The people who will be leading the walks -
Mike Evens - Mike is a Northumberland National Park Volunteer Ranger, a member of the 
Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue and is a professional guide for Shepherds Walks.
Mike's enthusiasm, wit and local knowledge are second to none and as he only lives five minutes away from Rothbury his local knowledge will help to bring the walks to life during the Rothbury and Coquetdale Midsummer Walking Festival.
You will have some good fun on his walks.
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Shaun Hackett - Shaun is a full time Ranger for Northumberland National Park. Shaun's 
enthusiasm for creatures, both large and small, has done much to encourage a wider knowledge of their habits and needs in the National Park.
Shaun has a superb knowledge of bees. He did not start out to be an expert but during his job surveying and managing meadows he developed an interest in bumblebees and this has led to him becoming the foremost expert in the Park's organisation.
Shaun's knowlege about all animals large and small is exceptional and he will convey this to the walkers during the Rothbury and Coquetdale Midsummer Walking Festrival.
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Richard Holmes - Richard's knowledge on the geology of the region is extensive. His 
enthusiasm for the region is infectious and after being a National Park Volunteer Ranger and Team Leader for Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue for a number of years his walk leader skills are first class.
Richard has walked extensively in Rothbury and Coquetdale including leading a number of field trips. You will leave his walks far more knowledgeable and inspired after spending a few hours in Richard's capable hands.
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Jon Monks - Jon started the legendary 'Shepherds Walks' back in 1999. A former hill shepherd Jon
looks at the landscape from a shepherd's perspective, which is truly unique. After being featured on BBC Countryfile, Radio 4 Ramblings and many broadsheet papers Jon has built his business up to be the largest walking business in the North East of England.
Jon now lives in Rothbury so he will be leading the walks 'on his doorstep' during the walking festival. The enthusiasm that Jon shows for this area is well known and you will leave his walks uplifted and excited about the walking in the Rothbury and Coquetdale area.
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Russell Tait - Russell is a full time Northumberland National Park Ranger. After years of leading 
walks for the National Park his wit and knowledge are truly legendary.
What Russell does not know about the area he is walking in is not worth knowing, but best of all you will end up with a smile on your face.
As Russell lives and is based in Rothbury he again will bring you a real insight into what makes the valley tick.
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Over the coming months we are training up a number of walk leaders. These are -
Janice Morgan - Janice lives locally and is passionate about walking and most outdoor activities 
and hopes to share some of that enthusiasm with fellow walkers. Always been content with joining walks and remaining in the background, Janice now feels the time is right to branch out into leading walks and encourage people to put their best foot forward.
Janice holds a full time job in the NHS and is also treasurer for Morpeth Footpaths Society where she is a regular attendee at monthly scheduled walks. Her daughter is expecting twin boys in July and Janice is hoping to get them trained up and weathered as soon as possible!!
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Paula Ball - Paula is a Cambridge Diet Counsellor. She helps and supports people who want to 
lose weight and encourage them to begin exercising, such as walking, gradually undertaking more strenuous walks once they have lost their weight and their fitness level has increased. She is also a member of the Morpeth Footpath Society and hopes to lead some walks for them once I'm trained up.
In recent years Paula has done a number of treks for charity which include 6 days trekking on the Great Wall of China in April 2007, 6 days trekking in the Escambray Moutains in Cuba in February 2008 and in October 2008 she scaled Ben Nevis but due to adverse weather wasn't able to get to the top so we're going back this August to complete our challenge. Paula has also recently volunteered with Wansbeck District Council to lead health walks in the Bedlington area on Northumberland.
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Martin Laidler - Martin lives in Morpeth and has loved walking (particularly in Northumberland) ever since going on a school trip many years ago! He hopes that by leading walks he will be able to 
share some of his enthusiasm with fellow walkers, so that they also learn to love the Coquetdale area and may even go on to lead walks in the future - although that is not a condition of booking!
Martin currently works for the local authority and has recently returned to live in the area following living and working in the Midlands. This has made Martin realise that Northumberland is the best area of the country to live, as you can still walk all day without meeting another walker!
Martin is Acting Chair of the Morpeth Footpaths Society and looks forward to seeing new walkers coming to the area - and they may even return to the area for the Morpeth Walking Festival in the future!
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Mary Finn - Mary works full time in North Tyneside as a social worker and so values having easy acess to a fabulous coast line and wonderful country side in which to relax. She and her 
daughters lived in Rothbury for 14 years and she has many friends in the village with whom she regularly plays tennis, weather permitting.
She is a keen member of the Morpeth footpaths society and is looking forward to supporting the walking festival and meeting people with whom to share her enthusiasm for the Coquet Valley and Northumberland.
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Muriel McKenna - Muriel lives on the outskirts of Newcastle and walks every day with her dog. She is semi-retired from teaching and enjoys the extra time available to explore new opportunities 
such as taking part as a volunteer in the walking festival and all the training leading up to it.
Her interest in walking began way back when she was in the Girl Guides! From then she's enjoyed going out on many walks in the region as well as walking holidays in Scotland and the Lake District. She is now an active member of the Morpeth Footpath Society.
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Douglas McPhail - Doug was born in Edinburgh and brought up there, first developing a taste for hillwalking aged about 12 on a weeks school trip to Cairngorms.
H moved south with my parents who found work in Yorkshire; & spent my teenage leisure time
walking, climbing, & caving across the north of England.
After studying Product Design in Manchester, I married & we settled & brought up our two children in Northumberland, while I taught Art, Design & Technology in schools here. My out of school enthusiasms broadened to include sailing & sea canoeing, & the necessary qualifications to lead school groups followed. Over many years I enjoyed sharing a love of the outdoors with groups within Northumberland, the Lake District, & the west of Scotland.
More than 10 years ago I retired early from teaching, & found more time for gardening, making things, & exploring on foot & by bike. As a long term member of Morpeth Footpath Society I've continued having fun devising & leading routes, & trying to help some of my friends to do the same.
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