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Cycling the Reivers Route

Coast to coast through wild Northumberland's border country

Guidebook to the Reivers Cycle Route, a 173 mile (280km) coast-to-coast cycle route across northern England and into Scotland from Tynemouth to Whitehaven. Exploring the rich history of traditional border territory, it is suitable for cyclists of all abilities and most commonly tackled on hybrid or sturdy touring bikes. Road alternatives are available.

Seasons

Best cycled between April and October.

Centres

Whitehaven, Carlisle, Bailey Mill, Kielder Water, Bellingham, Tynemouth. For the Borderers Ride: Gretna, Bailey Mill, Bellingham, Wooler, Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Difficulty

Using a four-day itinerary of 34-51 miles per day, the 173 mile Reivers Route is an attainable goal for most cyclists. It is the least ridden of the northern coast-to-coast routes and features a remote section through Kielder Forest on forest tracks and cycle paths.

Must See

Whitehaven habour; views of the northern Lake District; Carlisle Castle; 13th-century St Cuthbert's Church at Bewcastle and Bewcastle Cross; Kielder Forest and the Davidson Monument; sculptures along Kielder Water's Lakeside Way; Liddesdale; Hermitage Castle; Thockrington church; the Devil's Causeway; North Tyneside and Killingworth Waggonways; Tynemouth Castle; the Holy Island of Lindisfarne on the Borderers Ride
ISBN
9781852849108
Availability
Published
Published
8 Jul 2021
Edition
First
Pages
128
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x .90cm
Weight
160g
Overview

A guidebook to the 280km (173 mile) Reivers cycle route (NCN 10) across northern England. This long-distance coast-to-coast cycle between Whitehaven and Tynemouth is suitable for both first-time and experienced cyclists and can be ridden in 4 days. The route offers both on and off-road cycling and is suitable for cyclists using touring or hybrid bikes. 

  • Presented in 4 stages between 55-82km (34-51 miles)
  • An alternate 241km (150 mile) Borderers Ride from Gretna to Berwick-upon-Tweed is also described
  • Route passes through the northern Lake District, Northumberland National Park and North Tynedale, as well as through Kershope Forest and around Kielder Water
  • Overnight stops include Carlisle, Bailey Mill and Bellingham
  • Route is described west-east but a summary description is also provided for those wanting to cycle in the opposite direction
  • 1:100,000 mapping and profiles are included for each route

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By Rachel Crolla

Rachel Crolla is an outdoors all-rounder who loves hiking, biking, scrambling and climbing. Rachel is an outdoors writer and photographer who is also trained as a journalist and teacher. She has hiked and climbed across the UK, Europe and the USA. In 2007 Rachel became the first woman to reach the summit of every country in Europe, and co-wrote the Cicerone guide book Europe’s High Points soon afterwards. She is passionate about enthusing the next generation of hikers and cyclists with a love of the outdoors.

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By Carl McKeating

Carl McKeating is from Yorkshire. He is the co-author with Rachel Crolla of the books, Europe’s High Points and Walking in the Auvergne published by Cicerone. A rock climbing and mountaineering enthusiast, in addition to ascending all of Europe’s national high points, in 2010 he completed a long-standing ambition to climb all the routes in Ken Wilson’s Classic Rock which he followed with a three-month climbing and mountaineering tour of America. A qualified English teacher, in 2014 Carl started work on a doctorate about Mont Blanc in British Culture.

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