I'm taking people on a walking tour of historic Sunderland spots which inspired bestselling books

Fans of Ryhope author Glenda Young are now able to go on a voyage of discovery, taking in the locations from her books on a guided walk.

Glenda’s books, which include Belle of the Back Streets, The Tuppenny Child and The Paper Mill Girl, are set in the coal mining and farming village of Ryhope at the end of WW1.

Tour guide and author Ian Mole already leads hugely popular walks showing locations from The Shipyard Girls books by author Nancy Revell.

Now, Ian has volunteered to take Glenda’s readers on a tour around Ryhope.

He has worked with Glenda to design the tour, which will take place on Saturday 23 May 2026, during Local History Month.

Ian says: “We’ll go at a leisurely pace, and the tour will last about two hours. We’ll visit and talk about many locations from Glenda’s books and also talk about the background history of Ryhope.

“The tour costs £10, payable in cash on the day. Children under 16 go free and pets are welcome. Please let me know if you’d like to come along and I’ll give you further details.”

Glenda says: “I’m over the moon that Ian has stepped forward to take my readers on this wonderful, nostalgic tour. Fans will be able to spot the locations from all of my books, including buildings which no longer exist, such as Ryhope Hall.

“In addition, you’ll also hear stories of the Ryhope Ghost, Dick Turpin’s reputed visit to the village and lots more from Ryhope’s past. I hope everyone who attends has a wonderful day.”

To book your place on the walk, please contact Ian via the Facebook Group Official Glenda Young, Ryhope Books Guided Walking Tour at https://bit.ly/RyhopeWalkTour