For the English section, as far as Berwick-upon-Tweed, I thoroughly recommend the Cycle Touring in Northumberland map below, produced by Cycle Northumberland. There is a self-catering kitchen (continental breakfast included). Assuming you cycle south to north, which most people do, the Coast and Castles takes you from Newcastle upon Tyne (the most northerly city in England) to Edinburgh (the capital of Scotland). Youve already seen some good stuff, but today will blow your lucky little mind away. The whole ride usually takes somewhere between 2 and 4 days. Tynemouth is easily reached by regular local trains and saves you the tedious ride through Newcastle. Right on the Castles and Coasts Trail, why not come stay? #10. There was a problem loading your book clubs. However, its an urban area away from the coast and compared to virtually all the rest of the C&C is not very enjoyable. Amazon has encountered an error. By yeewon Last Updated: October 6, 2021. So dont be an idiot like me, and take the detourbecause even though its longer, its shorter. The 200-mile route links the Forth and Tyne estuaries, starting in Newcastle, passing the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage . Coast and Castles route. You also find plenty of pub and ice cream stops as well as local delicacies such as smoked kippers. The Coast and Castles South cycle route is a great introduction to long-distance cycling. The Route. My company has a factory in Newcastle and every year an intrepid bunch . You dont need to be Bradley Wiggins, but you should know how to repair a puncture, how to adjust your seat and all that stuff. Should I Cycle North to South or South to North? The coast and castles route is close to our hearts and brings a smile to our faces every time we think about this route. Royal Mile Backpackers is a small and cosy hostel with its own special character! - The Coast and Castles Route GPX, Wanting to book your own accommodation? Baggage transfers along the route, easier than carrying everything! Often abbreviated to C2C2C, the route begins at Lincoln Castle and heads to Chapel St Leonards on the Lincolnshire Coast and then back again. However, as I have only just recovered from a . All rights reserved, Add a little luxury to your Castles and Coasts trip, Perfect accommodation for cyclists on the Castles and Coasts route. The Coast and Castles route runs between the bustling cities of Newcastle and Edinburgh, exploring Northumberlands spectacular coastline and the stunning Tweed Valley, finishing with the historic city of Edinburgh. With miles of quiet lanes, bridleways and traffic-free cycle routes and an Ordnance Survey map . It would also be wrong to miss out on cycling across the causeway to Holy Island as well, but do check the Tide Times and dont get stuck! The Dolphin Inn is situated in the centre of the historic seaside town of Dunbar. Between Boulmer and Howick, theres an off-road section with a lengthier on-road alternative. - Full Amount - Less than 30 days before the tour departure date, Cancellation by you: Pump your tyres up properly before you go, Make sure you pack basic repair stuff, such as a. Book reviews, interviews, editors' picks, and more. Fitness grade 3 - (3 day) Please take a look at our walking holiday site. The route goes through Coldstream, Kelso and Melrose and close to the ruins of the great abbeys of the Borders. Route map for 'Coast And Castles' - a 257.2km cycle route near Whitley Bay, UK. If youve never ridden the bike youll be riding, it might not be good enough, and it might not be a good fit for you. With a total distance of 199 miles /318km (Inland Route) or 173 miles/277km (Coastal Route), starting in Tynemouth, the Coast and Castles Cycle Route follows the eastern coastline up to the Scottish border town of Berwick upon Tweed before cutting inland along the Tweed Valley to Innerliethen then up over the moors in to the imposing city of Edinburgh. Please try again. Riders who cant complete the days ride will require a taxi at an additional cost. Stage 5 of the Coast and Castles route leads you along picturesque rivers, through rolling read more. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. And, what better way to explore one of the UKs most beautiful corners than by bike? Scotland the land of historic castles, friendly people, kilts and awe-dropping landscapes. From Craster, continue along the coastline cycling parallel to the beach. Plot a Route; Walk Route Planner; . Work in partnership with us to tackle the challenges of congestion, air pollution, physical inactivity, and social inequality, by making it easier for people to walk and cycle. Dunnottar Castle Anyway, whichever route you take, youll have an amazing trip. Its relatively remote until Dunbar, but from Dunbar onwards, youre mostly back in the heart of civilization. The Coast and Castles cycle ride offers something for everyone culture, history, local delicacies, hills, rivers, the sea, and beaches. Castles, castles and more castles! The coast of Northumberland and the Scottish Borders are littered with ancient settlements, abbeys, watch towers and imposing castles . For the first stretch, your route runs along the lengths of the River Tweed before then veering north through brilliant peaks and panoramas. The waymarked 'Coast and Castles' National Cycle route begins at Newcastle railway station, and for the first twelve miles shares the route with the C2C cycle route, as far as Tynemouth.From there we headed into the wind up the coast, passing through Whitley Bay and the somewhat unexciting sounding Seaton Sluice until we reached Blythe. But with some insight and experience, its not as difficult as you think. Dogs are welcome by arrangement. Copyright 1996 - 2023 CycleActive Limited - All rights reserved. Email: admin@cycleactive.com. Coast and Castles cycle in the footsteps of legends and kings, Bike Touring Collection by .css-1ry4g59{-webkit-appearance:none;-moz-appearance:none;-ms-appearance:none;appearance:none;background-color:transparent;color:var(--theme-ui-colors-secondary);display:inline;font-size:inherit;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1ry4g59:hover,.css-1ry4g59:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:#0065b8;}Amy. An excellent reference book for anyone who enjoys adventures and holidays. Perfectly located on the Royal Mile, the most famous street in Edinburgh, Royal Mile Backpackers is the ideal place to stay for the independent traveller. Coast and Castle Cycle Route : Newcastle to Edinburgh on Amazon.com. Discover all the latest news, offers and upcoming events in Northumberland. The bunkrooms are located around the central courtyard. The Coast and Castles South is part of the National Cycle Network, cared for by Sustrans. It joins the Rivers Tyne and Forth via the Northumberland coast, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Melrose. One of the UK's easiest, but still epic, long-distance routes, it links the Tyne and Forth estuaries. Find somewhere to pause your pedalling with Northumberlands excellent cycle accommodation. Combine those two vaguely-related facts, and you get a man who has zoomed, Are you looking for the best Christmas markets in north east England? Other than all that, make sure all the clothes you wear are lightweight, sweat-wicking and comfortable. - Emergency mechanical breakdown support Todays the day you start your trip, you lucky little sausage. This cookie is used to store the summary of the consent given for cookie usage. You can easily rent a suitable bike in Newcastle and leave your city bike at home. There are over 350 miles of high quality cycle routes in Northumberland and all of them are equally spectacular. It is no secret that Scotland has some of the UK's most spectacular scenery and what better way to explore it than by bike? If you're looking for a weekend challenge and you don't mind taking a chance on the weather, this tour along beautiful coastlines, through stunning moorland, taking in a few medieval castles, from Newcastle to Edinburgh could be the one for you. Its not massively difficult, but its generally all uphill, and there are some short tough sections. Using the journey-planner. I dont know this area very well, but I know its hilly, with lots of ascents and descents. Lots of the places you pass through are old mining settlements. Meet at the finish and transport for people and bikes (yours or ours) either to the train station or back across to the West Coast if required, Transport for people and bikes (yours or ours) to the start at Whitehaven or Workington, Accommodation from basic bunkhouse to guest house, pub or hotel, Full holiday package including all of the above. Here are some bike prep tips: Honestly, I did the trip without a guide book or a map. Inland, the cycle path rolls through gentle hills, across lush green meadows, and past beautiful fields and marshes. Sustrans is a registered charity in England and Wales (326550) and Scotland (SC039263) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England (1797726) at 2 Cathedral Square, Bristol, BS1 5DD. Thanks for reading my guide to the Coast and Castles cycling route. Coast and Castles: Newcastle to Edinburgh Introduction: The National Cycle Network Route 1 runs down the east coast of the UK and forms part of the North Sea EuroVelo cycle route. The most challenging section of this route will probably be the first part of the last 50 miles, after you head north out of Innerleithen. Travelling in this direction usually means the wind is more favourable but the ride is great either way round. Today feels strangely short. Often abbreviated to C2C2C, the route begins at Lincoln Castle and heads to Chapel St Leonards on the Lincolnshire Coast and then back again. 159.818 miles. Just a short walk to the beach and the High Street and with the possibility of trying out a whole range of outdoor activities close by, the hostel is perfect for weekend breaks and family holidays. See our Terms, Conditions and Postage page for full details. This cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertisement". The Coast and Castles cycling route, beginning in historic Tynemouth and finishing in Edinburgh, the beautiful Scottish capital, is a stunning cycling holiday taking in miles of dramatic clifftops, sweeping sandy beaches and a wealth of historical intrigue. The vast majority of this route is on quiet roads and is usually tackled in a northerly direction, although can be done either way. The Coast and Castles North route follows on from our Coast and Castles South tour, and begins in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, before passing through the coastal town of Dundee and ending in the Granite City, Aberdeen. Or if youre looking for another long-distance cycling challenge, weve also got a great in-depth guide on everything you need to know about the C2C bike ride.