Cycle Tourism in Northumberland 2013/14 Asset Review & recommendations for growth - Draft v3 Part 4: Infrastructure, product development and bringing the existing offer up to standard Not many people know how to find excellent routes like this in Northumberland The challenge: Making sure the real-time experience matches the Potential and the Promise Prepared for Cycle PaD by CycleTRAX & Recreational Tourism Services June 2013 Cycle tourism in Northumberland 2013: Part 4 – Infrastructure & Product development Page 1 Contents: Part 4 - Appendix Infrastructure, Product Development and Bringing the Existing Offer up to Standard 4.1 Improving the cycle route network with justifications…………....Page 3 4.1.1: Route Hardware …….…………………………………………...Page 3 4.1.2: All Long Distance Cycle Routes in Northumberland…………Page 3 4.1.3: Reivers Cycle Route - recommendations …………………….Page 3 4.1.4: Pennine Cycleway - recommendations ……………………….Page 4 4.1.5: Hadrian’s Cycleway - recommendations …………..…………Page 8 4.1.6: Coast & Castles Cycle Route - recommendations …..………Page 9 4.1.7: Coquetdale Cycle Routes - recommendations ……..………..Page 11 4.2 Signing…………….………………………………….………………Page 13 4.2.1: Signing Quality and Route Braids ……………………………..Page 15 4.2.2: Fingerposts……………………………………………………….Page 16 4.3 Creating New Routes and Products ………………………………Page 18 4.3.1: Tour of Northumberland…….…………………………………..Page 18 4.3.2: The Sandstone Way……………………………………………..Page 19 4.3.3: The Borderlands Cycle Route …….……………………………Page 22 4.3.4: The Cycle Tour of the Cheviots and Kielder…….……………Page 24 4.3.5: Source to Sea Cycle Routes………………………..…………..Page 25 4.3.6: Brace of Dozen Dales Cycle Routes…………………………..Page 26 4.4 Creating ‘Identity’ Loops, Route Links and Spurs………….........Page 23 4.4.1: Shorter Triangle or Loop Routes……………………………….Page 27 4.4.2: Identity Loops…………………………………………………….Page 28 4.4.3: Link Routes and Spurs…………………………………………..Page 28 Cycle tourism in Northumberland 2013: Part 4 – Infrastructure & Product development Page 2 4.1 Improving the Cycle Route Network in Northumberland with Justifications Overall This report has already concluded that the hardware and software has to be upgraded if in Northumberland the real-time experience is to match the undoubted Potential and the Promise. Currently it doesn’t match despite claims that it does and the following recommendations have been made to bring this about. 4.1.1: Hardware Ensuring the standard and integrity of all long distance routes • Lobby neighbouring and cycle route-connecting authorities and bodies to fully implement all connecting cycle routes to a high standard for ALL their length where possible using the same methodology – especially Hadrian’s Cycleway • Ensure mapped and promoted cycle routes are prioritised to be kept pot hole-free All existing long distance cycle routes in Northumberland In terms of landscape and general alignment, the cycle route quality of existing long distance linear cycle routes and promoted loops is not an issue. There is a justifiable long-held cause for concern about the state of routes and in some instances, some sections of their alignment and in all cases, the quality and reliability of their signing. This is the Route Hardware which is not difficult or costly to monitor and / or fix. 4.1.2: All Long Distance Routes • Promote route identities NOT the NCN • Create & show on map re-prints off-road versions of as many existing long distance route as possible to meet latent off-road demand – low cost and easy to do 4.1.3: The Reivers Cycle Route (NCN Route 10 / RCR) • Sign & Map all Braids - All braids from Ponteland west – especially in the upper North Tyne valley, Kielder & BOTH route options to Newcastleton • Signing - Review all and add or replace as necessary – especially in the Upper North Tyne Valley • Other - Correct map anomalies & support map reprint showing all changes All signed and promoted cycle routes through the upper North Tyne valley need to be differentiated and properly signed. All relevant maps need to be updated accordingly to reflect this. Cycle tourism in Northumberland 2013: Part 4 – Infrastructure & Product development Page 3 4.1.4: The Pennine Cycleway (NCN Route 68 / PCW) • Sign & map these braids Kirkstyle to Haltwhistle braid; Gilsland to Longbyre braid; Wark Forest braid; Alwinton braid; Hall Roddam to Wooler via Roseden, East Lilburn and Haugh Head braid; Dunterley to Alwinton via Upper Coquetdale braid; Etal braid; Off-road: All outstanding recommendations made in the Wooler Cycling Hub feasibility study (2008) • Signing - Review all above – add or replace as necessary; adopt fingerposts at key junctions when affordable; correct signing on the Rothbury spur route to reflect route type – currently signed onto a cart track • Other - Correct all map anomalies; Alwinton / Powburn area; show all proposed on- road and off-roads strands on the map once signed; update map north of Wooler Cycle tourism in Northumberland 2013: Part 4 – Infrastructure & Product development Page 4 Alwinton: The off road route is signed as the main route even though it is entirely unsuitable for road bikes – both junctions splits have confusing waymarks directing road cyclists in a different direction but leaving them confused way. NB. Reports indicate much dissatisfaction from road cyclists finding themselves on a track. Cycle tourism in Northumberland 2013: Part 4 – Infrastructure & Product development Page 5 Hall Roddam to Wooler Braid via Roseden Roseden Braid: The recommendation is to construct a short section of cycle route in the highway verge between two off-set junctions. It’s not essential but it would be a safe enhancement. Doddington Braid: A proposed inside-the-fence shared use path to link with the off-road NCN route was recommended in the Wooler Cycling hub feasibility study but never progressed. The traffic which uses this long straight B road between Wooler and Doddington is intermittent but nearly always fast making the short link along the B road between Sandy Lane, a quiet narrow scenic country road and the off- road NCN route far from ideal for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. The road route via Doddington should be signed. Roseden Road Route A697 west verge looking North West verge looking south with right turn area Cycle tourism in Northumberland 2013: Part 4 – Infrastructure & Product development Page 6 Doddington Link Path: This link should be built when funds permit. The existing off-road route is in need of maintenance and the braid needs to be signed to show both route options. Etal Braid: The road route north of Etal should be signed. Pennine Cycleway (NCN Route 68): It would very easy to provide a direct and much safer crossing of the A698 south of Horncliffe Off-Road: All recommendations made in the original Wooler cycling hub feasibility study Implementation of the cycling hubs at both Wooler and Haltwhistle did not to take the ideal opportunity to negotiate any of the important new access recommendations included in both Cycle tourism in Northumberland 2013: Part 4 – Infrastructure & Product development Page 7 feasibility studies. In consequence, Wooler has no family or novice-friendly, safe, flat, traffic- free route[s] and no easy access to the quiet, level area to the north of Wooler known as the Millfield plain and the attractive destinations of Ford and Etal. Etal has made a great effort to become cycle friendly for its visitors but needs support. The section of disused railway track bed between Wooler and Bendor could not be better placed to perform this function and provide a more direct off-road route to / from Ford and Etal for the Pennine Cycleway (NCN Route 68). 4.1.5: Hadrian’s Cycleway (NCN Route 72 / HCW) • Build Missing Sections - Off highway: Gilsland to Longbyre braid; Off-road: All recommendations made in the Haltwhistle Cycling hub feasibility study (2008); Road / Off route link: create spur to Housesteads • Signing - Review all and add or replace as necessary • Other - Repair: Vindolanda road section; Support on-going local initiative to improve HCW at Hexham, east of Corbridge and west of Ovingham; Update mapping and websites Off highway: Gilsland to Longbyre Braid Since Hadrian’s Cycleway opened, the route between Gilsland and Longbyre has been on road but for less confident cyclists this can be a daunting section as the road is too narrow for two way traffic to pass cyclists; being passed in either direction by a large vehicle is not a comfortable experience for cyclists. An off-road route was proposed in the original feasibility study but despite best endeavours, landowner permission was withheld. Based on the success of the Longbyre to Greenhead section which was built, it is understood the main landowner is now disposed to agreeing to this further section. It cannot be progressed without funding. This would be an ideal project for NNPA to draw up in readiness for a funding opportunity in conjunction with NCC and supported by Hadrian’s Heritage Limited. Off-road: All recommendations made in the Haltwhistle Cycling hub feasibility study National Trust is a key partner for several of these recommendations and is supportive. Cycle tourism in Northumberland 2013: Part 4 – Infrastructure & Product development Page 8 4.1.6: The Coast & Castles Cycle Route (NCN Route 1/ C&C) • Sign & Map all Braids - Spittal via Scremerston; Goswick to Fenwick; Verge path: Seahouses to Beadnell; Off-road: Beadnell to High Newton. This is desired by families and controversial in that it is opposed on nature conservancy grounds • Signing - Review all and add or replace as necessary • Other - Correct map anomalies; Support map reprint showing all changes; Off-road link section: Druridge Bay – 300m of rough ground often with cattle grazing ; entire route in South East N’land; review & improve as opportune Spittal: Coast & Castles Cycle Route (NCN Route 1) This section of route is entirely unsuitable for road bikes with thin tyres.