GPX - Quick overnighter to Northumberland & Borders

[JohnnyBoxer]

This last week myself & @ikkje , had a wee 36 hour ride through the North Pennines and Northumberland to the Border country

Meeting at 10am sharp at CB inn at Arkengarthdale, we both rode into the car park simultaneously

After a refreshment stop I led the way up over the Stang to Bowes and Cotherdale and then across the high moors to Stanhope

It was fairly fresh even though the sun was out

Lunch was at Bellingham at Fountain Cottage cafe

Suitably refreshed, we hit the A68, with @ikkje leading the way through Rochester to Carter Bar

Stunning views and weather for late October

 

[ikkje]

Indeed a good trip JB. We stayed at the Allanton Inn, which I’d highly recomment.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Ikkje turned off at the bottom of Carter Bar along a wee road towards Kirk Yetholm and we picked up the byway at Dere Street (smaller bikes for a return visit) in and around the Cheviot Hills and headed for Cornhill on Tweed, on some cracking roads





Entering Scotland at Coldstream we turned back towards Swinton & Kelso

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Before reaching our excellent pub stopover at Allanton we nipped down to Fishwick to see the Chain Bridge - one of the oldest suspension bridges from the early 1700’s and spans the Tweed

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Indeed a good trip JB. We stayed at the Allanton Inn, which I’d highly recomment.View attachment 456509View attachment 456510View attachment 456511View attachment 456512

Cracking trip
Your choice of accommodation at Allanton was spot on
Good rooms
Great food & hospitality
Not the cheapest - but quality is excellent

Comb of honey served at breakfast- from the Chain Bridge honey farm

 

[glenn2926]

Great pictures and write up. I feel pretty sure we rode some of those lanes on a day out organised by the late, great Petcul.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Roads had been salted heavily overnight and were very wet - although we had no rain whatsoever

Leaving Allanton at about 9.30am @ikkje led a great route through the Lammiemuir hills, leapfrogging over the A68 and A7 roads, with great views of the Forth and Edinburgh, together with the Pentland hills

Riding down the spectacular B709 to Innerleithen, past the golf course gives a real insight to the Borderlands

We lunched on the high street at the splendid Findra cafe and then carried on down the B709
to Hawick and we split there with Ikkje heading towards Kendal and me back down the A68 to Yorkshire & I arrived home in a little over 2 hours from Hawick

36 hours and 410 miles ridden, proves you don’t have to go far or for a long time, to enjoy a late season mini break, which was also rain free

Superb

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Great pictures and write up. I feel pretty sure we rode some of those lanes on a day out organised by the late, great Petcul.

I am sure Peter took us on most of these roads

He was a marvel and greatly missed

 

[richardbd]

Fabulous. Lucky with the weather too!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Fabulous. Lucky with the weather too!

We were very fortunate to have no rain, just a few damp salted roads on the Thursday from the exuberant Scottish gritter drivers

Hosed the bike down on Thurs night to get most of the the salt off and then a thorough snow foam wash and dry on Friday morning, saw my 1150 come up fine

 

[Tinytim]

 

[Wapping]

by the late, great Petcul….

Crikey, there’s name from the past.

 

[Wapping]

36 hours and 410 miles ridden, proves you don’t have to go far or for a long time, to enjoy

Indeed so.

 

[Posh Pete]

Ikkje turned off at the bottom of Carter Bar along a wee road towards Kirk Yetholm and we picked up the byway at Dere Street (smaller bikes for a return visit) in and around the Cheviot Hills and headed for Cornhill on Tweed, on some cracking roads

View attachment 456513View attachment 456514View attachment 456515View attachment 456516View attachment 456517



Entering Scotland at Coldstream we turned back towards Swinton & Kelso

Them big Border skies just can't be beat!

 

[Wapping]

If either of you has a GPX version of the route, please share it.

Thank you.

 

[jefformston]

Indeed a good trip JB. We stayed at the Allanton Inn, which I’d highly recomment.View attachment 456509View attachment 456510View attachment 456511View attachment 456512

Did you visit the Honey farm?

 

[jefformston]

Roads had been salted heavily overnight and were very wet - although we had no rain whatsoever

Leaving Allanton at about 9.30am @ikkje led a great route through the Lammiemuir hills, leapfrogging over the A68 and A7 roads, with great views of the Forth and Edinburgh, together with the Pentland hills

Riding down the spectacular B709 to Innerleithen, past the golf course gives a real insight to the Borderlands

We lunched on the high street at the splendid Findra cafe and then carried on down the B709
to Hawick and we split there with Ikkje heading towards Kendal and me back down the A68 to Yorkshire & I arrived home in a little over 2 hours from Hawick

36 hours and 410 miles ridden, proves you don’t have to go far or for a long time, to enjoy a late season mini break, which was also rain free

Superb

The northern half of your ride is a regular mid-week run out for me. Even after living and riding in North Northumberland and the borders for 9 years and in Tyne & Wear before and after I still find roads I’ve not been on before (or can’t remember). Always light on traffic and great views.

 

[Skid06]

Great write up JB and fab pics

cheers

 

[g00ner]

More pictures! (Without that tractor in it)

 

[team duvet]

Two of the best areas for riding, both spectacular. “God bless the North”

TD