Stayed at Wooler a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it.

Just booked a cottage near Hexham this year on a last minute deal and looking for recommendations for good pubs and decent bike routes.

We like big hills, real ale and ample portions, if that helps 😀

Go to the rat at some point. You will enjoy 🙂

Ta Jammy, that's one pub sorted out.

Any more suggestions? 🙂

Apparantly, we're near the Tap and Spile at Whitley Chapel. Any local opinions?

EDIT: Oh God, I've just read the menu for the Rat.
We've just been walking in Wales for a week and managed to put on weight – not looking good is it? Sample menu. 😀

To burn off some of those calories may I suggest this loop – Whitley Chapel- head south on the B road to Rawgreen – turn L – down and up into Slaley Forest, work your way through the forest to Actoncleugh Head and take the track across Blanchland Moor past PennyPie House – keep straight on for about half a mile and take the BW to the right across fields and then out onto Birkside Fell – when you join the Carriers Way across Bulbeck Common you are in for some singletrack delights. Just before you get to Slaley Forest again turn very sharp L and descend Embley Bank – After the ford stay on the obvious track which becomes tarmac and takes you to Broadwell House – turn R at the T – if you have had enough just keep on this road back to Whitley Chapel – if you want the full monty take the next L and then straight on joining the Broad Way to Hangman Hill – turn R here following the Blaeberry Cleugh BW until you reach a BW crossroads – turn R again and follow another sublime track (watch out for Backstone Cleugh) to Crabtree Ford where you hit tarmac for the final bit back to Whitley Chapel.

Apparantly, we're near the Tap and Spile at Whitley Chapel. Any local opinions? Err… Well there are no pubs there, the tap is in Hexhm, and is ok. There is a pub at the DiptonMill, brew their own stuff (some of it not really my thing) which is close, the Clickem (latterly Fox and Hounds) closed a couple of decades ago. Out on rides you may come across the Crown at Catton- big food, great ales from their (Alllendale)brewery. The Crewe inBlanchland has a decent space but not great liquid contents, the Cowshill Hotel is classic and more like what the pub in over the hill used to be like in terms of atmosphere. Classiest (pub) eating in the area is the Feathers at Hedley (not too much riding that way, but check the menu for serious eating- booking advised).

Ride-wise, Deejay has posted something worth thinking about, but one bit of advice is to consider the weather in your plans. Some bits of that (and many others in the area) are pretty erosion-prone in wet conditions, so ride with that in mind. Get an OS and the loops are all pretty obvious and easy to tie in with assorted pub stops- most BWs are worth thinking about (a few grassy and boggy exceptions in the WestAllen). Big hills wise, most of the riding in the imediate vicinity stays below 500m, and is open plateau moorland type, rather than the stuff you would have done in the north of the county (wooler area). Still big hills, but the long descents and climbs are less frequently encountered. Stuff like Cross Fell is largest of the nearest hills (ie rideable to almost entirely offroad in a long summers day), and has the benefit of not so peaty tracks if the weather isn't/hasn't been great. Road riding is alright if that's your bag too.

Deejays route is exellent,and stays pretty dry all year round.

Dunno about that gavgas, all the locals tend to avoid the best singletrack sections during wet spells as damage tends to be exacerbated. Most of DeeJays route is on all weather tracks mind you- just a pointer for bits of the carriers and broad ways where erosion can be a problem.

Go to Kielder!!!

Its about half hour away from Hexham and well worth the trip..

Proper trail centre with some really decent sections coming back down, only down fall is the midgies…

Enjoy..

Red Lion in Newbrough is newly refurbished and does top food. Some byway type tracks there too which you can link with bits of road into a lower level route.

Did anyone say over to Blanchland and round there? Depends a bit where you are near Hexham

Go to Kielder!!!

No don't. You've got MILES of good riding around Hexham Common. At Keilder you've got some trails through the trees.

The Boatside Inn at Warden is close to paths around Tyne Green and Acomb.
The Traveller's Rest at Slayley is nice.
The Dyvels at Corbridge (near the station).
The Dipton Mill is very nice and close to some excellent riding.

Conditions are near perfect at the moment, enjoy!

You are an easy ride to Newcastle as well. Straight down from Hexam to Corbridge to Prudhoe to Wylam then follow the river down to Newcastle. Should be about 25 miles each way, but it's easy riding.

Have a look at Beyond Hamsterley for a route around that way and several others in the area.

http://www.tracklogs.co.uk./cgi-bin/publ/user.cgi?obj=route&id=520

Although the download sections seems a bit bust just now.