Newcastle to Edinburgh - or the other way round?

[Sara_H]

Hi Folks - I find myself at a loose end for a week at the start of september.

I'm considering a lone camping/cycle tour from following the coast and castles route no 1 map.

I've had this map a few years, and never got around to doing it, also this will be my first tour (save a supported tour from vienna to budapest about ten years ago), so I have many, many questions to ask!

1 - I am averse to hills - this may sound like a silly question, which way will present more uphills? I can start at either end as I'll be arriving by train.

2 - Is my bike upto the task - I ride a Dawes Sonoran - I have rear panniers, and intend to borrow some front ones. Will I be able to carry all the stuff I need?

3 - How much stuff do I need? How many changes of clothes etc do people take?

4 - Camping gear - I camp - but I luxury camp! I do have some backpacking equioment (bought for a trip that never came off, but would appreciate any top tips for camp touring.

Thats it for now, I'll think of more later! Thanks in advance for any top tips!

 

[Andy_R]

Just did this one at the start of June over 3 days. This time of year the prevailing winds are from the southwest so if you pedal from Newcastle you're more likely to have a tailwind. There are no real hills to speak of until after Berwick upon Tweed but even then they are short (except for the climb form Innerleithen up over the Moorfoot Hills). The ratios on your bike (48/38/28 with 11-32) sound like you'll have enough low gears should you need them but if you'r carrying panniers and camping gear I might want to think about reducing them -possibly 44/32/22 on the front would mean you're reaching for the granny ring a bit less often.

As for changes of clothing, and camping gear, well that's up to you. I wore a clean t shirt in the evening and wore it again the following day to cycle in (recycling!) and the same pair of cycle shorts each day with clean undershorts. Camping gear I can't advise on, as we went b&b.

Hope you have a great time, and make sure you stop at the bus cafe at Chainbridge Honey farm. If you plan to pop over to Lindisfarne like we did, make sure you check the tide tables very carefully!

 

[Sara_H]

Just did this one at the start of June over 3 days. This time of year the prevailing winds are from the southwest so if you pedal from Newcastle you're more likely to have a tailwind. There are no real hills to speak of until after Berwick upon Tweed but even then they are short (except for the climb form Innerleithen up over the Moorfoot Hills). The ratios on your bike (48/38/28 with 11-32) sound like you'll have enough low gears should you need them but if you'r carrying panniers and camping gear I might want to think about reducing them -possibly 44/32/22 on the front would mean you're reaching for the granny ring a bit less often.

As for changes of clothing, and camping gear, well that's up to you. I wore a clean t shirt in the evening and wore it again the following day to cycle in (recycling!) and the same pair of cycle shorts each day with clean undershorts. Camping gear I can't advise on, as we went b&b.

Hope you have a great time, and make sure you stop at the bus cafe at Chainbridge Honey farm. If you plan to pop over to Lindisfarne like we did, make sure you check the tide tables very carefully!

Did you find the route well sign posted? I'm not too good at map reading - often rely on my iphone or sat nav but that obviously wont be possible on this tour.

 

[middleagecyclist]

I'm doing Edinburgh to Newcastle (Morpeth) along Coast and Castles next week.

Catching the train from Manchester on Tuesday and then 3 days of cycling and camping. Yahheee!

Will post a report and let you know how it went.

Cheers

 

[Sara_H]

I'm doing Edinburgh to Newcastle (Morpeth) along Coast and Castles next week.

Catching the train from Manchester on Tuesday and then 3 days of cycling and camping. Yahheee!

Will post a report and let you know how it went.

Cheers

Oooh fab - can't wait to hear all about it!

Are you wild camping or using camp sites?

 

[hubbike]

i did the berwick to newcastle coast bit in a weekend staying in b&b. its nice enough! quite a mixture of terrain for the bike ranging from grass, mud, gravel to quiet roads. your bike will do fine. and you'll have fun.

don't remember any hills particularly so sure you'll cope...

 

[middleagecyclist]

Oooh fab - can't wait to hear all about it!

Are you wild camping or using camp sites?

bit of both depending where I am and what's available.

 

[aberal]

Does anyone have a link for the Coast and Castles route?

 

[middleagecyclist]

I'm using the Trans Pennine line to Edinburgh!

 

[carolonabike]

Here you go. Try this site. I'm thinking of doing this next year so I'll be interested to hear how folks get on. If it's anything like the Coast 2 Coast the signposting will be good. I don't know about the Scottish section but the stretch from Berwick to Druridge is beautiful.
And yes, definitely visit Lindisfarne but do take note of the tide times. The little hut on stilts is not just to look cute!

 

[Andy_R]

On the whole it's well signposted but there a couple of instances where it's easy to miss the signs. Tynemouth, Blyth, and Berwick may cause a few issues - Tynemouth: turn left when you drop down to the quayside, Blyth: head inland away from the shore, Berwick: turn left when you get over the bridge. If I can think of any others I'll link them into Google Maps for you. How long are you planning to take?

 

[Andy_R]

Does anyone have a link for the Coast and Castles route?

Sustrans interactive map is here

 

[Sara_H]

Also, anyone know of any campsites not too far off the route?

 

[PedAntics]

Also, anyone know of any campsites not too far off the route?

Hi

Try this link. Once you've mapped your route you can search on the map for nearby sites.

http://www.ukcampsit...sites/index.asp

 

[Sara_H]

Well it now looks like I'm not at a loose end for a week!

But I hopefully have a four day stretch, so I'm thinking of doing a leisurely 25 miles a day from Cramlington to Berwick upon tweed (I realise 25 miles is a walk in the park to you lot, but its a fairly big deal for me!).

Can't find a campsite near Berwick that is not either full or want to charge me £25 for a minimum 3 night stay so I think I'll have a B&B tat night.

Looking forward to getting lost!