Coast and Castles

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Arrival

   Getting to Newcastle is easy. If you are planning to arrive by air, there is an airport at Newcastle with direct services to Newcastle
   Central train station. For those arriving by car, you will be able to leave your vehicle at your accommodation, or if the train is your
   preferred transport mode, you can either take a taxi from the station to your accommodation or it is just a short 10-15 minute walk away.
   

   • Accommodation in Newcastle
2. Day 2Newcastle to Warkworth

   A tour epresentative will meet you in the morning to provide you with your map and to talk you through how to use their App.
   
   You will then start your journey from the accommodation by cycling along the Newcastle quayside past the Millennium Bridge heading eastwards along the River Tyne to the coast. You will soon find yourself passing through the heart of the former ship building area of the Tyne. At Wallsend, the end of Hadrian’s Wall, keep an eye out for Segedunum Roman Fort Museum.
   
   Continuing along close to the river you soon reach the Fish Quays of North Shields, where you’ll find a bustling little harbour. You are now at the mouth of the Tyne. A few more pedal turns lead you along the quayside, past Lord Collingwood and up a short hill into Tynemouth. This is a great place for a late morning coffee or to stock up on snacks for the miles ahead. From here you continue along the seafront, past the Victorian resort of Whitley Bay and on to the seaport of Blyth. You’ll soon leave the urban surroundings behind and pass into much more open countryside and quiet country lanes.
   
   The next point of interest is the stunning Druridge Bay. With its seven mile sandy beach, nature reserve and some of Northumberland’s biggest sand dunes, it is a real treat. Just a short distance on is Amble which proudly declares itself as ‘the friendliest port’ before you arrive into Warkworth with it’s impressive castle and onto your accommodation for the evening.

   • 47.2 miles
   • 1,640.4 ft
     1,640.4 ft
   • Accommodation in Warkworth
   • Breakfast
3. Day 3Warkworth to Berwick-upon-Tweed

   Leaving Warkworth behind, you cycle towards the impressive medieval castles Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh and the
   attractive coastal village of Craster.

   At Bamburgh, as well as the castle in its dramatic setting on a rocky outcrop, there is the Grace Darling museum, a famous heroine of the lifeboats. Just past Bamburgh you come to Holy Island, otherwise known as Lindisfarne, a key site in early Christianity and the place where the Lindisfarne Gospels were created in the 8th century. If the tide and time allows, it’s worth a visit by crossing the tidal causeway. From Holy Island, it’s on to the Elizabethan border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, with its complex defences built up over the years of border wars.

   • 51 miles
   • 2,460.6 ft
     2,460.6 ft
   • Accommodation in Berwick-upon-Tweed
   • Breakfast
4. Day 4Berwick-upon-Tweed to Melrose

   From Berwick-upon-Tweed, it’s inland along the Tweed valley to Melrose. On the way you’ll cross the border into Scotland, then back into England over the famous Union Suspension Bridge, that spans the River Tweed between Horncliffe in Northumberland and Fishwick in the Scottish Borders. At the Chainbridge Honey Farm, you can get a cup of tea and feast yourselves on yummy cakes and enjoy them on a bright green Bristol Lodekka double decker bus (it’s travelled a long way!). As the name implies, you can buy lots of honey there too. A few miles on you cross back into Scotland at Norham Castle, and on to Kelso, with the impressive Floors Castle. The final section today takes you into Melrose, famed for its impressive Gothic-style abbey, which is thought to be the burial place of Robert the Bruce’s heart!
   

   • 44.7 miles
   • 2,362.2 ft
     2,362.2 ft
   • Accommodation in Melrose
   • Breakfast
5. Day 5Melrose to Edinburgh

   Leaving Melrose, you continue along the increasingly deep Tweed Valley, surrounded by forested hills and following the course of this famous salmon river to Innerleithen, passing Traquair House, reputedly the oldest continually inhabited house in Scotland. The busy little town of Innerleithen is well known for its mountain biking scene, and no doubt you will see armoured and full face helmeted riders around the town. Heading north out of Innerleithen the route climbs up and over the Moorfoot Hills, with views of Edinburgh in the distance.

   Dropping down from the hills and heading through Dalkeith and Musselburgh you make your way into Edinburgh through the Innocent Tunnel and past Arthur’s Seat to the finish point. Here you will be met by the tour representative where you will either start your return journey home by train or be transferred back to Newcastle.
   

   • 54.7 miles
   • 3,773 ft
     3,773 ft
   • Breakfast