Last updated 13:36, Thursday, 11 September 2008

IF you were inspired by the success of Britain’s cycling team at the Beijing Olympics and want to cycle through the Mid-Tyne countryside, try these three routes:Route 1: Wark-Bellingham-Stonehaugh (orange route on map)Distance: Long route: 25 miles. Short route: 15 milesType of route: Day ride. Moderate to strenuous in places. Quiet country lanes. Short road sections.Start point: Wark village green (alternatively route can be picked up at Bellingham or Stonehaugh).Route 2: Wark-Chollerton-Throckington. (purple route on map) Distance: 24 miles. Type of route: Circular day ride on marked roads and quiet country lanes. Moderate. Start point: Wark Village Green.Route 3: Barrasford Park Link. (purple route on map)Distance: 10 miles

1 Leave Wark, cross over Wark Bridge. Turn right, Chipchase, Barrasford and Gunnerton.

2 Easy to miss. Second left opp. Chipchase over the old railway line, signposted Birtley.

3 Go up through Birtley village. Road forks, take left along Reivers Cycle Route [10], The Heugh, and Buteland.

Gated road with spectacular views.

4 Buteland Farm (4.5 miles). Large farmstead. The lane here can be ‘clarty’ or muddy when wet.

5 T-junction, left down hill, Redesmouth, Bellingham. Take care, fast moving traffic.

6 Redesmouth (six miles).

7 Bellingham (eight miles). T-junction, left, Hexham and Pennine Cycleway [68].

8 Leave Bellingham on Pennine Cycleway [68], cross bridge. Turn first right .

Follow Pennine Cycleway to Stonehaugh.

9 After 1/4 mile take first left [68]. Climb up Ealinghamrigg Common. Gated road.

10 (11 miles). Turn left at the junction, signposted Wark and Hexham and [68].

11 DECISION POINT.

For shorter route back to Wark, continue down the hill and back to Wark (2.5 miles). If staying on the longer route, turn right, signposted Hetherington [68].

12 T-junction, by the gate turn right.

13 Cross the Pennine Way and enter Northumberland National Park, staying with [68].

14 EASY TO MISS. (17 miles) Left, Stonehaugh (marked as a byway). Do not go ahead to Once Brewed. Past the picnic site; road then bears right with the village on your left.

15 T-junction. Left (marked byway). Long, straight road for about two miles, over Standard Hill, to unsignposted side road on your left.

16 EASY TO MISS (20 miles). Turn left up this un-signposted road, for Newtonrigg and Longlee. A beautiful, quiet back road to Wark, hilly in places, down to Gofton Burn, and the Warks Burn. Enjoy.

17 Longlee Farm. At Ramshaw Mill (23 miles) the road bears left up to a T-junction.

18 T-junction. Right, indicated ‘Wark’.

19 T-junction. Right. Follow the road back down the hill and into Wark village. Continue ahead at the junction and back to the start point.

1 Leave Wark over Wark Bridge. Turn right to Barrasford, Gunnerton and Chipchase Castle Nursery.

2 Chipcase Castle. (two miles).

3 OPTION of detour to Barrasford campsite. Otherwise, continue to Barrasford, passing Barrasford Quarry on your left.

4 Barrasford village. Go through the village. At the Swin Burn, look right and up to Haughton Castle standing on the ridge opposite.

5 Top of the hill stay on the road bearing right and gently descend into Chollerton.

6 Chollerton (six miles). War memorial and T-junction, turn right Hexham.

7 EASY TO MISS. First left after the railway viaduct, signposted ‘Bingfield’.

8 West Cocklaw and East Cocklaw farms. Note the decaying Pele Tower, a sign of the turbulent past.

9 Keepwick Farm (eight miles).

Climb up to Errington Farm.

11 A68. Cross the road to Hallington and Bingfield. TAKE CARE CROSSING! FAST MOVING TRAFFIC.

12 T-junction, left to Hallington.

13 Descend to cross-roads by Bingfield and Hallington war memorial. Cross the road to Hallington. The route now joins the Reivers Cycle Route [10], which you follow to Birtley.

14 Hallington (12 miles) Go through the hamlet following the Reivers Cycle Route [10].

15 T-junction with the B6342. Turn left [10].

16 First right ‘Thockrington’ [10].

17 Thockrington Church (16 miles). St Aiden’s medieval church. The lane now descends to Colt Crag reservoir. Gated road. Close gates behind you.

18 T-junction; right ‘Carrycoats’ and Colt Crag reservoir [10].

19 T-junction; left ‘Birtley’ and ‘Wark’ [10].

20 Fork bears left [10].

21 A68. (19 miles). Follow Reivers Cycle Route [10] to Birtley. TAKE CARE CROSSING! FAST MOVING TRAFFIC.

22 Stay on Reivers Cycle Route [10] but go on into Birtley (22 miles). Do not follow to The Heugh and Buteland. Continue through the village past the Percy Arms, and down hill towards Wark. Take care leaving the village as this is a very steep hill. This is Kiln Bank, and the remains of a lime kiln can be seen on your right. At Wark Bridge turn right and return to Wark village green.

Leave Barrasford Park (see purple star on map). Down the hill towards Gunnerton.

a Left fork to Gunnerton Fell farm.

b T-junction. Left, blue sign Reivers Route [10] and join Route [2] to Birtley.

c Bear right [10] and pick up Route [2]. Continue left into Birtley. Do not be tempted right to the Heugh and Buteland (Route [1] and Reivers Cycle Route [10]). Pass the Percy Arms (left) and after the church take the right fork down hill to Wark. At Wark Bridge keep on Route [2] as far as the Gunnerton turn [3].

Go up the hill past St Christopher’s, and through Gunnerton village. To your right is the Whin Sill forming the ridge along which Hadrian’s Wall was built. At left is the Gunnerton Burn gorge.

Bear right at the road forks and return to Barrasford Park.