Cycling the Reivers Route : Coast to coast through wild Northumberland's border country

Passing through the northern Lake District, Kielder Forest and Northumberland National Park, it takes in some of the emptiest and most historically rich countryside in England. This comprehensive guidebook covers the full Reivers Route in four stages, alongside an alternative 241km (150 mile) Borderers Ride from Gretna to Berwick-upon-Tweed. The Reivers Route is presented as a 4-day itinerary with daily stages of 55 to 82km (34 to 51 miles), with overnight stops at Carlisle, Bailey Mill and Bellingham. The alternative Borderers Ride covers 241km (150 miles) from Gretna to Berwick-upon-Tweed, passing through Liddesdale, Hermitage Castle and Wooler with the option to visit the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Both routes are suitable for touring or hybrid bikes, with on and off-road sections throughout; road alternatives are provided, and 1:100,000 mapping and profiles are included for each stage. Highlights along the Reivers Route include Whitehaven harbour, Carlisle Castle, the 13th-century Bewcastle Cross, Kielder Water sculptures, the Devil's Causeway and Tynemouth Castle. A practical introduction covers getting there and back, accommodation, what kind of bike, equipment, carrying gear and signage, alongside appendices covering accommodation, bike shops and useful contacts. Ideal for those seeking a quieter alternative to Hadrian's Cycleway, this thorough and well-researched guide explores a historically rich coast-to-coast route through some of the emptiest countryside in northern England.