Hi,
Looking to move back to Northumberland after 2025 years. Looking at either Hexham or Morpeth and wondering if anyone can advise on local trials. I know the hot spots of Kielder, Hamsterly and Chopwell, but is there any runs closer to either Hexham or Morpeth.
Looking for mostly red or black endure style runs and a bit spoilt where I currently am in Aberdeenshire with red and black runs a couple of miles from my front door!
Thanks for any advice!
No official marked trails near Morpeth but as you say all those are nearby, Tweed Valley is about and 1.5 hours away too see doable for a day out. Thrunton has lots of trails which might reappear by then as it’s been flattened during Arwen. Rothbury are has some parts and then there’s Coquet and College Valley for the cheviots.
Both those towns come at a premium price for housing though.
Difficult to say with any certainty right now due to storm damage - much of the damage can be repaired, some areas will have to be rebuilt in other parts of respective forests.
Hexham was fun but more blue/red pootles and good pubs rather than Enduro trails. There are steeper parts of the Dukeshouse woods that get the odd trail built but they don't see enough use to keep them running.
Within riding distance of Morpeth I think you're out of luck. Only a shortish drive to T*****n where you will find some ace trails covered by fallen trees. Have some trails survived? You'll have to go and look.
My folks live[d] in Hexham area so wevd been going there with bikes for 20 years or so. We aren't locals so don't get any inside info.
Based on our experience, it's not great. Hexham common had a few slightly boggy bridleways but when I went back 2 years ago it seemed that some of them have been bulldozed into LRTs.
I did a 0leasant enough ride over to Blanchland but it was absolutely XC and not even slightly enduro.
Apart from that, we used to go yo Keider a fair bit and sometimes even inners for the day.
Inners is a helluva drive, and we then realised that Kielder is a bit shit, so nowadays we always go to Hamsters.
So, in summary, if someone pipes up with local info on cheeky stuff then fine, but barring that it's a bit shit.
Looking to move back to Northumberland after 2025 years.
2025 years and you are still riding bikes?? Chapeau sir
Struggling for enduro stuff nearby as mostly XC moreso as per above. Tweed is drivable but its a long day out if doing there and back. Its about the same travel time to Whinlatter & Lakes etc. as Tweed Valley, depending where in Northumberland you are going to be
Came here to reply but it would be a verbatim copy of what @thegeneralist said (without the folks living in Hexham bit).