Official Opening Ride
Day 6 - 20th. July 2006
Carlisle to Haltwhistle (Featherstone Castle)
Distance 34 miles

Hadrian's Wall at last - in the next few miles many Roman remains can be seen along the side of the road, including Banks Turret, Pike Signal Station, several other turrets and the substantial remains of Birdoswald Roman Fort. The Vallum can be seen in the fields to the south with the ditch in front of the Wall on the north side of the road. Remains of the Turf Wall can be seen near Birdoswld which preceeded the stone wall

Following the minor road to Banks Turret - for another photo shoot - we made our way to Birdoswald Roman Fort for a packed lunch, which was provided by Hadrian's Wall Heritage Limited, the new organisation responsible for the Hadrian's Frontier World Heritage Site.

Banks Turret on Hadrian's Wall

Onto Birdoswald - Hadrian's Wall on right

Lunch stop at Birdoswald Roman Fort

With lunch consumed it was on to Greenhead - taking the road as the new off-road path between Longbyre to Greenhead was not quite completed in time due to legal problems.

Greenhead School Children, Parents, Teachers and HCW Riders

Arriving in Greenhead we were enthusiastically greeted by the local school children and their parents. Prior to our arrival the school children went for a cycle ride along the new off-road cycle path between Greenhead and Longbyre, led by Jo Morrissey from the Sustrans Newcastle Office. The school children had been busy that morning making lemonade and cakes for the riders which were very refreshing in the now increasing heat.

Leaving Greenhead Village	Helmet Cam on the steepest section
The gradient gets easier !!	Lonely Climbers

Then the big climb up Greenhead Bank - a new off-road path paralleling the Military Road allows you to "walk" up in safety !!! This is the steepest path Sustrans has constructed at 1:6 for the first part easing to 1:10 for the top section. The more confident riders used the road.
Once at the top it was but a short distance before the long descent to Haltwhistle where we re-grouped at the Station and followed the Pennine Cycleway NCN 68 to Rowfoot before descending to Featherstone Castle - our overnight stop.

NCN 68 / 72 at Plenmellor Road

Pennine Cycleway - SouthTyne Trail

NCN 72 will also follow this route as the Pennine Braid to rejoin Hadrian's Cycleway at Brampton - part is already constructed and the remainder will be by late 2007 offering an alternative flatter route but missing all the Roman remains between Banks and Birdoswald.

Arriving at the castle chaos ensured as everyone first had to be assigned a room or dormitory and then try and locate it !! The place was an absolute maze of corridors, stairs and rooms and parts date back to the 13th Century.

Arriving at Featherstone Castle

Ordering drinks for the evening meal !!

The limited shower facilities etc posed a few problems but once we were all cleaned up it was out onto the lawn to relax in the evening sunshine. A shopping list was made and one of the vans went down into Haltwhistle to bring beer, wine and cider back for the evening meal, etc. The nearest pub being a mile away up a very steep hill !! The meal was provided for by Tynedale Council who brought in outside caterers to prepare it and was much appreciated by everyone.

Doug discussing the ride with Jo Morrissey
from Sustrans Newcastle Office
photo by Steve Psallidas

A weary cyclists takes a nap

All photos this page by David Martin - Sustrans Liaison Ranger