This year’s “Solent Area Tour” is taking place and starting on 16th September 2023 and will be to the beautifully scenic area of Northumberland. To this end a few of us got together and discussed what we wanted to get out of the tour and also the best time of year to go.
We had the benefit of having Colin Reay with us, who originates from the area and visits often, as you will have seen from his FaceBook Posts and photos. Colin provided excellent input on routes and places to visit, which was greatly appreciated 
This purpose of this post, is to initially gauge interest and see how many members would like to join us on the 16th September, for what promises to be a fantastic trip via Gaydon, setting off for an overnight stop (optional) near Gaydon, in readiness for the MX5 National, before driving up to Northumberland, so a good stop off point on route 
We are currently looking at accommodation in Northumberland and hope to procure Self-Catering/Barn Conversion type accommodation, with en-suite facitilies, in or around the Alnwick Area, or similar, as this will keep costs down, as opposed to hotels but members can choose to book Guest House or Hotel Accommodation, as desired.
Also, members can dip in and out of the tour to fit family and/or work commitments and tailor the trip to suit themselves. However, we have an outline plan that is currently being finalised. The routes and attractions we propose and have put together will be provided as options, so that members can did in and out of the tour and choose what to do and in whatever order they desire, to suit.
However, as a rough guide, we will be visiting places such as; Craster, Seahouses, Bamburgh & Bamburgh Castle, Berwick, Duns (near Berwick and visit the Jim Clarke Museum), Holy Island (weather permitting), Kielder Water & Forest, Saughtree, Farne Islands, Beamish, Hadrians Wall and the superb countryside. This list is not exhaustive and all arrangements are subject to weather conditions.
Serena and I are heading South, on or around the 25th/26th Sept, as we have a Family holiday in Derbyshire, starting on the 29th Sept but others are free to stay on and explore as they wish.
If members could respond to this post saying whether they are interested in partaking in this tour by 20th February, it would be greatly appreciated - Non-Attendance responses are not required!
We will make the drive options available to those who sign up for this event in due course but our initial thoughts are that we want the options to be as flexible as possible, for our members 
Attendees List:
- Mal Rowland - Accomodation Booked
- Serena Rowland - Accomodation Booked
- Colin Reay - Accomodation Booked
- Ron Clarke - Accomodation Booked
- Angela Clarke - Accomodation Booked
- Val Lazell - Accomodation Booked
- Bob Lazell - Accomodation Booked
- Gerry Hall ?
- Geoff Lowe?
- Lynn Lowe?
- Max Grogan
- Esther Freeborn
- Helen Grogan?
- Nick Grogan?
- Mike Yardley - Accomodation Booked
- Karen Yardley - Accomodation Booked
- Kevin Taylor - Accomodation Booked
- Sandra Taylor - Accomodation Booked
- Stuart Couper - Accomodation Booked
- Pat Couper - Accomodation Booked
- Richard Tugwell
- Clare Barker
- Pat Chance - Accomodation Booked
- Ash Chance - Accomodation Booked
- Sheila Butler - Accomodation Booked
- Graham Butler - Accomodation Booked
- Sally Carter - Accomodation Booked
- Steve Carter - Accomodation Booked
- Elaine Rust?
- Rob Rust?
- Julie Smith?
- Mike Smith ?
- Christine Baird ?
- Richard Baird ?
- Lynn Mead - Accommodation Booked
- Roger Mead - Accomodation Booked
Best Regards
The Solent Northumberland Tour Team: Serena, Mal, Angie, Ron, Val, Bob & Colin - not forgetting Blue 