Carlisle to Newcastle and Durham via NCN 72 Hadrian’s Way – 93 miles SAT 18th July ’15

Despite the forecasts of high winds for the west including Carlisle, the train ticket was booked so I was riding no matter what, great thing was the ticket from Newcastle to Carlisle only cost me £4.50 pre-booked as opposed to 20 odd quid on the day. BONUS !

Got up far to early on Saturday, had bike prepared few days before, toyed with taking old steel giant mtn bike, but decided to get Marathon Plus tyres for Merida. They were a bugger to fit, possibly cause I got the 700 x 28 s , replaced front wheel with spare from my old hybrid as brakes were a bit dodgey, seemed to bite and then not bite, don’t think that makes sense doh, anyway had a quick test ride and rode much better.

Had the usual coffee and porridge and had pannier fitted with plenty of flapjacks and water proofs. Got into Durham with few minutes to spare for train into Newcastle, had plenty of time in Newcastle before train to Carlisle at 8:25. Unfortunately two other bikes were waiting to get on plus a wheelchair, was bit of a nightmare fitting them in, these pacer trains used to fit bike before ok, but since re-furb they seem to have less room for bikes had twist front wheel into aisle which basically closed off that part of the train, together with the wheelchair was pretty crammed.

Train was pretty packed with what seemed to be middle aged men with ruck sacks, train event on in Carlisle possibly. Had to stand all the way to Carlisle doh 😦 Had good chat with a guy going to some sort of Music festival near Brampton I think, yeah forgot to say squeezed another bike on.

Was pretty pleased when finally arrived in Carlisle, found out that there was an open day at train depot in Carlisle and that’s why so many train enthusiasts, quick photo before trying to find route for NCN 72 back home.

Was gunna head up the Solway but wind pretty bad so decided to just head back from Carlisle, went a bit wrong from station and ended up on different route, the 7 or 10 I think but some locals put me back on the right route, saw some riders at Bitts Park, they were also looking for NCN 72, between us I managed to get on the right route, follows the river to Sands Lesire Centre, they were quite a collection a guy from Norfolk, a couple from America and Australia.

I carried on the route on my own going through Rickerby a lovely picturesque village, the route seemed to use the old road weaving through lots of little villages. Got into village of Brampton and called into Village Visitor Centre for a coffee and some cookies, were all a friendly bunch having some sort of fund raising. Managing to spot route signs ok onto first sighting of Roman wall at Banks East Turret had a quick stop and photo of landscape before heading off again, tail wind still pushing me along at a steady pace. Now through Gilsand and into Greenhead, nice little off road detour here over river before climb out of Greenhead thankfully has off road section here which is now tarmacked, heard this was supposedly steepest off road section in England, not so sure on that, didn’t seem that bad, although I did use my granny ring doh.

Considered on missing out Haltwhistle and continuing on Roman road but decided to drop into Haltwhistle and had some food, nice sarnie from Co-Op before heading off. Route loops back on itself a bit at Bardon Mill climbing up and dropping into Vindolanda was gunna stop here but decided to keep[ going, bit of a climb out of here onto Stanegate Roman Road again.

Basically free wheeled most of the way into Hexham, changed my route slightly at Fourstones instead of taking designated route, which seems to climb up a bit and back down for no apparent reason 😦 Had a brief stop at Hexham before heading on. Feeling pretty good staying dry but still a tail wind helping me along/

Pretty much know the route from here as have done quite a few times, took alternative route through to Wylam staying north of the river avoiding off road section over Ovingham Bridge. Had rest at Wylam, hands giving me jip, few stretches and on I went through to Newcastle. Had a coffee in Greggs, was gunna get train back to Durham but pushed on and managed 93 miles by the time I got back. Felt pretty good, and felt I could have done more, think next time I will head down to Bowness on Solway and Silloth. Wait and see 🙂