The Shelton Bikers Ride
August 2005 Tynemouth to Whitehaven

The Shelton Bikers Epic Journey – August/September 2005

“Around The Top Of The World In 7 Days”
Whitehaven/Sunderland On The C2C Route

Returning By Hadrian’s Cycleway NCN 72 To Whitehaven

(Part Two)
(for Part One go to C2C website)

Following our 3-day tour of duty on the C2C route The Shelton Bikers 10th anniversary C2C trip began a new adventure on Tuesday 30th August with a return ride from South Shields to Whitehaven by the Hadrian’s Wall Route (NCN72).

Leaving our South Shields accommodation at circa 8.30am, courtesy of our very good friends Vic & Ann Cohen (C2C Club Members from a previous Tour), we sped off to the Ferry Terminal at South Shields to have our first encounter with 'Doug on the Tyne'. Difficult to spot in his yellow fluorescent top we introduced ourselves to Doug (Ridgeway) and caught the 9.15am Ferry to the North Side - Passport & Customs Controls evaded, with nothing to declare, we disembarked at North Shields and left the gleeful Ferryman to have a good day (Misery on legs would sum him up!)

Doug then took us on a 22 mile guided tour of the Tyne following the routed NCN 72 through North Shields, Royal Quays, Wallsend and the Newcastle regenerated Docks. We took a quick diversion over the "Blinking" Bridge for good measure returning to the north side to continue our trip.

Note: Cycling is easy and the signage is excellent to this point and although it changes from Blue to Brown and back again as you enter and leave the City Boundries there are no routing issues and although a few routing changes are in hand due to regeneration rest assured Doug is on the case to keep you routed and mobile.

We continued on the River route, led by Doug, out of the City and took light refreshments from the Riverside Cafes sprinkled along the route; we encountered some challenging road work to Scotswoods Bridge which keeps you focused and alert, but the off road legalised pavement riding keeps you relatively safe!

We meandered around the Tyne through a delightful regenerated riverside park and on reaching the birthplace of George Stephenson it was time to say goodbye to our guide, take a photograph (our cover is now blown for sure!) and go our separate ways, but not before Doug decided to challenge a Combine Harvester that was meandering between parked cars!

Ang & Mike at Blayney Row Milepost
Newburn near Newcastle

Day One (4th in the saddle) South Shields To Fourstones (46 Miles)

Note: With out wishing to embarrass Doug he is a spot on bloke (as they say in our part of the world) and both Ang & Myself would express our sincere thanks for the interesting and informative 22-mile guide. If you are considering the trip check out the Hadrian's Cycleway and contact Doug, or his Rangers for up to date route details - Ride on 'Doug on the Tyne'.

Now solo we journeyed on with the Tyne keeping us company has we cycled on road & paths criss crossing the water on our way to Corbridge, a pleasant town, small, quaint & quiet. Route signage still good we headed for Hexam going off route up into the Town, plenty here to occupy yourselves with major nationals, local shops & cafes to choose from.

We re-routed the way we came to pick up the 72 signs again following the main railway line on an adjacent Bridleway, we crossed the track twice with an interesting warning on the level crossing gates - 3 would cost you £1k if left open, whilst the bargain of the day was £50 on one for a transgression - Look out for that when on route!

We meandered through Bridge End to Fourstones which seemed to take a lifetime on the road, but the signage was still good even if the route does go out of its way a little at this point, although a couple of alternative off road Bridleway choices are available if you want a shortcut challenge to Fourstones.

Day one of our return trip is drawing to a close as we enter Fourstones, our B&B is soon found and we make ourselves at home with Janet, pleasant and clean, but our host appeared tired and somewhat disinterested and disenchanted with B&B life.

The Village has a Pub and the story ends there!

Day Two (5th in the saddle) - Fourstones to Brampton (32 Miles)

Breakfast on board, a bad weather front forecast for 4.00pm and a short day in the saddle we hit the road to Newborough just after 9.00am, the only hills of the ride are on this days itinerary with a maximum climb of just over 250 metres (hardly Hartside material), Grindle Hill, Crindledykes (highest point) and Smiths Shields where climbed and we coasted down to Bardon Mill for fluids & flapjack at the Village Shop/Post Office - Yum Yum!

Haltwistle was our next port of call where the recognised "open" route ends, being the centre of England I was expecting great things, but a sarnie from the Deli and a glass of Ruby Red from the local pub had to do!

Difficult to navigate out of the Town as Route 72 finishes at the Railway Station (for the time being) and Route 68 Pennine Bridleway takes signage preference - KEEP RIGHT, DO NOT CROSS THE RAILWAY LINE AND CLIMB OUT OF TOWN TO GREENHEAD, where evidence of the New roadside Cycle/Pedestrian Footpath is under construction.

Downhill to Gilsland and the signage reappears guiding you on a roller coaster ride to Lanercost & Brampton (Our chosen stop over for the night).

Arriving at the front door of Sands House, Brampton at 4.00pm the weather came in - good timing or what! The sign by the bell said be patient and wait so by Thursday afternoon I rang again! Valerie greeted us, what a character, so I asked her if we had to ride to our rooms due to the time it took her to come to the front door!

We where made most welcome with unexpected tea & buns and with jokes and merriment abounding this is a must stop for everyone.

After the torrential rain we went on the town in the evening where we had a northern delicacy from the Chippy on the High Street (NOT THE COD FATHER OUTLET) - Battered Haggis & you guessed it a Chip Butty (equal to Penrith if you have read our C2C Journal) enjoyed on the bench in front of the Conservative Club.

Bed beckoning, with a couple of aches each we hit the sack…………..

Day 3 (6th in the saddle) - Brampton to Bowness (35 Miles) - Its September Now!

Breakfast with Val is a must, although we never met Bill (does he exist?), just say yes to what's on the menu and scoff the lot!

Up and running for 9.30am we picked up the signage (still holding up) travelled through Hayton, Warwick Bridge, Linstock and through to Carlisle steady, but not spectacular riding we diverted to taste the delights of Carlisle (easy to visit - just off route).

Carlisle is one of those places we all have in our portfolio of never visit Towns/Cities no matter how you try you never enjoy the experience and this visit did nothing to enhance my point of view - Just not for me!

Retracing our steps we picked up the 72 signage and headed for Bitt Park - oophs the wheels came off! (well the signage did) for whatever reason, probably do to the recent floods, and some bridge reconstruction the 72 signs evaporated. None the less we followed the course of the River Eden (well it was going our way to the sea at Bowness) along an adjacent Bridleway, which must be the route, although not signed. We converge with a footpath and should have gone left, but yours truly went on a bit and had to come back eventually hitting some Reivers Route signage which by good fortune took us back on Route 72 just outside Kirkandrews of Eden our next point of call after Carlisle.

The road is long sang the Hollies (to those who can remember them), but they never mentioned the sea breeze as we battled at sea level through Dykesfield, Drumburgh and eventually into Bowness, if you have done the Causeway at Lindesfarne this is its equal on the wrong day and boy was this the wrong day!

We rolled into the Rectory, in the Village Centre of Bowness to be greeted by the distinct smell of Garlic, Vampires or what up here!

Patsy our host greeted us, put our bikes away and suggested the local Pub for a meal as it was quiz night, well our experience at Rookhope (C2C Day 2) put us off such excitement so we had Fish & Scampi (well it was the Seaside) and retired to bed……..

Day 4 (7th in the saddle) - Bowness to Whitehaven (51 Miles)

An early start with sea level riding ahead of us we had an executive breakfast with a couple of Hadrian Path Walkers (they had only done 90 odd miles and we where sitting on 261 cumulative - so there!) a different breed, but committed just like us Cyclists.

Breakfast over Patsy sent us on our way (good host & quality hospitality) and for the first 20 miles we had plain sailing with extensive views over the Solway Firth

(well worth the extra miles on the Coast Route) - signage is sparse, but you only have one way to travel. Anthorn, Angerton, Newton Arlosh and Abbey Town sped under our wheels has we headed for the next major town of Silloth.

On the outskirts of Silloth some local had turned a 32 Tonne truck over blocking our right of passage, but the local "Bill" said go through so off we went only to be refused right of passage at the incident! - back we went to join the other diverted traffic on the equivalent of a single-track road carrying M25 traffic! (some sense expressed there when we could have walked through the crash scene as no one was injured).

None the less we diverted to Silloth and picked up the 72 Route on the outskirts of the Town. We fed & watered at a lovely Café on the way out of Silloth that specialised in homemade grub - Yum Yum again!

The signage ceases on the outskirts of Silloth so we followed the coast route to Beckfoot, Allonby and Maryport and with the wind picking up on turning out of Silloth we took refuge by the sea in glorious sunshine on the "Green". Some 30 minutes later, refreshed and back in the saddle we remained on the coast road to the outskirts of  St. Helens where by good fortune we spied a 72 Route sign on the other side of the road taking us of the busy coast road onto former Railway Lines through St. Helens and on to Workington traffic free.

We shuffled around Workington, which is undergoing regeneration, easily picked up the 72 Route signs out of Town and followed the former railway line to Parton where we started our epic trip 7 days ago.

 The trip to Parton and onto Whitehaven seems to take an age (now known to be 8 miles), but its flat, traffic free and easy riding on tarmac.

The end came quickly at the bottom of the hill into Parton 312 miles on the clock bums aching, but not sore with plenty left in the tank!

We would recommended the trip to those capable of  7 days in the saddle, the Hadrians Cycleway is the better route back has opposed to retracing your steps the more rigorous and challenging C2C return (the Romans knew how to avoid hills when building the wall); the scenery whilst different is pleasing to the eye and the Solway Coastal run is well worth the effort.

Without doubt the weather made the trip, only having the Cloud on Black Hill outward-bound, and avoiding the heavy rain at Brampton inward-bound midweek, signage is generally good and when officially open the Rangers will no doubt ride the range and make sure we all know where we are going.

Overall a classic 7 days cycling, worth the effort and a reverse ride is being planned for next year if Ang will forgive me for the Stadium of Light cockup!

 Mike & Ang – The Shelton Bikers (All Two Of Us Again – Of Course)