FINDING OUT ABOUT Ordnance survey MAPS cycling in and around THE NORTH OF THE the north pennines AND SURROUNDING AREA FINDING YOUR OWN WAY AROUND

Ordnance Survey maps will help you to make your own way around the North Pennines by bike. There are several maps, which cover the area which are available from local shops, Tourist Information Centres or www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk.

EXPLORER MAPS OL 19 OL 31 OL 43 307 LANDRANGER MAPS Hamsterley Forest 86, 87, 91, 92 TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES Tourist Information Centres (TICs) are great places to find out more about the North Pennines and the surrounding area. You’ll find knowledgeable and friendly staff, lots of information on places to visit and local events, as well as where to Left - Between Stanhope and Rookhope Right - Ashgill Force stay and public transport options. Many TIC staff have been through the ‘Know Cycling on Public Rights of Way Your North Pennines’ training programme, making them even better guides to As a cyclist you are not allowed to ride on footpaths. If cycling off-road, Cycling is an excellent way to discover the North Pennines. This is a landscape what the area has to offer. please leave gates as you find them and ride responsibly, especially when of attractive dales, tumbling rivers, colourful hay meadows and wild moors. encountering walkers and horse riders. Alston 01434 382244 Hexham 01434 652220 It is well served by all the facilities that you will need, including promoted routes, cycle hire, and cyclist-friendly accommodation. The AONB Partnership Appleby 01768 351177 01768 371199 WHO CAN USE PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY? has supported many businesses to get more geared up to receive cyclists, Brampton 01697 73433 Middleton-in- 01833 641001 by providing things like bike racks, bike sheds, washing facilities and repair Footpaths (pedestrians only) equipment. Many accommodation businesses are also becoming part of

Barnard Castle 01833 690909 Penrith 01768 867466 VisitBritain’s Walkers and Cyclists Welcome Schemes.

Wild Cycle Route Cycle Wild the to Wheels including the the including Bridleways (pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists)

Bishop Auckland 01388 604922 Rheged 01768 860034 The North Pennines is a great place for all types of cycling, from muddy th Pennines th Cycling in the Nor the in Cycling Byways (open to all traffic) Corbridge 01434 632815 Stanhope 01388 527650 mountain bike to traffic-free family-friendly routes. There are miles of Restricted Byways (pedestrians, horse riders, cyclists and horse-drawn vehicles) country roads, quiet lanes, byways and bridleways, disused railway lines and 01434 322002 forest trails to explore.

cycle services In and around the North pennines Wheels to the wild The Wheels to the Wild Cycle Route is a three day tour of the North Cycling Holidays and Support Services Cycle hire and shops Pennines, discovering the area’s stunning landscapes. A guide for the route, which includes accommodation/services information and Cycle Hire Baggage Transport Repair Cycle Holidays Guiding Bike Transport three additional day rides, is available for £5 from the North Pennines AONB Partnership, local shops and Tourist Information Centres. The North Pennines is one of ’s most special places – a remote, Company Location Contact Company Location Contact unspoilt landscape with a rich history and vibrant natural beauty. It was C2C Bike Transport c/o Alan Clark Transport t: 01207 544 687 Cycle Hire Durham Dales Centre, t: 01388 527737 designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1988. Services, Rowlands Gill, e: [email protected] Service from Durham Stanhope, , NE39 1AL The North Pennines AONB is also Britain’s first European Geopark and Dales Centre Co. Durham DL13 2FJ a founding member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. Coast to Coast 60 Durham Road, Redcar, t: 01642 489 173 or 07802 358457 Holidays & Baggage Cleveland TS10 3RY e: [email protected] The Bike Shop St Marys Chare, Hexham, t: 01434 601 032 This leaflet highlights the cycling opportunities in the North Pennines Services w: www.coasttocoast-holidays.co.uk and tells you how to get more information. (Seasonal Apr-Oct) Cycleactive Ltd. 8 Low Mill, Langwathby, t: 01768 881 111 Penrith, CA10 1NQ e: [email protected] Cycle Hire at Rookhope-in-Weardale, t: 01388 517 215 w: www.cycleactive.co.uk We can provide the information contained in this the Rookhope Inn , Co. Durham w: www.rookhope.com Cycle Trex Ltd. 13 Aldin Grange Terrace, t: 0191 386 1557 publication in large print, different formats and other Durham, Co. Durham e: [email protected] Wood N Wheels Hamsterley Forest, Bishop t: 01388 517 215 languages on request. Please call 01388 528801 DH7 7AN w: www.cycletrex.com (Cycle hire in the heart Auckland, Co. Durham w: woodnwheels.co.uk of Hamsterley Forest) for details. Cycling 7 Laurel Way, Ryton, t: 0191 413 6068 or 07837 227781 Tyne and Wear NE40 4XW e: [email protected] Northumbria Cycle Force 2000 29 Claypath, Durham, t: 0191 384 0319 w: www.cyclingnorthumbria.co.uk Co. Durham North Pennines AONB Partnership Mark Fearn Nenthead, near Alston, Cumbria t: 01434 382 194 or 07776 098915 Sandy Lonning, Brampton, t: 01697 742387 Weardale Business Centre Bike Repairs & (Bike and rider recovery Pedalpushers The Old Co-op Building Blacksmith where possible) Cumbria CA8 1RA 1 Martin Street Stanhope Open Book Holly Nook, The Faugh, t: 01228 670 578 Dale Bike Hire Harperley POW Camp, Firtree, t: 01388 527 737 Visitor Guiding Heads Nook, Brampton, e: [email protected] Front cover © NPAP/Shane Harris. Crook, Co. Durham DL13 3AH e: [email protected] Cumbria CA8 9EG w: www.greatguidetours.co.uk DL13 2UY All other uncredited photographs w: www.dalebikehire.co.uk +44 (0)1388 528801 are by kg photography. Saddle Skedaddle Ouseburn Building, t: 0191 265 1110 Specialist Cycles Frederick Street South, t: 0191 378 3753 [email protected] This publication is printed on Greencoat Plus Velvet paper: Albion Row, East Quayside, e: [email protected] 80% recycled post-consumer; FSC certification; NAPM recycled www.northpennines.org.uk certification; 10% TCF virgin fibre; 10% ECF fibre. Newcastle upon Tyne, w: www.skedaddle.co.uk Durham DH7 8NA e: [email protected] Tyne and Wear NE6 1LL w: www.specialist-cycles.net

Stanley Taxis Bus Station, Stanley, t: 01207 237 424 or 01207 230000 Kirkby Stephen Unit 1, Station Yard, Kirkby t: 01768 371 658 Produced by: Supported by: (The Bike Bus) Co. Durham DH9 0TD e: [email protected] Cycle Centre Stephen, Cumbria CA17 4SS e: [email protected] w: www.mini-coach-hire.co.uk 1-4 Brunswick Road, Penrith, t: 01768 890 344 The Walkers’ Unit 3A, Townfoot Ind Est, t: 0870 990 5549 Arragon’s Cumbria CA11 7LU e: [email protected] Neighbourhood Baggage Transfer Brampton, , Cumbria e: [email protected] Cycle Centre CA8 1SW w: www.walkersbags.co.uk Renewal Unit Co Ltd. w: www.arragonscycles.com Heather moorland between Weardale and Teesdale © Countryside Agency/Charlie Hedley

11/06/8000 WHERE TO CYCLE IN THE NORTH PENNINES

Scotland Hexham Newcastle upon Tyne Carlisle Durham There are lots of great cycling opportunities in and around the North Pennines. The information and publications shown here will help you to discover and explore the 72 Penrith glorious landscape of this area by bike. Many of them are available from local Tourist Information Centres and other outlets. Alternatively, contact the individual organisations.

York Wheels to the Wild Cycle Route £5 3 122 km road route exploring the geology and 72 landscapes of the AONB/Geopark (includes 3 on and off road day rides). web: www.northpennines.org.uk 1 tel: 01388 528801 10 7

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1 1 Cycling in the North Pennines FREE 68 4 leaflets (16 rides) within the AONB for experienced cyclists. web: www.northpennines.org.uk tel: 01388 528801 2 Bike FREE Rugged moorland mountain bike route. For copies tel: 0191 383 3239 3 South Tyne £2 36.5 km route following the River South Tyne from source to Haltwhistle 20 (includes family-friendly sections). 9 East Cumbria Countryside Project web: www.eccp.org.uk 7 4

5 8 4 Hamsterley Forest (Forestry Commission) 6 Fantastic venue, including cycle hire and cafe. Routes include car-free, family-friendly, single track, skills area and downhill. 1 web: www.forestry.gov.uk tel: 01388 488312 11 5 Hamsterley Trail Blazers A local group involved in developing cycling opportunities in Hamsterley Forest. FAMILY FRIENDLY ROUTES web: www.hamsterleytrailblazers.co.uk 6 Descend Hamsterley 3 South Tyne Trail 11 Tees Railway Path A local downhill group, which provides coaching and sets up downhill events. 4 Hamsterley Forest 12 Waskerley Way web: www.descendhamsterley.co.uk web: www.durham.gov.uk 68

2 OTHER GUIDES 20

Walking and Cycling Routes in the Wear Valley web: www.durhamdales.co.uk

Cycling Hadrian’s Wall Country web: www.hadrians-wall.org MAP KEY Eden Valley Circular Cycle Route tel: 01768 867466 (NCN) Wheels to the Wild Main Route 7 Cycle FREE Cycling the Upper Eden Valley 72 Hadrian’s Cycleway NCN Day Route 1 (Waskerley Round) web: www.visitnortheastengland.co.uk/cycling tel: 01768 371199 Beyond Hamsterley Mountain bike rides in County Durham 7 C2C NCN Day Route 2 (Swinhope High Challenge) 8 Cycling Cumbria £2 Cycling in Derwentside (15 in North Pennines) Map and guide. web: www.agenda21.derwentside.gov.uk web: www.beyond-hamsterley.co.uk 68 NCN Day Route 3 (Killhope Round) web: www.lakedistrictoutdoors.co.uk, www.golakes.co.uk, N www.cyclingcumbria.co.uk 20 Walney to Wear NCN Tourist Information Centre 9 Cycle Routes in County Durham (west) FREE GENERAL CYCLING INFORMATION River Youth Hostel Map and guide. Durham County Council web: www.durham.gov.uk Mainline Railway 1 Promoted/published routes Cyclists’ Touring Club (NCN) British Cycling Federation 5 10 Cycle Northumberland £8 tel: 0870 873 0060 tel: 0845 113 0065 tel: 0870 871 2000 North Pennines Please note that not all roads and Map and guide. web: www.ctc.org.uk web: www.sustrans.org.uk web: www.bcf.uk.com AONB and Geopark settlements are shown on this map. web: www.sustransshop.co.uk Map: © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Durham County Council. LA100019779. 2006.