Cycle through 8,000 years of history within beautiful Glendale....

“The immense rolling land seems to go on for ever and ever,” wrote a Northumberland natural historian half a century ago, and a hugely appealing feature of the cycle routes described here is the vast and ageless nature of the countryside they explore.

Here you will find the very roots of the earth, the ground-down remnants of volcanic convulsions which shaped the land 400 million years ago. You will witness 5000 years of human existence, from enigmatic stone-age rock art, through castles and bastles, to reminders of the destructive conflicts of the twentieth century.

The seven routes take you from heather moorland punctuated by soaring rocky tors to fertile agricultural plains and sweeping coastal views, through pretty villages and past isolated farmsteads whose sturdy walls seem to hunker down against the keen breezes from the Cheviot Hills. Travelling on two wheels is the ideal way to ‘feel’ this countryside rather than just see it, and the routes are designed to ensure a truly exhilarating and inspiring break.

The routes radiate out from the attractive market town of Wooler, heading eastwards through the Northumberland National Park to the twin villages of Yetholm straddling the England-Scotland border (Route 1) and along the remote College Valley (Route 2); northwards to the working watermill, Castle and miniature railway of Ford & Etal (Route 3); to the coast for the dramatic, atmospheric Holy Island (Route 4); southwards to Ingram, in the heart of the Cheviot Hills (Route 6) and to the romantic Chillingham Castle and park with its wild white cattle (Route 5); and - for a challenging mountain bike ride - steeply up and over the hills southwest of Wooler to reach the picturesque Harthope Valley (Route 7).

You may arrive by cycle or bring your own, or if cycling is just one of the activities you plan while on your break you could hire a bike from a local outlet. Either way, your adventure starts here!

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Helpful hints

All routes in this leaflet start from the centre of Wooler, an attractive market town nestled into the magnificent Cheviot Hills at the northern edge of Northumberland National Park. We have identified a range of routes suitable for different levels of fitness. However, in this part of Britain it is impossible to avoid hills completely, so at times you may have to get off and push. Don’t feel disheartened, just use it as an opportunity to draw breath and view the stunning scenery of Glendale!

For off-road sections we advise using an Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 map. These sections may be rough and muddy. Please check opening times of attractions and eateries before setting off as many have seasonal opening hours. If you’re going to Holy Island (Route 7), please check the tide timetables and time your trip accordingly.

Before setting out on your cycle ride, make sure your bike is roadworthy. You may also find it useful to remind yourself of the Highway Code and Countryside Code.