Head for the hills

[Ade B]

Am allegedly heading up north to leeds this weekend to meet up with mate and then up towards the cheviots for a bit of peaceful pootling around.

Anyone suggest any decent roads. I was up around kielder in the car a couple of years back and there seemed to be loads of decent surfaced twisties with not a vehicle in sight - it was mid summer to boot.

Might also pop across to holy island and back down through the toon to relive the old days.

Any thoughts?

Ade

[GeordieBoy]

Ade,

You've come to the right place, but I reckon to get the best out of this beautiful part of the world you'll need a guide (and a good handful of revs!).

I might be able to get a pass from the missus for Sunday if the weather's okay. If not, Cobbster or High Tower might be around. I'll PM you my mobile number.

Your visit must take in the Hartside Cafe. Head for Penrith, then follow the signs for Melmerby & Alston (the cafe is midway between the two on the A686, one of the best roads you'll ever ride in the UK). Might be able to meet you there at lunchtime.

From Alston, head for Hexham, Rothbury & Alnwick. From Alnwick, head north to Holy Island (CHECK THE TIDES), and from Holy Island head south down the coast to Alnmouth, Warkworth & Newcastle.

You're in for a treat mate, as long as the weather's kind to us!

Give us a bell,
Mark

Edit: Holy Island crossing times below. Can't cross between 1300 & 1900 on Sunday unfortunately, so if you want to go it'll have to be a morning visit. We could do Kielder instead, but IMO the coast from Bamburgh to Warkworth and down to the A1 at West Chevington would be better. Let me know your thoughts.

http://www.northumberlandlife.org/holy-island/Page3.asp

[Ade B]

Cheers Mark

know the A686 well - great road, lived in Newcastle for 4 years as a student and trainee - fantastic city.

was thinking of heading a bit further up north time and weather permitting..

Going up to leeds friday evening, saturday up to some point in the NE tbc, sunday heading back to london

fancy checking out holy island as I've not been there since 1992, remember driving back on the causeway under a couple of inches of water..

pm me your mobile if you like, can't guarantee anything (mate rides a VFR and is very slow ) and sunday's weather is looking ropy.

Ade

[GeordieBoy]

Got to pick the missus up from the airport on Saturday afternoon and haven't seen her or the littl'un for nearly two weeks, so a pass is highly unlikely for Saturday Maybe next time!

IMO there's not much to see north of Holy Island until you get into Jock-land. If you go to Kielder, Tower Knowe visitor centre is a popular spot for bikers (it's on the map), but TBH I think if your trip takes in Alston / Rothbury / Alnmouth you won't be disappointed.

Enjoy!

Mark

[Ade B]

Got back on Sunday night after a quick scoot around Yorkshire again..

Went from Horsforth to Helmsley to Stokesly - lunch in Saltburn by the sea and back over the moors via Whitby, Helmsley, Kettlewell (via some pretty but teeny roads) and then back to Horsforth via Ilkley...

Some great roads, a little too much traffic and a mate who was a little conservative with the throttle at times.. got very good mpg though - 150 miles to the light..

Back in London in time for aches and pains to subside sufficiently to fully function on Monday..

I seem to be suffering far worse vibes than I can ever recall (5.5k on the motorway makes my legs go numb...) and a side effect of a footie knock gave me serious gip in my right foot after a few miles... must be the fuel pump

Aside from minor comfort gripes, the bike was at its neglected best. Even squeezed a weekend's worth of gear, bike lock, spare oil and a cheapo Garmin Sat Nav into the BMW tank bag.

Must get out more..

Ade

[GeordieBoy]

Glad you had a good trip Ade. Keep Northumberland on your to-do list. We'll hopefully be able to meet up & do something about those embarrassing fuel consumption figures of yours