Three Rivers – Northumberland

Route Information

Stats: 61 miles and  1650 feet of ascent

OS Map:

Refreshments

Cafes at: Consett, Thornley Woods, Quayside, South Shields, Sunderland

Character

Using National Cycle Network routes 1, 7 and 14 along the Rivers Wear, Derwent and Tyne on a mix of road, tarmac path and solid track.

Route

1. Starting at the Marina, head along the river initially on NCN 1 past the university and under the Wearmouth Bridge to join NCN 7.

2. Follow route 7 along the Wear through a mixture of parkland and former railways out of Sunderland, through Washington and Birtley and past Beamish museum and on into Consett.

3. Pick up NCN 14 for Rowlands Gill/Tynemouth at the C2C junction. Follow the former railway path along the Derwent valley through woodland and past old railway stations and the Gibside Estate until the Derwent meets the river Tyne.

4. Turn right and continue on route 14 around the Metrocentre and into Dunston.

5. Turn left at the Tudor Rose pub and use the new section along the riverside to Gateshead Quays. Pass the swing bridge and go under the Tyne Bridge past the Sage and Baltic Gallery. Continue through the industrial estate, along Felling shore path, Bill Quay City Farm and Hebburn Riverside Park to Jarrow.

6. Once past Tyne Dock and into South Shields where the route meets NCN 1, follow it to the coast then south along the edge of the North Sea past Souter Lighthouse through Whitburn and Roker and back to the River Wear.

Simonside

Route Information

Stats: 55 miles and  3650 feet of ascent

OS Map:

Refreshments

Cafes at: Kirkley Cycles, N1 Golf Centre, Elsdon, Wallington Hall, The Stables (just before Bolam lake, on right), Bolam Lake visitor centre.

Character

A loop of the Simonside hills overlooking Rothbury and the Coquet valley, returning via Harwood forest.

Route

1. Start at Kirkley Cycles (free parking available) and turn left. Keep going past the golf centre then turn right then next left, follow the road through the burn then take a right for Mitford, passing the pretty church on the left and castle ruins on the right.

2. At the top of the road turn left and continue until a right turn at the Dyke Neuk pub. Follow the road until a t-junction and turn right signed for Netherwitton where a left turn follows the river font to Ritton Bank, a fair climb up to meet the wind turbines (this climb features on the Virgin Money Cyclone sportive).

3. Carry on to Forrestburn Gate and turn right, then a short while later a left for Simonside. The climb ends with spectacular views of the town of Rothbury and the Coquet valley, then drops down through the tiny villages of Great and Little Tosson before meeting the river.

4. Take a left turn onto the B6341, and onto the climb of Bilsmoor (also featured on the VM Cyclone, this one is a timed climb during the sportive), then drop down into Elsdon.

5. At the village, veer left and over the bridge to begin the last big climb of Winter’s Gibbet, which starts off steep through several sharp bends then relents to a gentle straight rise to the gallows on the summit. This was used to hang criminals and cattle rustlers and takes its name from one William Winter who was hanged in 1791 for the murder of Margaret Crozier.

6. The road then rewards with a long arrow straight gradual downhill past Harwood forest. Turn right at the end and pass through the villages of Cambo and Wallington.

7. Turn left just before the bridge then a right and pass Bolam lake, turn left then next right through Bolam village and on to Whalton.

8. Turn left into the village then next right for Ogle.

9. Take a right in the village for Kirkley, pass the entrance for the Hall and zoological gardens and turn left to return to Kirkley Cycles on the left.

Roman Way

Route Information

Stats: 38 miles and  2370 feet of ascent

OS Map:

Refreshments

Cafes at: Corbridge, Hexham, Bardon Mill, Haltwhistle, Greenhead, Gilsland, Lanercost, Brampton

Character

A ride through the countryside and through time! A glimpse into the occupation of Britain by the Roman Empire along the northern frontier of Hadrian’s Wall from the Roman fort town of Corbridge to Brampton.

Route

1. Leave the town centre and pass the Wheatsheaf pub on the s bend, then take a left turn onto Corchester Lane.

2. Follow this road as in winds its way toward the thriving medieval market town of Hexham, and enter the town through the industrial estate road and a left turn onto the bridge, take caution this is a busy road but is the only one into the town, then turn right at the roundabout and enter the park.

3. Cross the railway twice and follow the path along the river where you can see the joining of the North and South Tyne.

4. At the end turn right then cross the railway again, best to dismount as the road and rails cross at an angle giving this crossing a reputation for cycle crashes, and continue to Fourstones which was the site of the first official Boy Scout camp in 1908, then on to Newbrough and Stanegate which is the route of the original Roman military road alongside the Wall.

5. After the Stanegate rise, the top of which on a clear day can be seen Cross Fell in the Pennines and Cheviot in Northumberland, the road drops sharply on which take a right turn for the Vindolanda Roman fort excavation site.

6. After the fort follow the NCN 72 signs until you cross the A69 then take a right into Bardon Mill. Carry on along the old Carlisle road through the villages of Redburn and Melkridge to Haltwhistle, which occupies the geographical ‘Centre of Britain’. (Editor’s note – a claim hotly contested by Dunsop Bridge in Lancashire)

7. Turn right then left onto the main street, and again follow the NCN 72 signs out of the town until you meet the B6318, turn left then it’s a sharp descent into the village of Greenhead.

8. Take the first right for the wall fort of Gilsland, cross the bridge and turn left then take another left for Birdoswald which stands on the Roman fort of Banna.

9. Rejoin the route of Hadrian’s Wall, passing Bank’s East Turret, and on to Lanercost with its impressive Priory.

10. Cross the river Irthing and continue into Brampton.

Reivers Loop

Route Information

Stats: 90 miles and  5750 feet of ascent

OS Map:

Refreshments

Cafes at: N1 Golf, Kirkley Cycles, Belsay, Bellingham, Otterburn, Elsdon, Rothbury, Felton, Morpeth

Start and Finish: Saint John’s Chapel in Weardale.

Character

Quiet country roads around the heart of Northumberland

Route

1. Head south out of Morpeth over Telford bridge and past the old keep, turn right at the roundabout then left after the golf course.

2. Turn left for Kirkley and then right at Kirkley Hall.

3. Turn left at Ogle, then left again just as you leave the village.

4. At the end turn right, then left for Belsay. Turn right onto the small at the junction then first left.

5. Cross the main road, then after the zig zags turn left then the right signed Ingoe.

6. Follow the road until the junction and turn right for Ryal, go through the tiny village then the exhilarating drop down the hill, at the end of the road turn left, cross the A68 then right for Barrasford.

7. Carry on past Chipchase Castle to Wark and turn left in the village signed for Stonehaugh, take the right fork then a right onto Wark Common.

8. Turn right then left and cross Bellingham bridge and take the first left.

9. At Lanehead turn right, then right again at Greenhaugh.

10. At the B6320 turn left, cross the A68 and carry on to Otterburn.

11. Turn right in the village then take the left fork to Elsdon, go through the village then follow the B6341 to Rothbury.

12. Turn right in the town, cross the bridge then take a left onto Wagtail Road then follow the railway path until the end and turn left, cross the river Coquet and turn right.

13. Turn left at Todstead Farm then right through Longframlington.

14. Turn right then left for Felton, right at Old Swarland and overpass the A1 then Felton.

15. Turn right in the village over the bridge then left round the loop junction.

16. Carry on to the Widdrington Junction and turn right for Ulgham (pronounced Uffham), after the village turn right signed Cockle Park then left for Hebron.

17. In the village turn right and follow the road back to Morpeth, with a left turn onto Pottery Bank.

North Pennine 3 Counties Classic

Route Information

Stats: 77 miles and  6125 feet of ascent

OS Map:

North Pennine Loop

Route Information

Stats: 75 miles and  6340 feet of ascent

OS Map:

Refreshments

Cafes at Nenthead, Killhope Mines, Saint John’s Chapel, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Brough, Appleby, Melmerby, Hartside Pass, and Alston.

Character

A loop of the south western portion of the North Pennine AONB, taking in the highest passes and the flats of the Eden Valley.

Route

1. Join the Stanhope road and pass through the village of Nenthall then on to Nenthead.

2. Carry on through the village onto the climb of Killhope Cross, pass the Allenheads turn and begin the triple ramped climb to the stone cross at the summit, which is the highest A road in England.

3. An incredible descent takes you into Weardale past the Killhope mines museum and on through Lanehead to Cowshill, take the right fork then through the pretty villages of Wearhead, Ireshopeburn and Saint John’s Chapel.

4. Take a right turn just before the village hall signed for Langdon Beck and begin the climb of Chapel Fell. The road takes a sudden dip then rises again, straightens to cross a cattle grid then small stone bridge and just gets steeper and steeper as it bends back and forth until finally reaching the summit at the quarry, this is the highest paved pass in England.

5. Drop down the other side and turn left at the end and follow the road all the way through Teesdale past High Force and into Middleton-in-Teesdale.

6. After the bridge turn right then a left for Brough. Passing the reservoirs the road steps up in stages onto the moors then drops down into Brough.

7. Go through the high street then take a left signed for Great Musgrave then the left signed Kirkby Stephen then the next right and pass through Little Musgrave.

8. Carry on to the cross road with Mask Road and turn right for Appleby.

9. Enter the town, and cross the bridge, turn left the follow the road out of the town, under the A66 and on to Long Marton, Milburn and Blencarn. Keep going through Skirwith, then to Ousby where a right turn leads to Melmerby.

10. Turn right in the village and begin the 5 mile long but steady 5% or so climb up out of the Eden Valley to Hartside Pass.

11. A long descent to Alston then turn right onto the steep cobbled high street.

Muggleswick & the Delves

Route Information

Stats: 29 miles and  3150 feet of ascent

OS Map:

Refreshments

Knitsley Farm Cafe near Delves is a cracking spot, and popular with cyclists. Their bangers are particularly renowned, so get yourself along for a bite to eat and a brew.

Character

Quiet and isolated roads and the road around Smidy Shaw Reservior make this a touring cyclists route. It really is a gem of a ride, with a great Pennine hill climb thrown into the mix. This is a cracking route that rolls around superb countryside and will test your climbing skills.

Route

1. From Consett head out to the Old Mill at Knitsley. Turn left and follow  loop via the junction at Longedge Lane and head along this.
2. Cross over the A68 before twisting right, via Muggleswick to Edmundbyers.
3. Leave Edmundbyers towards Stanhope and at the summit turn left to Waskerley and head for home crossing the A68 once more.