I had always wanted to do a bike tour starting and finishing from my doorstep in Peebles. I really love the Northumbrian countryside, and have thought about cycling along Hadrian's wall. A few years ago I came up with idea of cycling from Peebles to Wallsend in Newcastle, then cycling along the wall to Carlisle then back to Peebles. I plotted the route on Garmin Connect and there it stayed for years until the opportunity arose.
So that opportunity arose this April where I had a week's holiday and sadly Gillian had to work, so it was time to put my plan into action.
You might be wondering about the name Trimontium ? Its Latin for three mountains and its the name of the Roman fort complex at Newstead at the foot of the Eildon hills in the Scottish Borders. I like the name so I "borrowed" it for the title of my adventure. Mainly because its Roman and that's kind of the theme of my trip. Although I'm not cycling over 3 mountains (in fact it was much more) the shape of my route was a triangle with 3 sides, like a mountain. My adventure - I get to name it what I like !!!!
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| Off I go !!!!!! |
Day 1 Peebles to Bellingham.
I set off on a nice sunny morning, leaving Gillian hard at work on her laptop. I left Peebles following the cycle path to Walkerburn via Cardrona and Innerleithen.
I crossed the Tweed at Ashiestiel Bridge, at Peel before joining the main road to Selkirk. My first big climb was up to the mast at Lindean. It's much tougher when you are carrying 2 panniers! I enjoyed cycling through the Borders on quiet roads through the villages of Lilliesleaf, Midlem and Denholm. I stopped for a morning coffee at the Auld Keys inn at Denholm before tackling the hills up to Bonchester Bridge.
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| Ashiestiel Bridge over the River Tweed., Peel |
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| Dr John Leyden monument, Denholm village green |
The caffeine fueled me up for the sharp climb out of Denholm. From here on I would be cycling on unfamiliar roads so it felt like the adventure had really started. I planned to stop for a bit of lunch at the Horse and Hound Inn at Bonchester bridge. Sadly it was closed, so I had an apple and an energy bar for lunch in the car park !!!! I had a long steady climb out of Bonchester Bridge but enjoyed a lovely down hill to the turn into Keilder forest. I did my good deed for the day after spotting a sheep stuck on its back I alerted the local sheep farmer who sped off on his quad bike to rescue the stricken animal. The sun was out and it was warming up nicely and I was really enjoying nice quiet roads. I stopped for a quick photo as I crossed the border into England at Deadwater.
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| At the border. |
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| Entering Northumberland. |
I was stating to get quite hungry now and I stopped at the Garage in the village of Keilder and bought a lovely cheese savory baguette.
Refueled I set off along the shores of Keilder water, stopping at the Tower Knowe visitor center for some juice and chocolate. I then had a nice flat cycle from here to my destination for the night - the town of Bellingham.
Bellingham is a really pretty quiet town nestling in the Border hills. I was staying at the Barn B&B just on the edge of the village. The owners Graham and Debbie made me very welcome and had coffee and home made ginger bread ready for my arrival. The room was very comfortable and there is a lovely Orangery where you can relax.
In the evening I took a nice stroll around the town to the local pub "The Cheviot" for my dinner and a well deserved beer.
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| Coffee and ginger bread at the Barn |
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| Steak pie, chips and a pint at the Cheviot Hotel. |
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| Bellingham |
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| Tea on the train !!! |
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| Town center. |
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| House on stilts. |
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| River North Tyne |
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| A Chinese Gingall gun, brought back by Sir Edward Charlton during the Opium Wars |
Accommodation : The Barn Bellingham
Dinner : The Cheviot
Route : https://www.strava.com/activities/11246834278
Distance: 74.10 Miles
Time: 6 Hours 10 mins
Day 2 Bellingham to The Sill YHA (via Wallsend).
Graham and Debbie sent me on my way with a cracking full Northumbrian breakfast which I'm sure would keep me going the whole day.
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| Breakfast at the Barn, Bellingham. |
It was dry but quite cool as I cycled through the beautiful countryside towards Newcastle, stopping for a coffee in the village of Matfen. I soon came to Ponteland on the edge of Newcastle where the navigation started to get a bit tricky and I did cycle up quite a few dead end roads. I followed some nice "off road" bridleways and old waggon trails which was much better than the busy roads. My target was to get to the Roman fort at Segedunum in Wallsend. As I got deeper in the city cycling was getting more difficult buta group of friendly cyclists escorted me on some great cycle paths which pretty much took me to Wallsend.
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| Matfen |
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| Matfen |
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| Finally found Wallsend !! |
Sadly much of the museum was closed due to storm damage but the observation tower was open so you could get a look over the old Roman fort and along the river Tyne.
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| Segedunum museum |
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| Looking over the Tyne |
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| Site of the fort Segedunum |
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| Literally the Wallsend, or the start for me !!! |
From now on I had to follow Hadrian's cycle route all the way out of the city. It takes you right along the quayside in the city center and then out west.
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| The Sage |
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| Tyne Bridge |
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| Newcastle Blue star FC |
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| Tyne Riverside country park. |
The cycle route took me through some lovely towns and villages Corbridge, Hexham and then finally following the wall into remote countryside onto the YHA at the Sill.
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| Corbridge |
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| The Sill YHA |
The Sill YHA is very modern and clean and has great facilities. I would really recommend staying here as a base to explore the area. It was quite late when I arrived, after a long day 90 miles and a lot of time navigating through Newcastle. I had a re-hydrated dinner and beer for my dinner and had a chat with lots of guys who were walking along the wall. I was very tired and a bit sore so glad to get to my bed for a rest.
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| Inside the Sill YHA |
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| Dinner tonight !!! |
Accommodation : The Sill YHA
Dinner : Re-hydrated Chicken Curry from Decathlon !!!!
Route : https://www.strava.com/activities/11256427738
Distance : 90.37 Miles
Time: 8 Hours 4 Mins
Day 3 The Sill YHA to Moffat.
I had a great nights sleep so decided to treat myself to a full breakfast again , and I was offered a packed lunch which I decided to accept also. The hostel is very close to Sycamore Gap , so I thought I would start the day with a short walk along the to wall to see the site of where the Sycamore was before it was disgracefully felled last year.
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| Hadrian's wall. |
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| Milecastle on the wall |
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| Looking down to Sycamore Gap |
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| Sycamore Gap |
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| Walking along the wall. |
It was nice to stretch my legs before getting back on the bike. The sun was shining and I enjoyed cycling west along the wall passing many groups of walkers. I stopped at Birdoswald visitor center for Coffee and cake before heading toward Carlisle. I cycled past Lanercost Priory and started to recognize some of the roads from running the Carlisle Half Marathon. The sun was shining and it was warm so I stopped in Rickerby Park to eat my packed lunch and went to visit Brunton Park, home of Carlisle United FC.
I passed Carlisle Castle before heading north towards the Scottish border. I crossed back into Scotland at Gretna and celebrated with a Starbacks at the Caledonian retail park !!!!!!
I found the roads rough going through Dumfries and Galloway and my posterior was really starting to hurt now!!. I passed through Ecclefechan, Lockerbie and finally made it to my destination for the night, The famous Star Hotel in Moffat, the narrowest hotel in the Guiness book of records!!!. I enjoyed fish and chips and a pint of Guinness before passing out in my comfortable bed for the night.
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| Lanercost Priory |
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| Rickerby Park, Carlisle |
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| Brunton Park, Home of Carlisle FC |
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| Carlisle Castle. |
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| Back in Scotland |
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| The Star Hotel, Moffat |
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| The world's narrowest hotel ?! |
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| The Moffat Ram. |
Accommodation : The Star Hotel
Route : https://www.strava.com/activities/11263912563
Dinner: Fish and Chips in the Star Hotel.
Distance : 75.71 miles
Time: 6 Hours 30 minutes
Day 4 Moffat back over the hills tae Peebles.
Sadly it was time to pack up for the last time on my short ride from Moffat back to Peebles. I enjoyed another cooked breakfast in the hotel before the long climb up to the top of the Devils Beef tub.
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| Looking down from the Devils Beeftub. |
From the top of the Beef tub its a long 16 mile descent down to Tweedsmuir. It was warm when I left Moffat, but the road down to Tweedsmuir was freezing, so I had to stop and warm my toes up at the Crook Inn. The final stretch was from Broughton back to Peebles. I had my final coffee stop of Dawyck Botanic Gardens Cafe. From then just 8 miles back to Peebles, to find Gillian still working hard on her laptop !!!
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| Warming up at Crook |
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| Back in the Borders |
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| Home again !!! |
Accommodation : My House in Peebles !!!
Route : https://www.strava.com/activities/11268094389
Distance : 34.19 miles
Time: 2 Hours 58 minutes
I hope you enjoyed reading about my little adventure. If you've never tried a solo cycle adventure I would really recommend it, its the best way to experience the country and I feel at peace when its just me and the road.. I have explored lots of new areas and met lot of friendly helpful people. I also wanted to show that you can have great mini adventures right from your doorstep.
Happy adventuring
Dean
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| Not all roads lead to Rome !!!! |
