Category: Route research

It was all go with the flow today, following the Tyne downriver to Newcastle mainly along the fine NCN72, with a friendly tailwind. I investigated a few back lanes north and east of Hexham, ending up ruling more out than in for my routes article, but did enjoy some excellent ridgetop views, quiet roads, and…

Dales, moortops, bits of the C2C, England’s third-highest road and the very centre of Britain (maybe): there was plenty of variety today, as well as breathtaking climbs and descents. Haltwhistle, further along the Newcastle–Carlise rail line from Hexham (which may give you a clue as to how I had a slap-up breakfast and still got…

Hadrian’s Wall has many things in common with the Great Wall of China, such as not being visible from the Moon. It was certainly visible from our circuit today though, on quiet narrow lanes, in, over and through some big Northumbrian landscapes. From Hexham we struck north past the old Roman fort at Chesters, and…

I was biking for a few days in and around the abbey town of Hexham, on the Tyne in Northumberland, researching routes with my friend Tim. We spent many hours exploring the town, most of it a vain search for decent beer. The pleasant market square is dominated by mighty religious buildings such as the…

A loop west of KL (Lynn, not ‘Kuala Lumpur’, obvs) today, in the flat fenlands, in contrast to the gently hilly loops east of the previous days. We explored KL itself a bit in the morning, and much enjoyed the tiny ferry between the town and West Lynn, across the Great Ouse. I’d been to…

Back to Sandringham this morning, this time doing a gravel-bike circuit, now accompanied by Mark again. We took the cycle path (rather than the Coach Road) through the royal estate, and it’s utterly gorgeous. The red and yellow stripes on the ‘cycle path’ post made me feel like we were about to enter Germany through…

A fabulous day-ride, full of variety, that showcased North Norfolk at its best. Sunny weather, quiet lanes with friendly drivers, and an almost bewildering succession of sights, from stunning stately-home parks to England’s holiest shrine via beaches that could have come out of the Netherlands. Mark was off on a training walk today, so I…

I’d never really explored North Norfolk properly by bike, but I was here for four days with my friend Mark to remedy that. After a thunderous storm in the afternoon, the evening was glorious, and we cycled from Heacham to Hunstanton along the promenade, past the beach huts. It was right on high tide, and…

A mopping-up day today, doing bits I hadn’t quite explored enough yet, and it turned out very well, and sociable too. I checked out of the Prem Inn and headed into the cloudless but very chilly sunshine, sporting the unusual combination of M&S sunhat and Sports Direct clearance ski gloves. After a few back lanes…

A day of water. With clouds and chilly easterlies forecast, I half-wondered about doing today’s ride tomorrow instead… but went out into the drizzle anyway, returning to Lichfield by train to pick up where I left off yesterday. I headed east towards Burton, in search of nice quiet country lanes. Quiet they certainly were, thanks…