I was planning some biking in the lakes but the forcast is atrocious for the next few days.
Northumberland is looking better (doesn't it always?) but I have absolutely no idea about the biking there.
I've been to Keilder and it was OK but I'd like to do some decent natural stuff if poss.
Can anyone recommend me anything or point me at a suitable website?
Much obliged.
The Derek Purdy Northumberland Mountain Bike guide is good.
Getting the appropriate 1 : 25000 map and heading to Alwinton or Wooler and having an explore is another good option.
Which area are you after exactly?
The Street ride in Mr Purdy's book is very good...
The one across Hexhamshire common is also a good un.. Bit of a nightmare in the wet though..
The Good Mountain Biking Guide (which I heartily recommend) suggests Ford, Kirknewton, Wooler, Ingam, Barrowburn and Alwinton as good places.
The MBR killer loop from Edmundbyers thru Blanchland and Bolts Law is also worth a look.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/77165738 - You'll not there's a bit where we doubled back on ourselves, we were kind of talking and missed the turning so no need for this bit.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/76466587
Drac. Is it possible to get those to work on a memory map adventurer??
I'd probably say so download them and then try http://www.gpsbabel.org/ to convert them if it can't import as they are.
The Alnwinton one I may still have the route as it's similar one I did for the mag.
Did a figure of 8 across hexhamshire common today and it's a bogfest. Not too enjoyable!
Toonfan thats a great call! loads of that ride - (from Edmundbyers thru Blanchland and Bolts Law)are fine in the wet. Some great tight singletrack across the moors! drool.
Cheers for all the input so far.
I'm pretty mobile so anywhere in the county is fine.
[url= http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/54614406/ ]Stobbs Cross figure of 8[/url]
[url= http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/39874710 ]Hexhamshire Common[/url]
[url= http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/51998144 ]Edmundbyers, Blanchland and Bolts Law[/url]
[url= http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/50668708 ]Simonside and Rothbury[/url]
[url= http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/43072444 ]Mitford[/url]
Of that little list, I think the bridleway above Edmundbyers is my favourite (think it might technically be in County Durham, but never mind)
Aye you're right legolam you cross into Northumberland at Blanchland..
Here's some from me..
[url= http://connect.garmin.com/activity/110507397 ]My fav ride in the Cheviots. Do when dry or freezing[/url]
[url= http://connect.garmin.com/activity/108758463 ]Tour of the Cheviots if you are mad[/url]
Yup top one if a good old favourite Geda.
Thanks for all the suggestions folks.
I changed my plans slightly and the only day I had in the county was grim and I ended up at Kielder for an "I don't need to think about it" kind of ride.
I've taken note of the other suggestions though.
Cheers
My fav ride in the Cheviots. Do when dry or freezing
Tour of the Cheviots if you are mad
my fav ride as well and just had a look at the tour of the cheviots, very nice, one for next year me thinks.
Here is a ride report from last year when we did the STW Epic Cheviots route with an extra ride in and out of from Scotland 🙂
Stunning remote scenery if the weather is good...
But read the end note regaurding weather conditions on the and around the Cheviot, it is an isolated area 😉
[url= http://coastkid.blogspot.com/search/label/cheviot%20hills ]Linky...[/url]
Anyone been up to Edmundbyers or Blanchland recently and know what conditions are like? Was thinking of heading down there tomorrow but won't go if the moors are all chewed up.
Any of the five or so BWs out of allendale are usually good. The ones heading east are probably a bit tacky, those are the ones across hexhamshire common and blanchland. Going west is usually a bit more grassy and stable but not so easy to link up a route.
Up towards rothbury there is the fab Thrunton and simonside, real cheviot can be a bit remote this time of year.
There's more of a Poole along the Tyne valley and dukes wood.
...and as others have said blanchland has some good trails heading back towards allendale or south into co Durham.
A bump for the evening crew to see if anyone has any news on trail conditions down that way...
My call would be edmundbyers via slayley woods and bolts law. Can have some excellent riding around there even when its wet, in fact its often better when the water is a flowing!
Yup, that's the plan! Don't want to be swimming though, or causing too much erosion.
Freezing up nicely at the moment 🙂