NEW YORK NEWCASTLE NEW three NIGHT STAY active outdoor adventures... Over four days, you can travel the 101 miles by bike from Newcastle to the northernmost town in England, Berwick-upon- Tweed, following the Coast and Castles South cycle route. Northumberland has more castles than any other county in England and this trip takes in most of them at a leisurely pace!
DAY ONE let the fun begin! 10:30 Cycle to the coast Put on your bike helmet and start your ride heading east to Tynemouth at the coast. Arrive into Newcastle International Airport, which has excellent transport links connecting to the city centre in just 15 minutes by car or by a 25 minute direct journey on the Metro light-rail system. If you haven t brought your own bike, head to The Cycle Hub on Newcastle s Quayside, where you will find a full range of bikes that you can rent at an affordable price. It s also a great place for a snack or coffee before you start your journey and offers a range of freshly made hot and cold food and seasonal specials, as well as coffee from Ouseburn Coffee Company, Newcastle s first independent roastery. Put on your bike helmet and start your ride heading east to Tynemouth at the coast. The journey follows the route of the River Tyne, taking in all of the sights along the way, and at 12.5 miles, it should take one to two hours depending on your pace. When you reach Tynemouth, you can spend the afternoon exploring the picturesque village and sandy beaches as well as visiting the first castle on your journey Tynemouth Priory and Castle. An Anglican monastery stood on the site as far back as the 9th Century; the castle dates from the 13th Century and is the burial place of saints and kings of the Old Kingdom of Northumbria. Check in to one of Tynemouth s independent bed and breakfasts (try Martineau Guest House) and spend the evening exploring the bars and restaurants of Front Street which has a number of places to eat and drink whether you fancy a coffee and a cake, a traditional pub meal, the quintessential English fish and chips or a bistro evening meal.
13:00 DAY two Warkworth Explore the magnificent medieval Warkworth Castle and Hermitage where you can see how the powerful Percy family lived. the coast Day two will cover the most ground, beginning your day with the longest section of the bike ride heading north up the coast. Follow the route for just over 30 miles into Northumberland, passing through the town of Blyth with its distinctive wind farms and the small fishing port of Newbiggin-by-the- Sea, as well as the spectacular seven mile long Druridge Bay which stretches all the way to Amble. You ll enter the quaint village of Warkworth after around three to four hours of cycling. Enjoy some much needed rest in Warkworth by taking a break for lunch at Topsey Turvey, where traditional Northumbrian food is always on the menu. Spend up to two hours exploring the magnificent medieval Warkworth Castle and Hermitage where you can see how the powerful Percy family lived in the Duke s Rooms, and visit the keep that was home to Harry Hotspur, immortalised as a rebel lord by William Shakespeare, and a thorn in the side of Scottish raiders. In the afternoon, continue another nine miles north (which should take around an hour) until you reach Howick, the home of Earl Grey tea. The tea was specially blended by a Chinese mandarin for Charles, 2nd Earl Grey, to suit the water at Howick by using bergamot to offset the taste of the lime in it. From here, it s just a short three mile ride to the fishing village of Craster, your stop for the evening. Stay in a traditional bed and breakfast and sample the famous regional speciality, Craster Kippers at The Jolly Fisherman restaurant.
DAY three 15:30 Holy Island This tidal island is reached by a road causeway. Lindisfarne Castle rises from the sheer rock face at the tip of the island. castles From Craster, you ll ride past the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, which towers over the rugged coastline. Continue your journey north for around 15 miles until you reach the historic coastal village of Bamburgh. This should take around two hours. Spend the rest of the morning exploring the interior of Bamburgh Castle, one of England s largest inhabited castles, which looks over the vast beach and sand dunes. Break for lunch at the Copper Kettle Tearooms in Bamburgh, before continuing north for around 17 miles to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, where you will stay for the evening. This part of the journey should take two to three hours. This tidal island is reached by a road causeway which is only accessible at low tide and is packed with history and natural beauty. You can check the safe crossing times at www.visitnorthumberland.com. The island was the epicentre of Celtic Christianity in Anglo Saxon times and the medieval ruins of Lindisfarne Priory marks the spot where the body of the north of England s revered 7th century Saint Cuthbert once lay. Lindisfarne Castle rises from the sheer rock face at the tip of the island. Make sure you visit St Aidan s Winery to sample the world famous Lindisfarne Mead while you re there. 12:00 Copper Kettle Tearooms Delicious home cooked meals are on the menu at this traditional tea room in Bamburgh.
DAY FOUR the border The final leg of the journey takes you a further 14 miles north to Berwickupon-Tweed, the northernmost town in England. You should reach your final destination in under two hours. Visit the remains of Berwick Castle, the final castle on this coastal ride and crucial to the history of Anglo-Scottish warfare. The castle remains are conveniently adjacent to the town s railway station. Don t leave Berwick without walking on the impressive fortified town walls which were constructed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and provide a wonderful pedestrian promenade with great views across the town. Finally, catch one of the regular trains back to Newcastle taking you (and your bike) back to the vibrant city centre in just 45 minutes. 11:00 Berwick-upon-Tweed Visit the remains of Berwick Castle, the final castle on this coastal ride and crucial to the history of Anglo- Scottish warfare.
extra day extend your stay! Chopwell Woods - Planted on the site of an ancient forest, Chopwell Woods is close enough to Newcastle to enjoy a short summer evening bike ride. 30 minutes by car from High Force Waterfall - High Force is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the north of England. The River Tees drops 21 metres and the sights and sounds provided inspiration for the 18th century landscape artist J M W Turner. 1 hour 35 minutes by car from Kielder Water & Forest Park - Explore a real adventure playground surrounding the biggest man-made lake in northern Europe. Cycle the 27 mile circular Lakeside Way and enjoy some spectacular outdoor art on the way. 1 hour 30 minutes by car from The Lake District National Park (Keswick and the Northern Lakes) - The Lake District is home to England s highest mountain, Scafell Pike, and is a playground for outdoor adventures. 1 hour 55 minutes by car from Hamsterley Forest - A premier destination for mountain biking in the north of England with 33 miles of waymarked trails. 1 hour 30 minutes by car from
9 useful information Accommodation - The north of England offers a huge range of accommodation options, including big-name hotel brands, independent and boutique hotels, as well bed and breakfasts and good quality hostels for those on a budget. Newcastle and Gateshead newcastlegateshead.com/accommodation Tynemouth visitnorthtyneside.com/where-to-stay Northumberland visitnorthumberland.com/where-to-stay Airport transfers - Newcastle International Airport is just eight miles from Newcastle city centre. The airport is connected to the city centre by the Metro light railway system. Trains run every 5 15 minutes and the journey takes just 25 minutes. Bus services, car hire and taxis are also available at the airport. Car hire - Car hire at Newcastle International Airport or in Newcastle city centre couldn t be easier with many national car hire companies available. Contact details are as follows: Sixt 0844 499 3399 sixt.co.uk Europcar 0871 384 3411 europcar.co.uk Hertz 0191 286 6748 hertz.co.uk Avis 0844 544 6022 avis.co.uk Budget 0844 544 4663 budget.co.uk Interrent 0844 544 4663 interrent.com Public transport Tyne and Wear Metro - Metro is the North East s very own light rail system. With 60 stations located around Tyne and Wear, there s usually one close by and because they re so frequent, you can just hop on and off with no hassle. nexus.org.uk/metro Bus - There are bus routes operating to the main tourist attractions, many offering you money-saving tickets and discounts on entry fees. The two main bus companies in the North East are Arriva and Go North East. Make use of the Traveline North East Journey Planner to help you plan your trip. travelinenortheast.info Train - Newcastle is located on the East Coast mainline that connects London and Edinburgh. With over 30 high speed trains running every day, it s easy and quick to get around the country. Durham is just 10 minutes by train from Newcastle Central Station and York just one hour away. First TransPennine Express also connects the north of England, with journey times to the main cities all within a few hours. thetrainline.com A 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kielder Water Kielder Forest A66 A69 5 A697 Wark Forest 7 One square represents approximately 12.5 miles or 20 kilometres Scotland England The Cheviot Hills B C D E Northumberland National Park A6 6 Berwick upon Tweed Berwick upon Tweed A69 A697 A696 Hadrian s Wall Hexham Corbridge Hexham Harwood Forest Yorkshire Dales National Park A697 Barnard Castle A69 A67 Holy Island Sands Holy Island of Lindisfarne A697 8 A66 A692 A691 Alnwick A693 A6072 068 9 Newcastle upon Tyne Consett Alnmouth Ashington Morpeth Newcastle International Airport 9 89 63 Chester le-street 56 Farne Islands 8 6 Durham Blyth Angel of the North Sunderland Durham Castle and Cathedral Newcastle Central Station 67 59 (M) 62 (M) 61 Bishop Auckland 60 Newton Aycliffe 58 Darlington Newbiggin by the Sea 9 Whitley Bay Tynemouth A66 South Shields 018 Seaham 9 9 Stockton on Tees 57 Darlington Durham Tees Valley Airport 79 Hartlepool 9 7 72 A66 Middlesbrough Middlesbrough North Sea 71 North York Moors National Park
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