[Closed] Two day winter ride in the Cheviots. Any ideas?

Nice idea - what sort of accommodation are you looking for- wild camping /bunk house/ BandB?
I'd be tempted to go for something like Kirk Yethom or Wooler to Alwinton but route determined by overnight needs

Natural peat bog is never at its best when it is wet.

tbh I live near the Cheviots, and they wouldn't be my choice for winter riding, in fact we just don't and ride in/around the Tweed Valley instead - if you like off-piste there is far more choice of routes and the Trail Centres for a bit of mix/match.

As b r says, a lot of the best riding could be very tough going in winter. How about doing the Sandstone Way instead, takes you through some equally beautiful places, is largely weatherproof and seems ideal for a two day bike pack:

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http://www.cyclepad.org.uk/listing/The-Sandstone-Way

Thanks for the reply. As regards accommodation we’re flexible. Could be B&B or cheap guesthouse. Could be a hostel or bunkhouse. Could be a bothy if there’s one en-route. We aren’t looking to wild camp in that we don’t want to be lugging tents around on the bikes. However what we have done in the past is dump a car full of camping kit at a point we think we’ll stop at overnight (either official campsite or, in Scotland, by the side of a quiet road). Very much depends on circumstances.

Will check out the Sandstone Way too ta. Also though we'll maybe take on board the comments about peat bogs. I do definitely want to do atwo day ride down there, however don't want to be pushing much of the day, and also don't want to be destroying trails.

Any advice on routes still welcome. Even if we don't go this time it'll be handy for a summer weekend.

There`s a bunkhouse at Barrowburn, next to the tearoom, you could do self catered accomodation in there and you are at the end of a couple of big loops of riding. Barrowburn is just up the road from Alwinton, which has a pub that does good food and good craic, the landlord rides a bit as well.
Sandstone way has more tarmac than an MTB rode should have 😉

yeah I would agree the Cheviots are a bit bleak in deep winter, they always feel more exposed than the highlands when I've ridden there. There's no logic to that statement. It might be a pretty hard man type of ride. Guess it depends on what you're after.

Don't mind the tough riding thing (well up o a point) as long as it is riding. It's long trudges through the mud we aren't keen on.

Some great ideas though. Thanks to everyone. Think we may leave the Cheviots till next summer though by the sounds of it.

Depends on the kind of Winter we have, it's a wet one the bogs will be full and it's a muddy trudge at times. A dry one or a cold one then it's great with only boggy parts where it rarely drys out.

Accommodation there's Barrowburn, Rose and Thistle do B&B and a cottage, also think the Clennell Hall have a bun house now too.

Thanks Drac. All advice gratefully received.

There is a bunk house at Clennell Drac. Also at Newcastle House in Rothbury, as well as the ubiquitous Thomlinson`s 😉

That Sandstone way looks good, anybody ridden it yet? I used to live in Allendale so know the area well and can see me doing this on a return home next summer.

The sandstone way isn't fully signed yet but nearly. I live right near the start of it and it passes my house so when I spotted the signs I thought I'd better explore it a bit. It looks like a good mix of what's available locally and I'm intrigued to follow it further. At the moment you'd need a map and/or local knowledge to follow it but as I say, I don't think it's finished yet.

I keep meeting people on the Sandstone way tarmac sections. Seems to attract "leisure cyclists" who seem to enjoy a the flat but walk the ups/downs for some strange reason, usually helmetless