Thanks guys – I've got the 1:25000 ready. Looking for XC, singletrack where possible, some nice descents. Rides of 20-40miles. Try and avoid anything too messed up. I know the whole area is quite peaty so prone to be a bit wet at this time of year. Can drive to find good ground or consider doing a one way trail. I used to live in Newcastle and rode around Rothbury, Keilder quite a bit but not further North. We had a great Autumn holiday in Wooler 16 months ago but did not manage to hit much good legal singletrack. The best descents were when we were aborting rides in bad weather down footpaths (which I would not normally plan to do).
[College valley is a fireroad climb in a spectacular setting and most excellent cruisey descent] Can I ride into/ out of College Valley at the top end? The brideways seem to stop and go on as footpaths only.
[Not Westnewton perchance?] We are at East Set Byre, not sure if this is Canno Mill (which looked nice the last time I cycled through a couple of years ago).
[There is a route going inwards behind The Cheviot and coming on top near Windy Gyle.] Sorry br must be blind, can't find Windy Gyle. Is this track coming from Wooler? Is it one way in and out?
[Coquetdale is a drive away but beautiful] Agreed. We plan to do a short ride each morning in our locality (grandparents looking after kids) with one or two bigger rides which could be further afield (Coquetdale, Breamish Valley, Alwinton etc).
Thanks again!!