Member Article

Residents invited to climb historic Newcastle Monument

North East residents are invited to see Newcastle from a different angle next week – by mounting the 162 steps that lead to the top of the historic Grey’s Monument.

The event on Monday 25 September which will see the stairs opened between 11am and 3pm, forms part of the City’s Million Miles Challenge. The initiative – inspired by the Year of Exercise and Sport – involves residents trying to walk, run and swim a million miles during the course of September. Participants are asked to log the distances they contribute to the City’s target and there will be a prize draw for all those taking part.

At Monday’s event, staff from Newcastle City Council will add up the distance covered by all those climbing the steps, although it is up to the individual concerned whether they leave their details to be entered into the prize draw.

Neil Ramshaw, co-ordinator of YES 2006, said, “Climbing Grey’s Monument was one of the most popular activities during the Longest Day event and this is why we are giving people the opportunity to go up there again. It’s a fair old climb, but it will give your body a good work out and the view should be reward enough in itself.” Anyone reaching the Monument only to discover that the queue is too long can approach a member of staff who will allocate them a slot later in the day when they can come along and go straight up to the top.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .