Official Opening Ride
Day 5 - 19th. July 2006
Silloth to Carlisle
Distance 37 miles

Finally the day had arrived - after many years of hard work by Sustrans and its Partners Hadrian's Cycleway was to be Officially opened between Silloth and South Shields.
It had been hoped to open the route in 2005 but this had to be delayed due to an incomplete route between Gilsland and Greenhead. Also it was originally planned to open the route from Maryport this year but again this section was not ready in time. It is hoped that the section south from Silloth to Ravenglass will be completed by Easter 2007.

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After a night camping at the Silloth Rugby Club ground - tents were packed away and the riders set of to the Golf Hotel and the Blue Dolphin Cafe for a hearty breakfast kindly provided by the Silloth business community. Then everyone made their way to the Solway Coast Discovery Centre and Tourist Information Centre for the Official Opening and send of by the towns dignitaries.

Speeches were made, commemorative plaques and badges were given out and after hunt for scissors the tape was cut and Hadrian's Cycleway was Officially Opened at last.
With a load cheer the riders - now numbering in excess of 100 - set off for Carlisle

The Official Opening at Silloth

David Gray - Sustrans invites Graham Wilkinson the Mayor of Silloth
to cut the tape to Officially Open Hadrian's Cycleway
photo by Oliver Dixon

Commemorative Plaque showing the route of NCN 72 and Hadrian's Cycleway

By now the day was getting hot and was to get even hotter still with dire warnings from the Met Office that if at all possible you should stay in doors - today was to be Blazing Saddles !!

Just before the send off, advice was received that a crucial bridge was closed for repair - maps were hastily consulted and a detour devised which would add about a mile to the journey.

Riders gather for the Send Off

South Shields here we come !!

Quickly leaving the busy B5302 road behind we would our way along country lanes with hardly any hills to bother us. Reaching Abbeytown we passed the Holm Cultram Abbey and Church which had recently suffered an arson attack which has destroyed the roof. Here we joined the much quieter B5307 to Angerton and the diversion. Whitrigg Bridge over the River Wampool had been closed that morning for repairs lasting up to 10 weeks.

Mile 55 - near Blackdyke

Mile 56

Following the signs put up for motorists we passed through Kirkbride on the B5307 - looking for the turning on the left. At last it hove in site and we made our way to Whitriig where we stopped for rest and water, and to allow the back markers to catch up.

Whitrigg - mile 66.4 - water stop

Whitrigg - mile 66.4 - bike repairs

Suitable refreshed the large group was split into two, originally lunch was to be at the Kings Arms PH at Bowness on Solway but as the number exceeded the capability - another venue at part Carlisle at the Hope and Anchor PH was arranged. The first party made for the Hope and Anchor whilst the second group waited until they disappeared from sight before setting off for the Kings Arms PH. Buffet lunch was provide courtesy of the Countryside Agency.

Entering Bowness on Solway

Kings Arms - Bowness

My bikes in here somewhere !!!

No doubt Bowness and Port Carlisle had never seen so many cyclists at the same time. More riders were due to join here having traveled over from Wallsend on the AD122 bus service which carries bikes. Lindsay Perks said: "It was like traveling in a mobile Microwave Oven"
This is the longest scheduled bus service in the UK and traverses the length of Hadrian's Wall.

Suitable refreshed we set off again along the Solway Firth coast to Burgh by Sands passing numerous signs warning us that at certain high tides the road can be inundated by the sea up to a depth of 2 feet (60 Cm's) - if it is flooded then you have to wait for the tide to go out !!

Mile 75 on route to Port Carlisle

Tandem with trailer and 15 month old baby daughter

This section is dead flat and straight for 3 miles, except at tee junctions where it rose up the the level of the flood embankments - many cows were grazing on the salt marshes and it was interesting to see their reaction as we passed. Some skittered away, others stood their ground and stared as we rode passed.

Mile 77.5 west of Drumburgh

Mile 79 east of Drumburgh

By now the temperature was up in the 90's and everyone starting to hear strange clicking and sucking noises from there bikes. Eventually we realised this was because the roads were melting in the heat and your tires were picking up wet tar - its was hard work pedaling on soft tar and into a easterly breeze. The back up vans were a welcome sight just before Burgh by Sands where we stopped for a rest and water top up.

At this point because the front riders persisted in going ahead of the ride leaders they ended up doing an extra 3 miles !!! There were many puzzled riders who having been at the front soon found themselves at the back a few miles further on !!

Originally it was planned if there was time and the heat was not too bad to follow the loop out to King Edward 1st. Monument which is where the extra 3 miles come from. The message was passed down the line but seems not all received it. Anyhow the two groups rejoined at Kirkandrews on Eden for the final leg into Carlisle.

Frank Smith along with his local Rangers guided us into town - making sure we all took the turning at Marconi Road correctly. Then it was down to the riverside, where we would have to walk a riverside section as no cycling is permitted here ( part of the Hadrian's Wall National trail) - a new section of cycle route is to be constructed here bypassing this section and the steps / ramp under the disused rail viaduct. Planning approval has been granted and awaits funding to build it. John Grimshaw greeted all the riders at this point "advising us to "walk"

Wheeling ramp and steps at River Eden - Carlisle

Bitts Park - Carlisle Riders take a rest in the shade to allow back markers to catch up.

Stopping in Bitts Park for the rear group to catch up, we set off for the final mile to the Carlisle Rugby Club ground and the campsite for that night.
The club laid on an impromptu BBQ at £3.00 per head which was very good value.

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All photos this page by David Martin - Sustrans Liaison Ranger