Official Opening Ride
Day 7 - 21th. July 2006
Featherstone Castle to Haltwhistle to Corbridge
Distance 30 miles

Arising early to take breakfast, generously provided by the Haltwhistle Community we bade farewell to Featherstone Castle after what can only described as an interesting visit

Breakfast at Featherstone with riders eagally waiting to set off again.

Leaving Featherstone Castle

Passing under A69 next to the South Tyne

Crossing the Blue Bridge into Haltwhistle

Arriving at the Market Square - Centre of Britain we waited for the town dignitaries to arrive.
Photos were taken, plaques given out and speeches made before we departed on our journey.

Haltwhistle - Centre of Britain

Leaving Haltwhistle

Mile 118 - On the way to Bardon Mill

Following the old A69 we undulated our way down the South Tyne valley to Bardon Mill where a long drag of a climb awaited us - up to Smith's Shield - although not steep it goes on for several miles climbing in series of steps to the top.

Mile 123 climbing to Smith's Shield

Mile 124 - almost there !!

Here normally we would have turn right and joined the Stanegate "Roman Road" to Vindolanda, but as they were unable to accommodate such a large party of cyclists so we continued north on NCN 68 the Pennine Cycleway to Once Brewed and the Northumberland National Park Visitor Centre (NNPA).

Welcoming poster at car park entrance	The caterers set up the buffet lunch
Something for everyone	Fed and watered - time to study the map

The NNPA had laid on a magnificent cold buffet. Someone had calculated how many calories we had burnt off on the climb and a selection of pasta, hams, cheeses and other delights were laid out in marquee along with cold drinks. This was very much appreciated by all riders - after more photos we set off again suitable refueled for the next even more grueling climb.

Signs at Smith's Shield - Mile 124.5

Re-tracing back to Smith's Shield we turn down the Stanegate (signed Hexham 15) and speeding past Vindolanda confronted the last steep climb of the ride - admiring during the climb the vista of Vindolanda laid out behind us. The climb up to Crindledykes takes you to the highest point of Hadrian's Cycleway 262m. above sea level.

Start of the last steep climb at Chesterholm

View looking over Vindolana Roman Fort

Riders struggle up the hill in the Noon day sun !!

Over the "hump" and back on the Stanegate again we descended over several miles at speed through Newbrough to Fourstones. After a gentle climb we followed the North Tyne valley to Warden where we crossed over the River South Tyne and on into Hexham.

By now the day was getting exceedingly hot.

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Photos by
David Martin, Steve Psallidas and Doug Ridgway