"Coast to Coast the Roman Way"

Doug's Ride Memories

Last November a meeting of all Hadrian’s Cycleway Rangers (Tyneside) was held to discuss the 2004 event program.
We decided that we would ride the full projected route of Hadrian’ Cycleway from Ravenglass to Tynemouth, following as close as possible the projected route.
After consulting diaries, wives etc. a date was settled upon - the last full weekend in April.

After some inquiries we settled on using Tyne Valley Holidays to arrange transport, baggage transfers and accommodation.
I meanwhile as part of developing the HCW web site started to research the route - Steve Psallidas from Sustrans North East assisted with line maps of the intended route.

As there are no Sustrans maps yet available for HCW - I prepared and printed route maps for every rider taking part.
Initially nine were to take part but two had to drop out - leaving 7 from the Tyneside Group - later Chris Lloyd and her friend joined us making nine again.

The Riders:-
Sheena Murray, Chris Lloyd, John Kirkbride, David Daniels , Gareth Kane,
Doug Ridgway, Steve Beverly,Phil Goldblatt, Rob Wood

The months went by and with the ride rapidly approaching an intensive training program was undertaken - or should have been - by this time the weather had turned and it wasn't looking very promising for the ride - so far April had lived up to its reputation with heavy prolonged showers in the preceding days - how wrong we were !!

April 22nd
The morning was spent on last minute bike checks and packing - then off to Segedunum, Wallsend to meet up with Phil and the Mini Bus for a 3.30 pm start - we then called at the Quayside to pick Rob & Gareth up and then onto the final pick to collect John & Steve at Wylam.

David by this time was well on his way to Ravenglass on his bike via the Reivers having started the day before. He arrived there 2 hours before us. We were slightly delayed after a slight detour by the driver who didn’t know the way to Ravenglass!!

Chris and Sheena made there own arrangements and we were to meet us at the start on Friday morning.

Arriving at 7.30pm we quickly unpacked - locked bikes away and headed off to the “Ratty” for a meal and drinks and to discuss the ride.

April 23rd Ravenglass to Silloth. 45 miles
Weather cloudy but no rain likely - wind blowing from the south

After a hearty breakfast we lined up for the obligatory photo before the off at 9.00 am.
Within 100 mtrs arrive at a “Cyclists Dismount” sign for the passage over the very narrow footbridge over the River Mite.

Then on towards Seascale where the group split up - one group riding along the foreshore the other detouring around Sellafield. The foreshore group comprising Doug, Phil, Gareth and Rob made good progress through the car park only to be stalled when Gareth got his first puncture ( 1 0f 3) - duly mended we pushed on - literally - along the path which was soft and sandy in places. At the end of the path passed over the footbridge over the River Calder just as a worker from BNFL was taking water samples !!!

Passing Sellafield Nuclear Site - Gareth suffers another flat (2 of 3) and in full view of the security cameras we effected repairs.

Continuing on our way we meet up with the other group at Beckermet who are already there having had an easy but slightly muddy ride.

Already Phil is getting hungry and as nothing is open in Beckermet we carry on to Egremont where to Phils delight we find a cafe called “Pat A Cake” - next to the police station. Suitable refueled on we press to join the C2C in reverse to Whitehaven - on the way it was pleasing to see the police arresting motor bikers on the cycleway but not so pleasing was the amount of broken glass on the path later on - which was to cause problems later on.

A quick pose by the C2C sculpture at Whitehaven and on to Workington and the end of the off road cycle tracks at St. Helens.

Here we had to join the very busy A596(T) road - full of heavy lorries thundering past. (This will be bypassed by a new off road path before the full route is official opened.)

With my rear tire slowly going down and Phils fuel reserves falling we made an enforced stop at Flimby - tire pumped up and stayed up - odd !! The local shop provided mince pies and off again to Maryport.
On the way we find out Phil didn’t get a pie - no vegetarian ones !!!

In Maryport we find a delightful watering place - “The Sailors Return” right on the route in where we stop for lunch.
Recommended as has excellent food and real ale.

With the wind behind us we speed along the promenade and B5300 to Silloth where we arrive for our stay at the Golf Hotel that night.

I was not happy about my rear tyre so decide to check it finding a sliver of glass embedded in the tread and the tiny pin prick in the tube was the cause - so on with a new one tube and fix punctured one.
As we later found to our cost Gareth should have done the same.

Day 2 Silloth to Haltwhistle - 55 miles
Cloudy at first but turning to glorious sunshine later on - no wind.

After a hearty meal and refreshments the night before and a good sleep we were off again at 9.00am - along the Cumbrian flatlands - which is flatter than some parts of Holland.

5 miles and "hiss”
Gareth gets another flat. (3 of 3). This time the tire is minutly examined by everyone and we find a tiny sliver of glass causing the trouble - thankfully this was the last flat of the ride.

A quick stop at Kirkbride so John could visit his ancestral home and off passing several signs warning of tidal flooding. The tide was out which was a relief to me after trying to decipher the local tide tables when planning the ride - parts of the route can flood tro a depth of two feet at high spring tide if there is astrong westerly wind blowing.

Quickly we reach the outskirts of Carlisle where we weaved our way along the multitude of paths along the River Eden before entering a lovely riverside park in the city centre.

Having decided to make a scheduled lunch stop we left Carlisle behind and rode on to “Stags Inn” at Low Crosby Bridge situated right on the route.
Following an excellent lunch and refreshments we cary on trying to catch up with the two ladies who didn’t stop as long as we did.
They wanted to give themselves extra time for hill climbs.

With the flatlands behind us - the climbing soon started - the first short steep hill catching us all out - by now the sun was blazing down and it as begining to get quite hot. At the milepost near the A69 embankment the oppotunity was taken to strip off - down to shorts and vests !! We note ithe milepost says Newcastle 70 miles !!

On we ride through Brampton - a brief stop to admire the bridge and Priory at Lamercost to the first real climb - up to Banks and Hadrian's Wall at last.
We are overtaken near the top by the local policeman on his bike !!

Finally we meet up with Sheena and Chris again at Banks Turret - this section of the route has many well preserved remains of the Wall, several turrets and Biroswald Roman Fort.

On through Gilsland towards Greenhead - the one bit nobody was looking forward to. This is only way through at the moment via Greenhead Bank and along the Milatary Road. Sustrans are planning to bypass this with an off-road route.

After a quick cup of tea and biscuits at the Village Hall we climb slowly - ever so slowly up Greenhead Bank.
The rewarding part is the long fast downhill to Haltwhistle - and the Ash Croft Guest House for our stop that night.

The landlady offers drinks but on asking for a glass of cider I am informed they don't have a drinks licence !!

Tea on the lawn at the Ashcroft Guest House

Rob unfortunatly had to leave us here due to a work commitment on Sunday

Chris and Sheena carry onto Newbrough for the night to stay at Sheena's house - which will allow them a lie in next morning before we arrive again.

After a quick wash and brush up we were off the sample the delights of Haltwhistle - a good meal at the “Black Bull” followed by several games of pool at the “New Inn” before tumberling into bed for a well deserved sleep.

Day 3 Haltwhistle to Tynemouth - 55 miles
Blue skies - no wind

Keeping with tradition a 9.00 am start sees the six remaining riders warming up the legs on the old A69 road to Bardon Mill, before the climb up to Smith's Shield. We share the route with NCN 68 Pennine Cycleway but don't see any other cyclists. Gareth misses a sign and takes the short but increbily steep road bypassing Vindolanda - we take the signed route and keep in touch by mobile phone.

After a stop to read the "sign post of many arms" we make the thrilling descent on the Stanegate to Vindolanda followed by the white knuckle ride along the very rough track - with brakes squealing we make to the bottom !!

Up the steep climb at Chesterholm to meet up with Gareth again. A few more metres of climbing sees us at the highest point of Hadrian's Cycleway at Crindledykes - then another fast long descent down the "Stanegate" roman road to Newbrough to meet up with the ladies again.

Just as I was topping 35 mph down the "Stanegate" my mobile phone goes off - its Lindsay ringing to say he and Ron ( HCW Rangers ) had arrived at Hexham Station and were riding out to meet us.

Thought : is it illegal to use a mobile on a bike - its makes for some interesting acrobatics trying to get phone out a bag on the move.

We meet Ron & Lindsay at Fourstones and carry on to the Cafe on Tyne Green - Hexham for elevenses. Here other Rangers and family join us for the ride down the River Tyne to Tynemouth.

Suitable refueled we make good progress when John announces he has a case of beer cooling at his house and there's a deli just round the corner - John lives in Wylam and his house backs onto NCN 72 - so of course another enforced stop.

This time its non stop to the finish - the Sunday Quayside market has closed so we swiftly pass the Quayside with its many revellers spilling out of the pubs in the hot sunshine.

On to Wallsend for a brief stop for group photo and finally the end is in sight - we ride along the promenade in glorious sunshine to FINISH at the large sign - we all felt we could have just kept on going - no aches or pains - just exhilaration on having completed the first Coast to Coast the Roman Way.

The Finish at Tynemouth 154 miles from Ravenglass
Saddle time 13 hrs 14 mins
Average 11.6 mph
Max 39.6 mph

© Doug Ridgway 2005/6