than 9.00 pm.
