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I’m staying close to Alnwick (Longframlington to be exact) for a week and wondered if anyone had any ideas of trails in the area? I’m happy to travel a touch if need be.
thanks in advance!
A bit further north but worth a look
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/bamburgh-area-shortish-gravel-rides/
Thrunton is supposed to be open again. Not sure how much is left after the storms.
Some nice riding around Simonside and the carriageways on the west side of the Cragside estate (there is NO riding on the paid NT side).
For proper wild riding Alwinton is a good starting point.
Longfram is ideal for Thrunton, probs the best riding of it's type in the NE. BUT it may still all be closed off for forestry work after the winter storms a couple of years ago (work only started last year).
Otherwise some decent stuff west of Rothbury, head into Cheviots from Alwinton (or maybe Wooler but Coquetdale probs closer).
[Edit] basically what hot_fiat said. Intrigued to hear Thrunton may be back open...
Forget Thrunton it’s still being cleared following the devastation, only parts of it are open.
Alwinton is a good base for some excellent riding. Not sure if the pub is open as they have just changed owners recently and the previous did there last night a few days ago.
There’s the greensand way up there - Google Ted Liddell, he’s a local expert if you want old school atb type rides. Possible to make local loops with bits of the trail.
There’s the greensand way up there
Sandstone Way unless I’ve moved to Kent overnight.
Alwinton is a good base for some excellent riding.
Just need a copy of Derek Purdy's MTB routes in Northumberland and you're sorted. Some crackers (and killers 😂) in that delightful tome. Don't ask me how I know, but early stages of hypothermia on the border ridge in January springs to mind. I'm shivering just thinking about that day. The hail storm on the ridge and @nobbingsford losing a shoe in the bog are also 'highlights'😬
<p>Thanks all. Alwinton it is. Don’t have ages but will try find something round there. <br /><br /></p><p>Seen mention of clennel street. Will be a 2-3 hour ride so will see what I can piece together. </p>
I’m pretty sure I’ve somehow got two copies of the Purdy book. If you want one send me your address and I’ll send it. No payment just promise to pass it on to next person posting about Northumberland riding on here, random acts of kindness and all that….
That’s very kind thank you. I’m here til Saturday so if you think it will be here in time that would be great. I can leave it here for other holiday makers or take it and pass it on. Upto you.
address is:
Simon Huscroft
High Weldon Farm, Weldon Bridge, Longframlington, Morpeth NE65 8AZ
Thrunton is still closed so stay away from any fencing and machinery etc and you should be fine. You aren't too far at all so worth going in my opinion and then if you can't get any riding sorted then move onto something else
Book is in the post this morning hopefully it arrives in time for you to get some use from it. I reckon you should hang onto it until someone else on here asks about Northumberland routes but to be honest it’s up to you now. Hope you get some sunny days up here and we don’t get a ‘things to do in Northumberland when it’s raining thread’ 😁. I can always kill an hour or two in Barter Books in Alnwick.
Excellent, thanks.
Penmanshiel an hour or so away for enduro style riding. It’s on trail forks
Kielder a bit closer and I always enjoy riding round the res with some blue thrown in. Big views there.
I can always kill an hour or two in Barter Books in Alnwick.
Me too - waiting for the pensioners to vacate a table in the cafe 🙂
Yeah I think the other half wants to call in on Friday. Sounds like there’s toys and ice cream so should the kids entertained too.
it’s generally a lovely spot. Been on some great walks so far. Dunstanburgh to craster. Bamburgh beach. Cragside.
wallington to do at some point with the kids and their bikes.
Signed up to the full OS maps and plotted a few possible routes. Couple from Alwinton. But may even get out for a circular round Simonside. Try take in the crag. Any particular tracks to look out for in there?
That book arrived today so thanks very much to hedgehopper.
I will try keep an eye out and pass it on should it be needed.
Might be too late. If you're going up Simonside it is a carry up the steep face then lot of rock steps heading east to the car park, will also be busy with walkers I expect and is a footpath so bear that in mind, might not be worth it. There are only a couple of singletrack trails in that area but if you want a 'gravel' ride then you can continue into Harwood forest below
Or park up in Rothbury, Beggars Rig car park as you head west out of the town normally quiet, you can then head north up onto the moorland above the town, there are some trails up there if you look on strava heatmap and can do a nice loop around. If you are fit then can combine with a ride over to Simonside, there are a couple of bridleways linking to it from Rothbury. Just bear in mind there are lots of the evil flies out atm!
Thrunton is 'open' but only a short fire road loop then another out and back fireroad, all other bits technically out of bounds still (ridiculous when other woods which had no official walking/horse paths etc were cleared long time ago)
Bit late but for future reference
https://singletrackmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/singletrack-magazine-issue-113-borderlands/
For a local blast, swarland is good for an hour or so
Are they riding UP the Usway burn in the first photo?!?
For a local blast, swarland is good for an hour or so
and then a quick detour into Nelson's in the Park for tea and lots of cake!
Cheers all. I ended up getting up early and riding up towards Simonside then back down then up and over. Didn’t see a soul. Was great.
Lovely views.
Didn’t see a soul. Was great.
Welcome to Northumberland and the rural NE in general. Glad you had a great time, but please don't tell anyone 😉
Drac - yep you’re right there, wrong one.
interesting to know some bits of Thrunton are open. Ican see the wood from the lane here but didn’t bring a bike this week as working. Might walk the dog up there later!
have done nice loop in Simonside/ Harwood and descended into rothbury down the valley via Hepplewhitefield before. Nice gravel loops/ old fashioned atb/mtb style rides which I like for exploring up here. It’s an amazing landscape.
if you’re in Alnwick and have a bit of time Alnmouth is worth a visit for the beach/ beer and the pizza looked nice in the red lion yesterday eve! Weathers been good this week especially now the winds dropped.
lots of kids stuff to do at Wallington, my wife took the kids there today. The bike trail is ok. Did it a few yrs ago towing a chariot with eldest on her little bike, it’s a nice little loop for the kids but won’t take that long!
burko73 - When I walked up there 2 weeks back every black sand fly thing in the world was there so bear that in mind! I know they tend to hang around for a month but seems longer this year. They also flew down to Hamsterley to meet me there a couple of times recently!!!
Just park in the car park and walk up the normal main path, when you get to the right hand kink with the rocky climb to dougs seat there is an official FC map on the fencing showing which bits are accessible (not much although that has never stopped a number of people I've seen on a certain ride logging site)
If you're doing route 18 in the Purdy book, let me put in a word for Company B cafe in Longhoughton. Simply insane slices of cake!!