Centre of Britain Trip - June 2016

[k9doc]

Thanks for the route David, opens fine in Mapsource which I find easier than Basecamp. Maybe that's because I've used Mapsource for years and am a bit resistant to change. 'Better the devil you know' I think holds true especially with anything Garmin related. I have Tom Tom in the car and in many ways, (not all),find it an easier platform.


The route looks a good un with a nice mix of road types, not that I'm any kind of expert but I have been on most of them before and look forward to doing them again.


Roll on Spring/Summer

[David.]

Postal confirmation of our booking & £10 deposit paid arrived today from the Centre of Britain Hotel, Haltwhistle.

If anyone is unsure about booking up so far in advance of June 2016, I've been told that the £10 deposit is refundable providing a minimum of 48 hours notice is given.

Obviously this gives some flexibility, should for any reason, you are not be able to make it, or the Weather is crap.

[CliffM]

Hi Dave,


Thanks for the info.
Just booked a room at the Centre of Britain Hotel for my wife and I.
Will be interesting meeting a lot of new faces.
Can you please send me a copy of the route.

[David.]

Just booked a room at the Centre of Britain Hotel for my wife and I.

Can you please send me a copy of the route.

Great stuff Cliff, please forward me an email address via PM & I'll send you a copy of the Day 2 Route.

Would you like it in MapSource, BaseCamp or both.

[CliffM]

Hi Dave,


The day 2 route map opened just fine in basecamp.
I hope the weather will be kind, can be a bit cool around the Alston area.


Cliff

[David.]

The day 2 route map opened just fine in basecamp.

Excellent, thanks for the feedback, I think that's 4 out of 5 who know where they are going.

[David.]

Whereabouts in GB, will you be travelling to Haltwhistle from, I'll be setting off from Ingleby Barwick (near Stockton-on-Tees).

Was thinking of heading North to Newcastle, then West along the Tyne Valley on Day 1.

On Day 3, will probably come home via Weardale/Teesdale.

It might be good if we could make something of part of Days 1 & 3 together, any thoughts or comments are welcome.

[guest2368]

On day 1 I'm planning on coming down the A68 from Edinburgh and then west after the Kielder forest.  Day 3 I will meander north on back roads up to Biggar.

John

[David.]

If anyone could make Haltwhistle or elsewhere, (perhaps Kielder),  by lunchtime on Day 1, then may be an afternoon ride out might be possible.

Here's a suggestion, Falstone Tea Room (Kielder) via Hawick (Morrisons) to Haltwhistle a distance of 90 miles, about 2 hours riding, plus a stop at Hawick.



Any other ideas are more than welcome.

[k9doc]

Not sure if we'll be coming North from Derbyshire (usually via the Dales or Teesdale and Weardale) or on this occassion via Barnard Castle, Teesdale and Alston, or South from Newbiggin BTS via Morpeth, Otterburn and Bellingham.


Always up for a ride around Northumberland and/or the Borders so could come the direct route and rendevous for an afternoon rideout.


Could also take the indirect route home via Blanchland, Stanhope Moors, Tan Hill etc etc ..........

[David.]

The Kielder suggestion may be of interest to anyone heading South & approaching Haltwhistle from North of the A69.

Living near the A66, heading North & approaching Haltwhistle from the South is also an option for me.

Making something of the morning on Day 3 may also be worth looking at.

At the moment, I do like the look of the Kielder option, IMO, the B6399 & B6357 from Hawick to Canonbie is great, haven't ridden it for a while.

Please remember these are only suggestions & are flexible.

[k9doc]

The B6357 is also one of my favourites. Was on there a few weeks ago, left for Saughtree and then through Kielder. It was towards the end of a ride down the Tweed Valley, 3 Lochs and then onto Selkirk. From Kielder to Bellingham, Otterburn, Cragside, Alnwick etc.
Absolutely superb biking and remarkabley few 50 limits unlike Derbyshire which is smothered in them. (Pretty to look at though).

[David.]

The B6357 is also one of my favourites.
Absolutely superb biking and remarkably few 50 limits unlike Derbyshire which is smothered in them.

Sounds like a plan, get out of Derbyshire a.s.a.p. & hit Northumberland.

[k9doc]

There's some good biking in Derbyshire especially if you keep off the main drags. They are the ones that are restricted. The ones we usually ride out in the sticks are much better. Problems are cows at milking time and cow dung at other times in the summer and gravel after heavy rain.
Also, some of the countryside is spectacular and as you know, appreciating countryside and motorcycling don't mix that well.

[David.]

Not sure if we'll be coming North from Derbyshire (usually via the Dales or Teesdale and Weardale) or on this occasion via Barnard Castle, Teesdale and Alston.

For anyone heading North, the B6277 from Barnard Castle, through Middleton-in-Teesdale to Alston is a local classic road to ride.

Could also take the indirect route home via Blanchland, Stanhope Moors, Tan Hill etc.

Likewise, these are all very nice roads to ride with great scenery.

Meeting or leaving anyone at say Barnard Castle or Scotch Corner (A1/A66) would work for me.