Cycle Hadrian's Wall & Northumberland
At a Glance
- 4 days, 3 nights
- 3* Hotels
- Guided
- Pickup: Carlisle
- Carbon: 52kg CO2e
- Difficulty: Moderate
From
£999
✓ 25% Refundable Deposit
✓ Booking Protected by ABTOT
✓ 5* TripAdvisor Rated
Hit the trails with this fully guiding biking tour of Northern England.
Discover the North of England, Northumberland and the world-famous Hadrian’s Wall on this short, 4-day, 3-night biking tour. Riding from the West coast of England to the East, you’ll enjoy the sense of achievement of crossing England by bike and in doing so pedal on the country lanes of the North Pennines, one of England’s most remote and unspoilt regions. Feasting on fantastic local cuisine, resting up each night in some of our favourite local pubs and with an experienced local guide leading you every step of the way, Active England promises a week of cycling you’ll never forget.
- Bike right up to Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Marvel at the ingenuity of the Romans at Vindolanda, as you take in the history of one of Europe’s most important archaeological sites.
- Ride through not one, but two National Landscapes – designated areas of outstanding natural beauty
- The sense of achievement of crossing England from coast to coast, West to East.
Your Itinerary
We meet at Carlisle Railway Station after which your guide will take you on a short transfer to Bowness-on-Solway, right at the heart of the Solway Firth National Landscape – a fascinating area that’ll satisfy nature and history buffs alike. After being fitted with your bike we head out for a stunning introductory ride along rolling country lanes, not before taking in the Start (or end) of the Hadrian’s Wall. After pedalling to the historic city of Carlisle, we sit down together for our first meal as a group.
28 miles
Hitting the trails, we bike along the 2,000-year-old wall to Vindolanda, a vast Roman garrison and one of Europe’s most significant archaeological sites, before continuing to what was the most famous tree in England, the recently felled Sycamore Gap. Here Hadrian’s Wall is at its beguiling best, so we make sure there’s plenty of time to walk in the footsteps of the Romans. We end our day at The Beaumont, a beautiful Victorian property in the heart of Hexham with views towards the town’s 6th-century abbey.
38 miles
Leaving Hexham behind, we set course for Tynemouth and the end of Hadrian’s Wall. We make use of several cycle-only routes here, pedalling along the Tyne River Valley – a river which flows from the quiet hillsides of the North Pennines to the hustle and bustle of Newcastle. Once we reach Tynemouth, with the achievement of crossing England in our hearts, there’s time to visit the town’s famous castle or abbey, or even enjoy a walk on the golden sands of Longsands Beach.
36 miles
Our tour ends after breakfast, when we help with your onward travel arrangements. We will provide transport to Newcastle, the nearest mainline train station.
Map
Gallery
Handpicked Accommodation
Scotch Arm Mews
A charming hotel in the small market town of Brampton, Scotch Arms Mews, is modern, cosy and comfortable. It can trace its heritage as an Inn all the way back to 1839. With nearly two centuries worth of history, today's residents of the hotel can see the historic well and salt oven that the current owners uncovered and preserved during recent rennovations.
What our guides say...
This trip has some stunning scenery with an abundance of history – and a well-earned pint or two!
What’s Included
- All accommodation as indicated on the itinerary
- All breakfasts
- Two dinners
- Entry into all the point of interest, including Hadrian’s Wall and Vindolanda
- GPS routes, provided via RideWithGPS (app available for Apple or Android)
- All baggage transportation
- Guides
- All transfers and transport whilst on the trip
Accommodation Types
We have handpicked the best family run, independent and country hotels, pubs and guest houses. Cosy and with informal dining, these country hotels are friendly and relaxed, with great menus with locally sourced food and ales. Our handpicked accommodation is 3*.
Difficulty Level
This tour is rated moderate, meaning it’s appropriate for guests who enjoy a good ride and can handle an incline or two. We cover varied terrain, enjoying some rolling hills and a few steeper climbs which are slightly more demanding. Your holiday, however, will be tailored by your guide to suit your individual preferences. Daily distances range from 20-40 miles. Rewarding views are guaranteed!
Equipment Provided
- Bikes (road / hybrid / e-bike (with supplement)
- Helmets
- Phone mounts
- Bike accessories
- Guests are free to bring their own pedals / saddles, which we will fit to the bikes
Pre & Post Tour Travel
Pick-up location: Carlisle Railway Station. Our holidays are designed to be completely stress-free, with the start of our tours sitting within easy reach of London, Bristol or the Midlands. This tour begins from Carlisle Railway Station, a direct 4-hour train journey out of London.
End-of-tour location: Newcastle Railway Sation, a direct 4-hour train journey from London Kings Cross. Alternatively, there are air options from Newcastle to various other destinations in the UK.
FAQ's
Where is Northumberland?
Northumberland is a county in North East England, and lies on the England-Scotland border. It is home to one of the most picturesque and untouched stretches of coastline in the United Kingdom along with rolling hills and gentle mountains.
What is the best way to get to the North?
The best way to travel up North is by train, approximately a 4 hour direct journey from London Euston to Carlisle. You can also fly into Manchester and transfer to the start of the tour from there. Alternatively we can arrange a private transfer for you from London – the drive is approximately 5 hours.
Make this trip private
Our private tours are based on our tried and tested group departures with two key differences. They offer you the freedom to travel when you wish and with whoever you’d like to holiday with.
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Carbon Footprint
What’s the Number?
Nearly everything has a carbon footprint. Together with ecollective, we’ve measured the carbon impact of not only every tour we operate but our entire business. We’ve taken into account greenhouse gas emissions across the business including office, travel, website, vehicles, accommodation, activities, food, suppliers…
What does the number mean?
We’re going to improve this by measuring and reducing our footprint each year. That means working with our suppliers to make changes that have a more positive impact on us and the planet. What does this look like in reality?
- Redesign trips to reduce our carbon impact
- Working closely with all our suppliers across England to join us on our decarbonisation journey
- Switching up our vehicle fleet to electric
- Investing in projects that permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere for any emissions that remain.
We’ve got a long way to go but we’re on our way to net-zero
We’re committed to reducing our impact on the planet and working towards a sustainable future. We’ve taken ownership of our carbon footprint and are on a mission to reduce our emissions year on year.
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