Centurions

28/09/2025

A DAY ON THE RAILWAY

We had such a good day walking the 26 mile 1825 line for the 200 year celebrations. Lots of people were out and about enjoying the day and Locomotion No 1 made several appearances again, this time at Hopetown.

As for the walk, approx 20 Centurions made the full distance with a few dipping in and out along the way.

My special memories were in abundance.

Obviously starting at the exact same time and place that the train started its journey 200 years ago to the minute.

Walking the newly-opened Etherley Incline.

A fab brekkie at Broom Mill Farm.

Our attempt at a Centurions locomotion dance on the Brusselton Incline.

Standing at the very spot (unplanned but also at the exact same time of 10am) in Shildon where they attached the Locomotion No 1 (called Active back then) steam engine and Experiment passenger coach.

Meeting Amanda, Charlotte, Dad, Catherine, John and Andy at Locomotion museum and having the special group photo in front of the closest version of the original steam engine that there is still standing.

Watching the 1930s train come through Aycliffe station.

Passing the oldest railway station in the world that is Heighington station.

Meeting family again and some Centurions leaving and Phil and Gill joining us at Hopetown museum, where some of us got a glimpse again of Locomotion No 1 replica moving along the tracks.

Our little train ride from Dinsdale to Allens West. Well I think it was right we got on a train at some point.

Jen and Milo surprising us at Allens West and walking to Preston Park with us.

A beautiful trek along the river Tees.

The final stretch into Stockton where we all celebrated with Centurion hugs after we’d finished our epic 26 mile adventure.

Then it was off to the appropriately-named Locomotion pub near Eaglescliffe station for many of us to have a celebratory drink raising a glass to the amazing team led by George Stephenson who put the world on track 200 years ago.

Fab that Lottie, Dad, Kerry, Nigel, Becky's Dad Phil were all able to join us at the pub and I was handed an incredible 1825 railway edition of the Centurions stone by Nige. Thanks Nige. It will go in pride of place in my garden.

The best bit about yesterday was spending the day doing what I love with the people who make the Centurions what it is.

I’ve said it before many time but simply FAB FAB FAB.

The most important thanks goes to Becky for co-leading the walk. She says she didn't do much but believe me she is a total rock and such an incredible support to most of these bigger walks we do in Centurions. Thank you ... thank you ... so much Becks.

The best bit about yesterday was spending the day doing what I love with the people who make the Centurions what it is.

I’ve said it before many time but simply FAB FAB FAB.

Finally, I’d like to thank all those who played a part behind the scenes driving us to the start and picking up at the end which made our lives so much easier.

If you like a good walk, come and join the Centurions and be part of some of these great adventures.

Click below to request to join.
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19CdJUyKJ4/?mibextid=wwXIfr

❤️🥾

02/07/2025

Good luck to all those doing the Headlight Walk on Friday night for this amazing charity in our local community. The link to donate even just a small amount is below.

Help Caswells Ltd raise money to support The Russ Devereux Headlight Project

28/06/2025

Hi all you lovely Centurions and people who like the Centurions' Page. Thank you for that as it all helps to spread the word about our fab walking group.

What I would like to share now is a delightful 8 minute long feel-good movie my lovely friend Nicola Schafer created which basically says it all about the importance of getting out into nature. Click the link below to watch Nicola's movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-kkXgTvjR4
.. and she has actually entered it into a film-making competition so if you would like to give her a hand with that then please go to this other link below and click on the 5th star.

https://tmff.net/movies/walking-with-dadimas-community/

Voting closes Monday!

Please feel free to share with anyone you think would be interested.

00:00:00 The countryside and culturally diverse groups 00:01:02 Introduction to Dadima's walking group00:01:44 Connecting with nature00:02:55 Intergeneration...

07/06/2025

LYKE WAKE 2025 ❤️🥾

Following the passing of my Mum in July 2013 I felt quite low for the rest of that year. In December 2013 I had reached the point of needing something to focus on to bring me back to some kind of normal again.

I sort of liked walking and remembered Dad had done the 40 mile Lyke Wake Walk in the 70’s and Mum had taken my brother and me to meet Dad 20 miles in at The Lion Inn, Blakey Ridge.

I said to myself … why don’t I make my focus The Lyke Wake Walk? Probably around Christmas Day 2013 I wondered who might like to join me in doing it. I also wondered HOW on earth I could enable my “very average fit” body to tackle a walk taking me 40 miles across The North York Moors from Osmotherley to Ravenscar.

After thinking about it for a few minutes I came up with probably THE most basic plan you could imagine.

Step 1 - Manage to do a 5 mile walk in January 2014 and do a couple of other short walks that month.

Step 2 - Manage to do a 10 mile walk in February and do a couple of other short walks that month.

Step 3 - Manage to do a 15 mile walk in March and do a couple of other short walks that month.

Steps 4 and 5 followed the same pattern and by mid June I could comfortably walk 30 miles.

The final 10 miles of the actual Lyke Wake Walk we organised for mid June were gruelling but as I had convinced 5 of my friends to follow the exact same BASIC plan we all carried each other through to the end on grit and adrenaline.

Since then I’ve learnt so much about walking long distances and there are other quite common sense ideas I now use in my walk planning and training.

I suppose the moral of my little story 14 Lyke Wake Walks later is that anybody can set their mind to achieve anything if they plan properly and stick to the plan.

❤️ I also KNOW my Mum is with me on all my walks keeping me right which is what she did when she was alive. ❤️

Today … 11 years on I completed my 14th Lyke Wake Walk with a totally different group of this time 7 good friends from The Centurions and we even met Gerry Orchard who holds the record of 237 crossings of this famous walk.

Support is also part of the recipe and this year we were spoilt with first class support from my Dad George, Nigel, Paul and Julie carrying bags, providing food and a smile at each checkpoint along the way.

You can do it in 2026 if you put your mind to it and follow the same plan I did.

Click the “Visit Group” link at the top of this page to request to join the Centurions and we’ll help you achieve your walking goals whatever they are.

Rory Stephen
❤️🥾

08/05/2025

Kerry’s Teesdale Way Trek - section 2

Langdon Beck to Romaldkirk

Walking for Sprouts Community Food Charity with the Centurions Walking Group

The Centurions Walking Group took on another beautiful section of the Teesdale Way — from Langdon Beck to Romaldkirk — in support of Sprouts Community Food Charity. This stretch treated us to dramatic dales scenery and peaceful riverside paths, showcasing the best of the North Pennines.

We followed the River Tees past iconic spots like High Force and Low Force, before arriving in the charming village of Romaldkirk. With every mile, we strengthened our bond as a group and raised awareness for Sprouts’ vital work fighting food poverty and building sustainable local solutions.

Thanks to all who cheered us on and donated — your support makes every step matter.

Click below if you’d like to donate to Sprouts, our main walk charity for 2025 as we tackle the 100 mile Teesdale Way.

https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tdw-sprouts

❤️🥾

24/03/2025

🚶‍♂️ The Centurions Update – Big Challenges & A Big Cause! 🚶‍♀️

As well as getting nearly all those lovely Centurions Tee Shirts out to our members and having regular trips to cafés and bars socialising ... as you do ... we've been racking up the miles and taking on some epic adventures! 🌍💪

✅ Great Langdale Adventures – Multiple trips as we fine-tune our route for the Summer Solstice walk over Harrison Stickle & Pike of Stickle.
✅ Keswick Weekend – A fantastic time with great company and stunning scenery.
✅ Roundhay 50-Miler – A tough but rewarding training walk for those preparing for all our VERY long walks!

🔄 Ongoing Walks
🌅 Roseberry Red Eye – Our weekly early morning adventure for those who love a sunrise challenge!
🌙 Midweek Evening Walks – A great way to get the miles in and enjoy social walks during the week.

🔜 What’s Coming Up?
🌊 Whitby Esk Valley Walk – Exploring stunning North Yorkshire landscapes in April.
⛰️ Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge – A true endurance test also in April!
🥾 Teesdale Way Section (15 miles) – Next leg on Saturday 3rd May, as we continue our journey to complete all 94 miles this year!
⛰️ Lyke Wake Walk – Our annual challenge walk in June.
🌄 Summer Solstice Walk – A breathtaking sunset hike in the Lakes with hopefully a talk on rock art from someone who knows all about it.
🏴‍☠️ Scotland Coast to Coast – A stunning long-distance adventure to close out June!

🔥 Fundraiser Alert! 🔥
We're walking for Sprouts, an amazing local charity making a real difference in our community. Every step counts, and so does every donation! 🙌 If you can, please chip in whatever you can at 👉 https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tdw-sprouts

🎉 And finally… a huge Happy Birthday to our Teesdale Way walk leader and fab group Admin lady, the wonderful Kerry Lynch – 21 again! 🥳🎂 ... and what a big smile and heart she has.

📢 Want to join the adventure? Whether you're up for a challenge or just love walking with great people, hit the Visit Group button at the top of the page and become a Centurion!

🎉🚶‍♂️

17/03/2025

Well ... we have a few weeks before our next Teesdale Way outing but we have plenty going on within the Centurions before that.

There's our Whitby Esk Valley Walk on Saturday 5th April, our Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge walk on Saturday 19th April, many Roseberry Red Eye walks every Tuesday morning and our mid-week evening walks .... all this to keep the group active and well-prepared for Saturday 3rd May when Kerry’s next 15 mile section of the Teesdale Way gets underway from Langdon Beck to Romaldkirk. Should be a great day out and if you'd like to join us then just click the Visit Group button at the top of this page to request to join the Centurions private walking group.

Every penny of your donations go to our incredible charity Sprouts who do so much in our community so please if you are able to donate even a couple of quid it all mounts up to help local families. Thank you so much!!

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tdw-sprouts

❤️🥾

04/03/2025

Kerry's Teesdale Way Challenge: One Section Down, Many More Blisters to Go!

Well, that’s one section of the Teesdale Way in the bag! If only my legs felt as accomplished as I do.

The Journey So Far

For those just tuning in, I’m walking the Teesdale Way to raise funds for Sprouts Community Food Charity—because everyone deserves access to good food, and I apparently enjoy punishing my legs for a great cause. One section in, and I’ve already learned three important things:

1.⁠ ⁠The English countryside is stunning… until you take a wrong turn and end up in a field of very judgmental cows.

2.⁠ ⁠Waterproof boots are only waterproof if you don’t step in a puddle that’s deeper than expected.

3.⁠ ⁠The promise of a cold beer at the end of a walk is sometimes the only thing keeping you going.

This first stretch had everything—mud, scenic riverside views, and the occasional moment of regret when my legs reminded me they weren’t built for this. But every step is worth it because it’s all for Sprouts, helping to support food initiatives and communities that need it most.

What’s Next?

Next up is Langdon Beck to Romaldkirk, where I’m sure I’ll encounter even more questionable map-reading skills and hopefully fewer surprise inclines. If you’d like to support me (or just enjoy following my misadventures from the comfort of your sofa), you can donate or share my journey with friends using the link below.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tdw-sprouts

Thanks to everyone who’s supported me so far! Stay tuned for the next update—hopefully, it won’t include another run-in with angry sheep.

01/03/2025

We're walking Kerry's Teesdale Way for Sprouts Community Food Charity.

Sprouts Community Food Charity believe that everyone deserves access to good food, support, and the opportunity to learn essential cooking skills.

Based in Teesside, Sprouts support families and vulnerable people through a range of community-driven initiatives, including cooking workshops, a community shop, a garden, a café, and food hygiene training.

To raise awareness and funds for their vital work, we're taking on a challenge—walking the Teesdale Way in sections!

Why are we doing this?

Food insecurity is a growing issue, and many people in our community struggle to afford or access healthy meals. Through Sprouts' programs, they provide practical solutions, from teaching cooking skills to offering affordable food through their community shop. This walk is our way of highlighting the importance of food security while raising funds to continue and expand their services.

The Teesdale Way Challenge

The Teesdale Way is a stunning long-distance trail following the River Tees from its source in the North Pennines to the North Sea. We’ll be walking it in sections, inviting supporters to join us along the way to share stories, enjoy the scenery, and rally behind a common cause—ensuring that no-one in Teesside goes hungry.

How You Can Help

We can’t do this alone! Here’s how you can support us:
•⁠ ⁠Donate: Every contribution helps us provide meals, training, and community support. You can donate here:

👉 JustGiving - click the image at the bottom to donate what you can and please share this to your own facebook friends and family.

•⁠ ⁠Join a Walk: Walk with us on a section of the trail and help spread the word.

•⁠ ⁠Share Our Story: Follow our journey, share updates, and encourage others to get involved.

•⁠ ⁠Volunteer: If you want to help beyond the walk, we always need extra hands in our workshops, café, and garden.

Follow Our Journey
We’ll be sharing updates, photos, and stories from the walk, so stay tuned on here. Let’s step forward together for a stronger, more food-secure community.

Are you in? Get in touch, support our cause, and let’s make a difference—one step at a time!

👉 Donate now: JustGiving - click the image at the bottom to donate what you can and please share this to your own facebook friends and family.

Iʼm raising money to raise money for local community charity Sprouts.. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

01/03/2025

Up for a Challenge? Join The Centurions!

If you love long-distance walking, epic challenges, and great company, The Centurions is the group for you! We take on some of the UK’s toughest and most rewarding walks. Here’s a brief highlight of the kind of walks we do.

✅ The Yorkshire 3 Peaks – 24 miles, 3 mountains, one incredible day.

✅ The Lyke Wake Walk – A legendary 40-mile crossing of the North York Moors.

✅ Our Own 100K Challenge Walk – Designed by us, testing endurance and determination.

✅ The Roseberry Red Eye – A sunrise hike up Roseberry Topping at 7 AM.

✅ Midweek Evening Walks – A social walk finishing at the pub—because we’ve earned it!

✅ Charity Walks – Right now, we’re walking The Teesdale Way in 8 sections (94 miles) to raise funds for Sprouts, supporting our local community.

And, for those who truly want to push their limits, we train for the LDWA 100-Mile Challenge, where we aim to complete 100 miles in 48 hours.

Whether you’re after a new challenge, a great day out, or just an excuse to explore more, come and walk with us!

Ready to step up?

Click the “Visit Group” button at the top of this page and request to join our Facebook group today!

❤️🥾