A Grand Day Out

Nov 7th - Signing new off-road cycleway between Longbyre and Greenhead.

Finally approval had been given to sign the new off road cycle route between Longbyre and Greenhead on Hadrian's Cycleway. Due to a legal wrangle over land ownership of a tiny piece of land the path has been unused by cyclists since its construction last June. As the person disputing ownership cannot provide proof he owns it - he has been challanged to take Sustrans to court over it - meanwhile the path can now be used. The disputed track / bridge is an access route to a nearby farm and guesthouse (not owned by the gentelman in question) and has used by vehicles / pedestrians for many years.

Steve Psallidas requested Rangers to help with the signing - previously I had been out with Steve just ahead of the launch ride to sign the on-road route in time for the HCW Launch Ride in July.

I loaded up my car with all the required signs, tools, ladders etc. and then picked up Steve from the Newcastle office and even more signs - on route we picked up John Kirkbride at Wyam before heading to the rendevous at Greenhead. Here we met with local ranger Robin Fuller and awaited the arrival of the Sustrans Maintenance workers John & Steve with the digging tools, cement mixer etc.

John Kirkbride removing redundant on-road signs

Collecting the sign posts which had been stored in the village hall - the work commenced. John and I took down all the redundant signs along the old road route and then started to put up the new signs to direct cyclists from the Military Road down to the new path in Longbyre. Whilst putting up a small sign in the village I was berated by a local walking her dog saying that all these cycling signs (2) made the place look like Blackpool - (she was standing under a huge warning sign for the level crossing nearby !!) then went on about lycra, high energy drinks etc etc. and that they (she) didn't want cyclists passing through her village !!

The objectionable two small HCW signs in Longbyre Village

She will get her wish as once the off-road path is constructed between Gilsland and Longbyre, Hadrian's Cycleway NCN 72 will be on the other side of the railway tracks and not pass through the village, meaning the new tea rooms and cafe in Greenhead will benefit.

Having made our way down through the village - depositing signs everywhere - well two small ones actually - we meet up with the rest of the crew who were busy digging a hole for the first post. With the post safely planted the signs were attached - 2 direction signs plus 2 indicating a Thirwell Castle (Dead End) and tea rooms. Another post was put in for the final phase to Gilsland but no signs were put on it.

A NCN Finial was used to crown the post. These finials are only held on by two small grub screws (easily undone with an Allen Key) - so in order to stop theft an additional security screw was used - this requires a hole drilling and tapping M8 for the bolt in the collar of the finial. The post is then drilled M10, finial fitted and security bolt tightened through hole in post so that the bolt head is flush with collar thus preventing the finial from being lifted off even if grub screws are undone. A special key is require to remove these security dome socket head screws.

The new posts at each end of the off-road cycle track

Mystery Object:-
This is a special banding applicator tool used for installing the stainless steel bands that clamp the signs to the post. It tensions the band and then cuts off any excess band before the clip is hammered over to secure the sign - I persuaded the regional office to buy one due to the amount of signing work I do for them along Hadrian's Cycleway. It is a very versatile tool as it it allows signs to be attached to almost any size and shape of post or lamp column.

Whilst doing this a group of 4 cyclists came over the level crossing and went straight up the hill in front of them - we shouted that they were going the wrong way but said they knew where they were going - a few minutes later they sheepishly returned from the Dead End to see us erecting the Dead End sign on the new post. Sending them on the correct way we heard later they run into the landowner disputing the right of way but ignoring him continued on the journey along Hadrian's Cycleway. It was good to note that the new signs were already proving to be working.

Steve and Robin meanwhile had been putting various small nail-on signs up along the route for indicating land ownership, no cycling etc. Hadrian's Cycleway crosses the Hadrian's Wall Walking Trail at the new bridge over the Tiplat Burn. Two bike racks have been provided at the new bridge to allow you secure your bike and then walk up to Thirwell Castle & Tea Rooms 1/4 mile away.

New bridge over Tiplat Burn for Hadrian's Cycleway
Hadrian's Wall Walking Trail passing at right angles at this point
see left hand photo which also shows bike stands.

With work finished at the Longbyre end it was down to Greenhead for lunch in the pub before erecting another new post and signs next to the disputed land. Here as the hole was dug we were confronted by an elderly gentleman saying he owned the land and would not allow cyclists over it. The strip of land in question is less than 20 feet long and is just a gravel track !!

Ford at Tipalt Burn - Greenhead
The cycle route turns right before the ford to use the disputed bridge and land.
John & Steve (Sustrans maintenance team) installing new post on far bank

The new post was planted on Sustrans owned land so you can decide to use the ford or the bridge. Many villagers came out and said they were glad that at long last the path would be used as the National Cycle route. The old YHA has been sold and is being renovated and new teas rooms are planned which will all bring income into the village. The new path not only provides a safe alternative for HCW cyclists but also a safe route to school and for villagers to walk their dogs. Must put up some "No fouling" signs!

Final task was to erect "Steep Hill Ahead - Slow Down" signs at the top of the 1:6 Greenhead Bank and Shared Use Advice boards on the gates.

The last sign !!
John Kirkbride and Doug Ridgway

By the end of the day 3 new posts had been installed and over 30 new signs erected. With the day quickly getting darker it was time to head for home - a job well done.

Part 2 - Nov. 30th

Doug and John carried out another signage run from Longbyre to Ovingham. The task this time was to install some signs on NCN 68 / 72 in the Haltwhistle area at each end of the new off-road path avoiding the A69(T) road crossing and add waymarker signs along NCN 72 Hadrian's Cycleway between Haltwhistle and Ovingham.

After fitting the new signs on NCN 68 we moved onto Longbyre to check the signs previously put up were still there and to tidy up the new signs at the level crossing using more suitable fixings and add a "Not NCN" sign to stop riders ending up at the Dead End at Thirwell Castle.

John fixing a NCN 68 sign at Bellister Road.

Steve Psallidas was in the area for a meeting about the final phase of the off-road track to Gilsland and paid us a visit. With work in the Longbyre / Greenhead complete, it was off to Haltwhistle to remove redundant signs at the junction of NCN 68 & 72 now that a new 3-way finger signpost has been installed.

New 3-way sign at junction of Hadrian's & Pennine Cycleways in Haltwhistle
sadly lacking a NCN Finial top as Northumberland County Council would not allow it

Then it was off back down the Tyne following Hadrian's Cycleway stopping to put up waymarker confirmation signs after each junction. In Bardon Mill at the request of SteveP we took photos of the junction with John acting as a mobile sign post to decide where best to put the new direction signs to prevent westbound riders ending up on the very busy A69(T) road !!

This signs will be mounted on two short posts so as not to be obtrusive.

Bardon Mill - John standing in as sign post to decide best position for new direction signs.

At the highest point of Hadrian's Cycleway a stake was driven in to show the Sustrans maintenace team where to put the concrete base. Once post is installed, two arms will be fitted giving the distance to Glannaventa and Arbeia along with the elevation. Still waiting for arms to be cast and delivered.

Further along the Stanegate John and myself were nearly blown over in a very strong gust of wind whilst fixing a sign on a post. A stop in Newbourgh at the pub saw us enjoying toasted sandwhiches and hot coffee in front of a roaring log fire which was almost completly blocked by an enormous but very friendly bull dog !!

Suitable refueled the last few small waymarker signs were put up between Corbridge and Ovingham.

With a few exceptions Hadrian's Cycleway from Longbyre to the South Shields is now fully signed.