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Does anyone remember or even have the original MBR killer loop route from the nineties?
I'm looking for the Northumberland/Cheviots one.
I would guess it started in Alwinton and I think it touched on Scotland by turning round in Cocklawfoot.
I also remember returning down a remote green rolling valley.
I'd love to ride this again, I have found a few variations but they don't seem to fit with my memories..
?
I've done it, many years ago. Yes, started in Alwinton on Clennell Street, Hazely Law, Salter's Road, High and Low Bleakhope, the wonderfully named Ewartly Shank. Think it was Hazeltonrig then the minor road back to Alwinton.
This was definitely the MBR killer route from the 90's, first 'proper' big ride on my own. A few navigational errors mind.
No idea what the exact route would have been, there are a lot of possible variations. One obvious one might involve Clennel Street, skirting or through Kidland forest to above Uswayford, over the ridge and down to Cocklawfoot, south to the border just below Windy Gyle, down the Uswayburn to the road, then probably sticking on the daft grassy climb and descent that cuts off a tiny section of road down the valley at the end.
A couple of bits of that would fit with your description of a green, remote valley - but then getting lost coming off the ridge usually ends up with something approaching that (along with chance combinations trudging though a bog/unexploded(?) debris on the path/frostbite).
I'm interested though, as there are plenty of good bits around there and nowadays the enduro tracks in parts of Kidland but I struggle to make any guaranteed classic loops.
Thanks both of you..
CG, that's enough information for me to make a route up, thanks, I remember making a big deal about us riding into Scotland, and the place Cocklawfoot rings a bell. Do you remember these?
Thanks baj, what you describe sounds good, I'll plot that on a map and see what it looks like...
@TheGMan no, I definitely didn't ride into Scotland on that route although it was only a couple of hundred metres max from the point where one turns back into the forest North of Hazely Law.
Have just quickly used my mapping software and the route came out at 21 miles so that's a little short of the 25 miles that I believe the route is although from experience they're never that accurate! Definitely could have taken a different route on the open moorland ie perhaps Salter's Road out to Prendwick?
Thanks for your help Cinnamon girl...
As long as I go ride it's a winner.
Get hold of 'Northumberland Mountain Bike Guide' by Derek Purdy. There's a whole raft of routes around Northumberland/Cheviots mapped out in the book and they're all in that 90's back-country, classic killer loop fashion.
Thanks for your help Cinnamon girl…
As long as I go ride it’s a winner.
You're welcome @TheGMan and do report back. Pics obviously.
Another vote for the Derek Purdy book, essential reading!