Report on the Wooler Trip
Day 1 Ride to Wooler
5 members left the Petrie Arms at 10 am on the 2015 main ride out. Frank leading with Dave A, Richard H, Bob C and Tony J following. Peter A and Dave L were making their own way to Wooler.
A scenic route had been planned by Frank which took us via Settle, Hawes and Reeth where we stopped for lunch. On then to Barnard Castle where Richard’s bike started misfiring and after a bit of tinkering Dave suggested we replace the condenser as he had experienced the same fault a while ago. Tony volunteered as our gopher and shot into town but came back empty handed. A helpful local suggested the garage down the road and Tony was despatched to try there. Another local in a car thought he might have one in his garage at home so disappeared to look for it. Tony came back shortly with a replacement that was a perfect fit and soon the bike was running smoothly again just as the chap in the car arrived with his condenser. He gave it to us as a spare and we thanked him profusely.
So then on through some rain to Stanhope and then some more rain to Blanchland, a very quaint old town, for a cup of coffee and cake. By now we had skirted the storms over the moors and the weather improved to glorious for the rest of the week. On our planned route we turned up a road with a road closed sign. We stopped after a bit to discuss the situation and suitable diversion routes. Richard scouted ahead and found that the road was closed ahead due to road repairs so we had to return to to the junction and make a long detour to get to Rothbury. It seemed a long way from our stopping point to Rothbury but we eventually got back on course and arrived at Wooler about 6:30 PM. Frank and Tony dropped off in the town at the Black Bull Hotel for their B&B and we went to the camp site where our worries about being a group were not realised and the lady took our cash and told us where to camp. Peter and Dave had already arrived and had set up camp so we camped next to them.
There was a nice CO-OP in the town so after buying essentials we all headed to the Black Bull for a meal and a drink which was very good and very welcome.
According to Richard he had clocked 241 miles
Day 2 Berwick and St Abbs
We were all supposed to meet at the petrol station in town at 10am but Richard led 4 of the group to the wrong one and only after returning to town did we find the right one! Didn’t know there were 2!
So off then to Berwick for a walk round the walls and a coffee in the town. A lovely country ride out to avoid the busy main roads and finally a short piece of the A1 to Berwick. In the blazing sunshine there were Superb views over the town and river from the walls looking over the river Tweed. A walk into town followed and coffee break before moving on to Eyemouth and Coldingham to St Abbs for lunch. Here we sat in the shade to eat our lunch at a very good little café with a good selection of dishes. The local crab sandwich was delicious. Then a wander round the port to see a fishing boat unload its catch of herrings and take in the stunning views of this rocky coast.
Then we set of for a country run to get to Coldstream. The countryside here is lovely and in the main the roads are not busy at all so it was a pleasure to ride out. Arriving at Coldstream we stopped in the car park and visited the Castle Hotel where we sat outside and had coffee. Frank negotiated a discount off the bill and the discount has been put in our charity box. He’s a canny lad that Frank!
So we turned back to cross the river tweed and run back to Woller for a rest before returning to the Black Bull for evening meals and drinks.
81 miles clocked
Day3 Bambburgh and Alnwick
Today we all met at the right petrol station at 10am and set off for Bamburgh Castle. Again the weather was glorious and when we arrived at the castle we were allowed to park up under the walls where the views across to the Farne islands was great.
Inside the castle was a good collection of period materials and armour etc. but I was most impressed that in the 18th century the owner, Lord Crew, had decreed that he would pass the castle down to support the local people via a trust. The trustees did a good job and that seems to be why the castle is preserved so well. Lord Armstrong bought the castle in Victorian times and had it restored and modified to be a house that he and his wife and his descendants still live in. Much of the interior was been remodelled in 19th century Victorian style.
Leaving the castle we headed down the coast road, wonderful views along this road, and so on to Beadnell, Seahouses, then a turn inland for Embleton and Alnwick for lunch. In Alnwick we parked up a little way out of town and some of us walked in to lunch at Baileys. After lunch Frank wanted to show us a secret place so we followed him to a secret location to see the secret. What we saw is a secret known only to the few, so I am not putting it in this report!!
We then all met up again and set off on a meandering route back to Wooler. This was not uneventful. As we left Alnwick we rode through what appeared to be a swarm of bees and then followed a wall on our left about 7 feet high for what seemed to be 5 miles. It must have cost millions to build as it was so well made and high. The afternoon passed quickly as we rode round the pretty lanes and Dave just had to throw in a ford at East Lilburn to see if we could “do a Jim”. Nobody did so we rode on. A stop for refreshment at the Percy Arms in Chatton was taken inside as the sun was beating down and the interior was cool. Later on Bob pulled over with a strange noise coming from his chaincase so we all stopped and tried to diagnose the problem without success. Bob carried on a little further and stopped again. This time he reported he had problems with second gear but he could ride by missing it out. So carefully we rode back to Wooller where Bob made the decision to be recovered home on Thursday as it was too big a risk to chance the long ride back with the possibility of some gear teeth loose in the gearbox. What a shame for Bob.
Another night in the Black Bull followed. 75 miles clocked
Day 4 The Tweed Valley run
Depleted numbers for today as Tony had departed for home to assist in family holiday plans and Bob had packed waiting for his recovery. The day turned out to be very diverse and the longest ride out of the week.
First we went North out of Wooler and then east to tour round the area passing Norham castle and crossing the chain bridge over the Tweed North of Horncliffe. Then on to Coldstream for a quick break before heading along the road following the river to Kelso for lunch. Kelso was a busy place but plenty of places to eat and after a wander round the town square we set off for Jedburgh.
Here the weather was again very hot so we took our refreshment inside a café that served ice creams although one stalwart member braved the scorching sun and ate in the square! (Peter) Somehow we missed the castle, which looks a grand affair up on the hill but we had seen castles aplenty so onwards we went towards Morebattle. Very pretty country roads here with views over cereal fields dotted with forests. Morebattle was again a pretty village but very small compared to Yetholm which was one of those villages with a grass divider in the main road with houses overlooking and benches to sit on under the trees. Very nice. From here we followed the road through Kilham, Kirknewton, Yeavering and Akeld along the base of the Cheviot mountains which gave some very dramatic vistas. Hence back to Wooler for our final night in the Black Bull. 119 miles clocked
Day 5 The ride home
Even more depleted today as Dave L and Peter A had made their departure from the camp shortly before 10am. So Dave A Richard and Frank were the riders for the long ride home.
A different route was planned for the return which was to take us through Rothbury, over the Cheviots to Otterburn, Bellingham and on to Hexham. Somehow we missed out Otterburn but arrived at Bellingham and found our way to the Chesters Roman fort outside Hexham. Here we stopped for a rest and tea. Then on to Haydon Bridge where we took the A686 to Alston over the North Pennines. What a scenic and lovely ride this is through villages up steep hills and hairpin bends. Gorgeous. Then from Alston to Hartside Hill, another winding steep road to the café at the top for lunch. Still superb weather so we sat outside to eat and enjoyed the views. The the final stage down to Penrith and the climb up to Shap summit and down the A6 to Broughton. It was noticeable at Penrith that we had come back to “civilisation” as the traffic was horrendous. Something we hadn’t experienced all week but it thinned out as we went up to Shap and down the A6 taking the Slyne, Caton, Quernmore, Oakenclough route to avoid Lancaster.
So finally back safe and sound at Broughton lay-by we took a rest and remarked on a wonderful week of superb rides. All thanks mainly to to the hard work, navigating and organising by Dave A. Thanks Dave, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
My mileage for the day was 219 miles with a grand total of 733 miles for the week.