Hadrian’s Cycleway (3 day) Route

The first day is your arrival day and cycling begins the following morning. Details of your accommodation will be provided and we will meet for an evening meal if you are able to attend. Cycling begins at around 8:45 am the following morning to allow a nice pace for the first days ride to Brampton.

Arrival Day – Thurs:  Silloth

Arrive at Silloth. Accommodation is included on your arrival day and we will collect you from a nearby station if travelling by train. Check in is from 14:00 and the guides will be around from about this time on the day to meet you. We will usually have an initial brief at the hotel at 19:00 followed by an evening meal at around 19:30. All riders are asked to attend the Tour Briefing so that they are aware of tour routines, safety points, tour etiquette etc. The group pre-ordered evening meal will follow this briefing.

Day 1 – Fri: Silloth to Brampton (50 miles) Elevation: 1129ft / 344m

We have chosen the start point of Silloth to begin our adventure. This smart seaside town is an ideal jumping off point for exploring the region and we start off on really pleasant country roads with a gentle topography. A little further along, the country roads give way to some lovely cycling by the beaches and gorse strewn inlets of this little known section of the impressive Solway Coast and we pass by lovely little seaside villages and hopefully experience the diverse wildlife that the salt marshes and rare flora and fauna afford. We spend the vast majority of the first day on fairly flat roads. Towards the end of the day we head on through Carlisle utilising cycle paths with good surfaces and then head into the Cumbrian hills to our first night’s destination of the busy little market town of Brampton.

Day 2 – Sat: Brampton to Corbridge or Chollerford (40 miles) Elevation: 2464ft / 751m

Today is a tough but fantastic day in the saddle that showcases some of the best scenery in this area. You will be spoilt for choice with interesting geographical and historical treasures. This challenging day begins in a leisurely enough fashion as we dawdle past the attractive ruins of Lanercost Priory which dates back to the 12th Century. The route soon becomes hilly though as we make our way up to get a closer look at the ruins of Hadrians Wall and one of the best preserved Roman Forts at Birdoswald, formerly known as Banna. Further along this challenging route we utilise the excellent cycleway past the fantastic site of Vindolanda Roman Fort. This rewarding day usually ends up in the scattered, well-to-do town of Corbridge but on some tours, the group accommodation for this night may be in Chollerford which is a few miles away and the tour will then pass through Corbridge on Sunday morning.

Day 3 – Sun: Corbridge or Chollerford to Tynemouth (32 miles) Elevation: 979ft / 298m

Our final day, as an antidote to yesterday’s hills, sees us with a few cheeky morning climbs and then after that it’s plain sailing all the way to the coast, yippee! A large chunk of the day is spent on and off cycle path through parks, forests and towns as we hook up with the river Tyne and head on past the impressive waterfront at Newcastle. Pushing on through our last ten miles, victory will be signalled by the smell of the sea by the quay in Tynemouth where we re-group for a lazy lunch before our victory parade to the beach, aglow with pride, or possibly that may be the celebratory prosecco!

You should be back at Newcastle station for around about 16:30 and if you book the coach back to Silloth then you should be in Silloth for approximately 18:00. Please contact the Office directly to let us know if you will need transporting from Tynemouth to Newcastle Station at the end of the tour in order to catch your train home.

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What’s Included?

The tour price includes 3 nights accommodation, 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches (food only), full trip support including a tour leader that cycles with the group, back up van with spare parts and a few spare bikes, detailed route notes and maps so that you can cycle at your own pace and luggage transfer each day. The back up van also carrys a range of snacks, fruit, tea/coffee, water, biscuits, chocolate, dried fruit and nuts etc which you are welcome to have throughout the day. The tour starts from Silloth but we can pick you up from Wigton if you like; please just let us know this in advance so that we can make arrangements to meet you at Wigton Station.

What’s Not Included?

Evening meals, cycle hire, transport to start- Wigton/Silloth, transport from Tynemouth back to Silloth (although transfer to Newcastle train station at the end of the tour is still included in the tour price).

What happens at the start?

The easiest way to get to Silloth is by car or by train. The closest train station is Wigton and we can pick you and your cycle up when you arrive on the Thursday. Wigton is about 12 miles from our accommodation in Silloth.
To get to Silloth;

From the South
Leave the M6 at Junction 41 and follow the signs for Wigton B5305 and continue on the B5302 to Silloth.

From the North Leave M6 at junction 44, join the A7 through Carlisle city centre or the A689 on the new Carlisle bypass and follow the signs for Workington (A595). On the Thursby bypass take the A596 Wigton. At the end of the Wigton bypass follow signs for Silloth B5302.

By Train
There are frequent trains from all major stations to Wigton (where we can pick you up and take you to Silloth) changing at Carlisle. Look online to see current timetables and prices.

What happens when I arrive?

If you would like collecting from Wigton we will meet you at the station and take you, your luggage and your bike to Silloth where we will spend our first night. It is about 12 miles from Wigton to Silloth so if you want to cycle we can meet you at Wigton and take your luggage for you. Just let us know when you want picking up and we will meet you then. We will have a group meal at around 19:30 on the Thursday night so if you are arriving much earlier you have the time free to yourself.

What happens at the end?

On the final day we finish cycling on Sunday around 15:00. We have a final lunch just before the end of the route and then we re-group and all cycle to the finish point together to have our photo taken and celebrate a great few days together! The coach taking those back to Silloth will set off from this end point with the aim of getting back there around about 18:00. We book a coach with a trailer to make this transfer. This option costs an additional £65 so please book this transfer when you book your tour with us. If you need transferring to Newcastle Station, we will arrange this for you and this transfer to Newcastle Station is included in the tour price. We recommend that anyone booking a train from Newcastle Station should choose a journey departing from 16.30 onwards.

Group Size

The group will be a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 25 people. We feel that this size of group works best as there will always be enough in the group for some good company but there won’t be so many people that it becomes overcrowded.

Accommodation

You will stay in good quality hotels or B&B’s. All the places that we stay have been carefully selected on grounds of character, location, comfort and cleanliness. Hot showers will always be available so that you can get cleaned up and relax after a long day on the saddle.

What are the Accommodation Options?

We stay in clean comfortable 3 star B&B’s and hotels. Please have a read through the following information to ensure that you choose most suitable option for you.

Twin or double room option

If you are with your partner then you can have a double room each night of the tour. If you are with a friend/relative then you would have a twin room each night of the tour. If you are travelling alone and choose this option then you will be roomed with other members of the group (same sex) and stay in a twin (occasionally a triple) room throughout. Usually you will have an en-suite bathroom but on rare occasions you may have a separate bathroom but this is unlikely.

Single room option

Here you are guaranteed a single room each night of the trip. You will have a mixture of en-suite rooms and rooms that have a private bathroom or on very rare occasion a shared bathroom. Sometimes you will have sole occupancy of a double room.

Sole use of a double room option

Here you are guaranteed single occupancy of a double room. You will always have an en-suite bathroom.

Food

All of your breakfasts are included in the price of the trip. You will usually have a choice of full English, toast, cereals, fruit juices, tea, coffee etc. Lunches are also provided each day at a local cafe; we pay for your food and you pay for any drinks you have at lunch.

We will meet each evening at a local pub for an evening meal (not included in the price).

Back Up

An experienced tour leader will cycle with you each day and be on hand to help with any bike problems that may occur.

A back up van will leap frog the group a number of times each day so that help is never far away. We carry a range of spare parts so that repairs can be made en-route and we will have a spare bike available in the event that your bike has a serious breakdown.

Bikes

We highly recommend that you use a bike that you are used to and feel comfortable riding. Your bike should be fully serviced and in good condition before you start, this will reduce the risk of mechanical problems and unnecessary stoppages along the way. It should be noted that if you have your bike serviced before the tour then it is a good idea to ride it a few times to allow things to ‘bed in’ before joining the tour. Either a road bike or a touring bike is preferable. Ebikes are welcome on our tours, but you do need to let us know well in advance that you will be riding an ebike on tour. We have a range of bikes available for hire if you don’t have your own bike. We don’t offer ebikes for hire, but may be able to help you with the hire of one, so please contact our Office directly. We will take your bike from Glossop to Silloth for you if you bring it to us before hand and we will take it back for you at the end of the tour as well (free of charge if you drop off and pick up or we can box the bike and post it to you for a charge). Please note that Peak Tours will not be held responsible for any damage cause in the transportation of the bikes, problems are very rare indeed and we have a very safe, tried and tested system. Any bikes with DI gears need to bring their chargers with them for the trip and riders also need to be aware that it may be necessary to remove the saddle and in some cases with DI gears, unplug the cable (although we try to avoid this). We also remove the front wheel of most bikes being transported and place them in wheel bags, if anyone has a wheel that requires a specific tool you would need to provide that too please.

Fitness

This tour is suitable for someone with a reasonable level of fitness and who wants a challenge. If you do plenty of training beforehand you should have no problem completing the ride.

It must be stressed that a good amount of training before the ride will make your tour much more enjoyable and ensure that you finish your ride. We are always happy to advise you about training plans in preparation for the ride.

Clothing & equipment

Clothing for all weathers is recommended so waterproofs are essential. A full recommended kit list is provided and we are always happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Your baggage will be transferred for you each day and will be waiting for you at your accommodation when you arrive.

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To view pictures from our most recent tours click here:

July 2016 October 2016

May 2019 September 2019

May 2021 October 2021 

June 2022 August 2022 October 2022

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What mechanical knowledge do I need?

We don’t expect you to be an expert bike mechanic but there are a few simple skills that will be a great benefit to you. The most important skill you need to know is how to fix a puncture. It is quite likely that at some point you will have a puncture or two so it is essential that you carry a puncture repair kit and a spare tube or two with you. It is also helpful if you know how to change your brake pads and adjust your brakes & gears however this isn’t essential. Our guides will help you with any repairs and adjustments en-route.

What are the lunches like?

We arrange a buffet lunch at a pub or café each day. This will be a mixture of sandwiches, salads, soup, pasta salad etc and will be different at each place. There will always be enough to go round so don’t worry if you are at the back of the group. The lunch stops provide a good opportunity to re-group and catch up with others and compare notes.

Will I be left behind?

No, a tour leader cycles at the back of the group so that you won’t be left behind if you are worried about cycling too slowly. Throughout the group there will be a mix of abilities and cycling speeds so you will usually be able to cycle with others that cycle at a similar pace. Some people like to cycle fast whilst others prefer to take their time, stop for coffee and cake or stop to take photos etc so whether you are a ‘speed demon’ or more of a ‘tourer’ there usually will be someone to cycle with each day.

Do I need to be super fit?

No, you don’t need to be super fit but a good level of fitness is important as the Hadrians Cycleway ranges from moderate cycing to being a challenging ride. The fitter you are and the more training that you do before hand will add to the enjoyment of your tour and improve your chances of succeeding at the challenge. If you need any advice about fitness please contact us and we will be happy to discuss any questions and concerns that you may have.

What are the groups like?

Obviously each group is different but generally our groups are a fun, friendly, helpful & adventurous bunch. There will be people of all ages and from all walks of life. We tend to get quite a few older riders although there will always be a few younger riders as well. So far our youngest rider on a tour was 15 & the eldest 78. We think that a group of 20-25 is ideal as there will be plenty of people with similar interests and character without being such a big group that it becomes too much.

How do I get my bike home at the end of the trip?

If you are travelling home by car from Silloth then the return coach from Tynemouth has a bike trailer to fit all the bikes in. We will collect details of all bikes to go on the trailer in good time so you know your bike will fit comfortably on. If you are travelling home from Newcastle train station then the coach will take you and your bike there where you can then take it on your train journey home. If you live near Peak Tours HQ in Glossop, Derbyshire then we can always bring the bike back here and you can pick it up from us free of charge. Alternatively we can always bring it back to Peak Tours HQ and post it back to you, please contact us for a quote for this.

What happens in the evenings?

Once you have arrived at your accommodation you should have chance for some time to relax, have a shower etc before the evening meal. We usually arrange somewhere to eat for the evening meal so that we can all get together and you won’t be left alone if you would like to eat with others. Quite often we will simply arrange a certain pub to meet up and just drift in when you are ready whilst at other places we have a set time to eat – it just depends on the location.

Does the support vehicle follow the group?

No, the back up van doesn’t drive behind the group at all times but the van shouldn’t be too far away if you require assistance. In the morning we have a group brief and set off cycling, meanwhile the backup driver will collect all the luggage from the various B&B’s & hostels. Once all of the luggage has been loaded, the support vehicle will leapfrog the group stopping when necessary. The backup driver will be at the lunch stop should you need anything from the van and in the afternoon will go on ahead to ensure that your luggage is in place before you arrive.

How much luggage can I take?

There is limited space in the back up van to store luggage. We therefore request that you try to keep your luggage size to a minimum & try not to bring too much with you. Washing clothes can be done en-route so you shouldn’t need to bring a clean set of clothes for every day. The ideal size for luggage is 70 x 50 x 30 cm and a weight of 15 – 18kg (or less).

What training should I do?

The more the better. We will provide a training guide for you so that you can build up your cycling strength and prepare for the ride in the correct way. It would be advantageous but not essential if you could cycle two days back to back whilst training and it is also important that you cycle on some hills.

What bike should I use?

The most suitable bike for this trip is a hybrid, touring or road bike, however it is entirely up to you what type of bike you use. Some people may be riding mountain bikes, others hybrids and others on racing bikes. We suggest a tyre width of 25mm and up for this trip

What gear should I take?

We provide a suggested kit list so please contact us if you would like a copy sending to you.

What is the male / female ratio?

This varies with each group. There are usually more guys than gals but an average would be about 1/3rd ladies & 2/3rds gents.

What are the Accommodation Options?

We stay in clean comfortable 3 star B&B’s and hotels. Please have a read through the following information to ensure that you choose most suitable option for you.

Twin or double room option

If you are with your partner then you can have a double room each night of the tour. If you are with a friend/relative then you would have a twin room each night of the tour. If you are travelling alone and choose this option then you will be roomed with other members of the group (same sex) and stay in a twin (occasionally a triple) room throughout. Usually you will have an en-suite bathroom but on rare occasions you may have a separate bathroom but this is unlikely.

Single room option

Here you are guaranteed a single room each night of the trip. You will have a mixture of en-suite rooms and rooms that have a private bathroom or on very rare occasion a shared bathroom. Sometimes you will have sole occupancy of a double room.

Sole use of a double room option

Here you are guaranteed single occupancy of a double room. You will always have an en-suite bathroom.

Can I hire a bike from you?

It is advisable to use your own bike if possible however we realise that it is not always possible to use your own steed so you may wish to hire one. We have a range of bikes available for hire for the tour and details of each of these bikes can be seen by clicking on the ‘Tour Extras’ tab.
All of our hire bikes come fitted with water bottle cage, bell, rear rack (for touring bikes only) and front and rear lights. We also provide a pannier (touring bikes) or seat post bag (road bikes) with a multi-tool, pump, puncture repair kit, spare tube and tyre levers at no extra cost. All bikes can have flat or SPD pedals so please let us know your preference or, if you would prefer to use your own (and maybe your own saddle) then please bring these along with you. We recommend that you bring your own helmet which you are used to, but we can also provide a helmet for you at no extra cost so please just let us know in advance of your tour.

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