A GROUP of outdoor enthusiasts will today complete three days of exploration of Northumberland’s rugged landscape.

But these intrepid explorers are members of the Disabled Ramblers, an organisation committed to campaigning for better access to the countryside for people with disabilities.

The members use modern, all-terrain mobility scooters which can climb a one-in-five gradient and with suspension which can surmount six-inch rocks.

On Monday, the group set off on a four-mile trip along Hadrian’s Wall from Housesteads fort, to enjoy views of Crag Lough. Yesterday they tackled the moors around Blanchland and today it will be a taste of Cheviot Hill country on eight-mile trip from Alwinton using the old drovers’ road of Clennell Street to Copper Snout.

The group are being helped by Northumberland National Park and English Heritage. The organisers of the three North East Rambles are Jill and Hugh Williamson, who live near Humshaugh in Northumberland.

Hugh said: “Jill had a severe brain haemorrhage nine years ago which left her paralysed down her right side. Before her stroke we were keen walkers both in the beautiful local countryside and abroad.

“Joining the Disabled Ramblers has enabled us to once more experience the delights of getting deep into our best landscapes.

“A lot of the time members are fairly constricted by mobility issues so they really enjoy the independence of being in charge of their machine.

“Jill’s Tramper mobility scooter allows us to use quite rough paths and tracks as well as tackling steep gradients.

“Our biggest bugbear is stiles and kissing gates and other inaccessible, man-made barriers which we know are there to protect livestock and sometimes to deter motorcyclists, but which can prevent us using otherwise suitable routes. We work closely with the local organisations responsible for the care of the countryside such as Northumberland National Park and the National Trust to improve access provision and to recognise that disabled access doesn’t have to be limited to short stretches of flat tarmac.”

National Park ranger Jill Riddell and access officer Lorna Lazzari accompanied the Disabled Ramblers to get a new perspective on disabled access.

Lorna said: “These machines can take members all over on challenging routes such as Alwinton. They are a fantastic bunch of people.”

Members are fairly constricted by mobility issues so they enjoy the independence of being in charge of their machine.