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anyone know of any decent off road routes in the vacinity of Whitley Bay ? Doesn't have to be an epic (i can always go round twice etc.)
I'm up there camping at the weekend and will need to get at least one decent ride in to break the monotony of booze and pretend bar b q food.
chopwell woods isn't too far from there, and it's apparently decent.
other side of newcastle though, so probably about 5 or 6 miles inland from whitley bay.
yep, all my formative off road years were spent in that very location.
if you look on a map you'll see an old railway line that leads north out of Whitley bay, parallel to the coast, after a couple of miles it crosses Holywell Dene. The dene runs down to the sea at Seaton Delavel and inland towards open countryside.
When I was living there the woods around the dene were full of paths that walkers, bikes and horses used...nowt earth shattering ans usually muddy but lots of fun. Inland from where the dene meets the railway there is a jump spot (follow the dene until you get to a road, cross it and carry on up the farm tracks) but it looks alittle 'chavvy' on youtube these days!
Down to the sea on various tracks, then get on to the coast path and along the cliff to St Mary's Island for an icecream.
Why/where are you camping?
~disclaimer- it's about 10 years since i rode there...it might all be gravel wheelchair paths by now!
get yer hands on a OS map and see if you can see where I mean...i can give you more info if needed 🙂
chopwell takes about 3/4 hour to drive to...fun though
other side of newcastle though, so probably about 5 or 6 miles inland from whitley bay.
More like 25 miles
thanks for the info.
Not sure where we are camping - we are driving up there Thursday and meeting up with some of my wifes friends.
I'll try find out exactly where and get back.
driving to ride may not be an option, and i'd prefer not to.
cheers!
haha, 25?
good grief, it's been 10 years since i lived in the north east but i didn't think it was that far...
I grew up in Whitley Bay... Idols, The Rex, The Avenue etc... Would move back tomorrow.
Anyway. Enough of that. Close by
- Holywell Dene + bridleways out to Seaton Sluice + Seaton Deleval
Bit further away:
- Chopwell woods (get the metro there and back ish)
Further away:
- deffo Alwinton, Rothbury, Thrunton Woods
Got plenty of school mates still in Whitley if you want to get in touch. Let me know.
Why drive 45 mins to [s]Slopwell[/s] Chopwell woods when Rothbury is 40 minutes away?
Chopwell is fun for a blast on the Powerline trail (is it open again now) but that doens;t take long, and apart form a bit of hidden singletrack around and about, its not worth the trek from the coast.
Head up to Rothbury/Simonside.
Stan: John Hooper's going to Whitley Bay on Friday until Sunday I think. Give him a shout on North Leeds thread.
The middle of the top bit of the powerline has disappeared. I've been riding there 3 years, and still don't know my way around, even though the woods are quite small. You'd need a guide ideally
There's nothing of any note really. But I'm bored in a hotel room so look at the link I've just sent you to a pdf I've just uloaded to Googledocs. If you want a pedal out for a couple of hours to burn off the hangover it'll do, but it's not exciting (nothing is local).
There are some fantastic road rides just north-west of Gosforth - I'd bring that if you have a choice...
EDIT: Link sent to the hotmail address on your webpage. The route will probably go past your campsite...
Head down the coast thru' the pedestrian tunnel and carry on down on the cliff tops for a pleasant pootle
Yeah, that's a good shout CK. The pedestrian tunnel is good to see, maybe play for a bit in Marsden quarry on the way up or back down (maybe head across to Cleadon Hills for a quick lap).
If you pick up an OS map there's a footpath through a farmers field that cuts from Wellands Farm in Whitburn up to the mill on Cleadon Hills, then loop aeound the golf course to Marsden Quarry. But... It's been 20 years since I did that and I used to know the farmer - can't vouch for bikes in on that path now!
The middle of the top bit of the powerline has disappeared. I've been riding there 3 years, and still don't know my way around, even though the woods are quite small. You'd need a guide ideally
yeah, but you're an idiot
stAn
flat flat and more flat. and then some flat. now if you're a surfer, that's a different story...
give me a shout if you're anywhere near St Mary's Island. I won't have a bike with me but I'll pop by & say hello. maybe meet up for a drink in the Briar Dene
But then I'll probably see you at the Sisters gig on Wednesday...