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Cycling the Reivers Way, the C2C and part of Hadrian's Wall Route difficulty calculated using cycalc
The map can be panned and zoomed
We get started Sunday 9 September 2007: 42-miles grade hard-C Sandy and Ron were very kind to allow us to leave our car at
their home in Ponteland. The Reivers Way passes
right through Ponteland!
Ron cycled with us as far a Stamfordham
- he took this photo and then we went our separate ways
At times the route diminished to nothing more than a field!
And at times became quite bemusing!
Julie, as ever, keeps on smiling through
The trail did improve
The trail brings us down to Bellingham
The Blackcock at Falstone (near Kielder reservoir) - where we
spent Sunday night
Monday morning we climb out of Falstone on route for Longtown: 40-miles grade average-C
Past Kielder Reservoir - Europe's largest manmade lake
Cycling the north side of Kielder Reservoir - very nice
Quiet tracks through Kielder Forest
And north to cross the border
A glorious day: an Indian summer
As the day progresses we start to head south again
Julie is very happy about defeating a 17% hill!
After a great day, we spend Monday night at the Graham Arms
Hotel, Longtown
We join the Hadrian's Wall route heading to Bowness-on-Solway:
41-miles grade mild-C. The line of Hadrian's Wall is straight ahead in this
photo, under the minor road
We pass the air museum at Carlisle
In Carlisle the way gets steep!
700 years ago, 7 July 1307, Edward I (Longshanks) dies of
dysentery here on the Solway aged 68
The modern bronze statue commemorating Edward I death 700 years
ago
This section of the road to Bowness-on-Solway can get a bit
tricky
Know your Tide Tables!
Nearly there! The line of Hadrian's Wall runs across this image
approximately 50m from the road
Our night's stop on the west coast
Kings Arms, Bowness-on-Solway: a pub with an interesting slant
on pets!
Wednesday morning we set off south for a few miles before
heading back to the east. At 45 miles grade average-D; this will be our
longest day
A welcome break at Wallace Lane, 4 miles southeast of Wigton
And then to Cumbria and the Caldbeck
Fells
Through Hesket Newmarket
And on, and on
Until finally, Greystoke, our
Wednesday night stop
Thursday morning we set off on one of the two hard climbing
days: 31-miles, 3200ft of ascent, grade hard-C(71W) to Garrigill
Running repairs at Langwathby
Rest, and a cup of tea, at a working water driven flourmill in
Little Salkeld
Through Long Meg megalithic stone circle
Lamas! Very cute
Hartside pass, here
we come
We made it!
But only just
Leaving Hartside summit, and downhill
all the way to Garrigill
On to Garrigill in the North Pennines:
30 miles and 3200ft of climbing behind us!
Friday morning, and it's more up hill.
This will be the second of our two hard climbing days: 30-miles, ascent
3840ft, grade average-D(82W) to Blanchland
Down into Nenthead
And into Northumberland
And into County Durham
And up Crawleyside bank! Julie's SoH is fading fast!
The view north looking over much of our first day's cycling
And finally we make it: 30 miles and 3800-odd ft of climbing! The Lord Crew Arms, Blanchland, where we
will wine and dine, and sleep. And sleep we certainly did!
The Crypt Bar
Well I deserve it!
Next day, Saturday, we start our last leg back to Newcastle:
41-miles grade average-D
On the outskirts of Hexham, near Newcastle, the signs of autumn
And finally back to where we started: 272 miles and 21000ft
later! |
