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

Map key
Overview map and profile
Route summary tables
Introduction
Why choose the Reivers Route?
Who were the Reivers?
How tough is the ride?
How many days?
West to east or east to west?
Alternative: The Borderers Ride
Getting there and back
Where to stay
What kind of bike?
Equipment
Carrying your gear
What to wear
Maps and apps
Signage
Using this guide
The Reivers Route: The four-day ride
Day 1 Whitehaven to Carlisle
Day 2 Carlisle to Bailey Mill
Day 3 Bailey Mill to Bellingham
Day 4 Bellingham to Tynemouth
The Borderers Ride Gretna to Berwick-upon-Tweed
Appendix A Accommodation
Appendix B Bike shops and other useful contacts
Appendix C Further reading

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

We do not yet have any updates available for this book

We are always grateful to readers for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground. If you would like to send some information to us then please use our contact form. They will be published here following review by the author(s).

Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.