Distance : 25.42 Miles / 40.9 Kms
Bike : Gravel / CX (MTB poss.)
Difficulty : Moderate
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/55365572
Describing the weather as bright and sunny is a happily recurring theme at the moment. Most mornings start with a frost and, although a chill lingers in the shade during the day, the riding conditions couldn’t be better. The trails are firm and fast-flowing…long may it last.
I set off on the cyclo-cross bike from Bedlington’s Attlee Park car park with my two compadres, Gavin and Andy, discussing the disdain that our better halves hold for our facial adornments. Apparently I look like Santa at the moment….not good for April!
We immediately dropped onto the riverside path which would guide us directly East to Blyth, and within a minute we had lost Gavin. He had stopped to take a few photos of this pretty stretch of the Blyth river and who could blame him. The light and shade made for excellent pics, and Gavin is the master, being a photographer by trade.
After a mile of gravel track and tarmac we crossed a road bridge over the river at Furnace Bank, and took an immediate left to continue our trundle towards Blyth. We passed below the impressive steelwork of the Bedlington railway bridge, built in its current form in 1930 by the LNER (London & North-Eastern Railway), and soon to be reopened to carry the canny folk of South-East Northumberland when “gannin to the toon”.
Just beyond the spine road (A189) bridge overhead, the route left the river and joined tarmac at Kitty Brewster farm. I like the name “Kitty Brewster”. I discovered that it probably relates to a Gaelic name meaning “stepping stones over a bog”, and here it is as the name of a region of Blyth, near Bebside. We then “went urban” as we passed through industrial and housing estate en route to a singletrack bridleway that runs alongside the spine road initially, before accompanying the Northumberland railway line as far as Newsham. The bridleway surface was good and firm, so we happily sped along, keeping an eye out for unwary pedestrians emerging from the side alleys.
Heading South-East through suburbia we reached the sand dunes and beach huts of Blyth beach, sitting towards the Northern end of a stretch of sand which continues to Seaton Sluice. An undulating tarmac path weaves through the dunes on its way South. Popular with dog walkers, families, runners and cyclists, this path can get quite busy. Although a great place to bring kids for a ride, It’s not much of a technical challenge, so it is best to head inland to follow the Waggonways of Northumberland and North Tyneside.
Some of these waggonways are hundreds of years old. Built for transporting coal from nearby pits to barges on the River Tyne or at the coast, the carts were either horse-drawn or more laterly, drawn by steam locomotives. It was no coincidence to have a pioneer of the railways, George Stephenson, living down the road at Killingworth.
Just West of Seaton Delaval Hall we joined the old Blyth & Tyne Line and on reaching Holywell Dene turned seaward and followed the Seaton Burn to its mouth at Seaton Sluice. Thankfully a hardpack permissive pathway allows riders to enjoy this pretty local nature reserve through the Delaval Estate. Delaval Hall was the residence of the De Laval family, Hubert De Laval being the nephew of William the Conqueror by marriage. “Seaton” is derived from Old English meaning a settlement (ton) by the sea. I do like a bit of trivia.
Salt produced at the nearby Hartley pans was shipped out at the small natural harbour of Seaton Sluice. The harbour, however, was prone to silting, limiting access to ships. To solve this, in the 1600’s Sir Ralph De Laval, had a pier constructed, and the sluice gates trapped the seawater at high tide. At low tide the gates were opened, flushing the sand out of the harbour. SImple but effective…and this is what gives the village its name. On a sunny day it is a perfect place to chill and watch the wind turbines and waves. I just wish the pubs had been open, as a pint would have gone down rather well. Covid 19’ has a lot to answer for!! The excellent Harbour View fish and chip shop was open, and though normally I’d be joining the queue, we thought better of it with a few more miles of riding ahead of us.
Dragging ourselves away from the coast and heading back up the Holywell Dene we came across a fabulous area for mountain bikers to hone their skills. Plenty of gap jumps, a few table tops and some lovely bermed corners….way beyond my capabilities on a cyclo-cross bike….and if I’m honest….on any bike. You could spend hours in this playground surrounded by ancient woodland and wildlife.
Continuing up the dene we joined the bridleway at Holywell Bridge and continued on West to Seghill. Tarmac and trails (you may see that written on occasion!) then led us North to a mysterious sculpture, probably known by few except locals. A lifesize steel shroud stands on a plinth by the trail which follows an old colliery line close to the Seghill Pit….a little spooky at night I’d suggest. Once we had all taken our obligatory turn to stand within said shroud, entertaining only ourselves, we rode on up the line to the area of the East Cramlington Colliery, now East Cramlington nature reserve.
A stop was required for a quick lesson in red squirrel trivia via the media of graffiti, but having decided that we could do all the things that red squirrels can do…and more, we pedalled on unimpressed. The reserve is, however, a great spot for quiet walks both through woodland, over open grassland and around the ponds, with wildlife aplenty.
Dropping out of the reserve back onto tarmac we spun along the road to the Keel Row pub, to take the quiet lane joining our next section of waggonway North on the old Seaton Delaval Colliery Railway. The pine trees along this stretch have been blown so far over by Westerlies that you feel the need to duck at times, although they present quite an artistic image.
We turned left onto the Old Plessey Waggonway for a short distance before heading for the bridge to recross the spine road at Low Horton Farm. The Three Horseshoes Pub, on the lane up to High Horton Farm, had very recently reopened and was welcoming happy punters at outdoor tables. It was, however, too close to home for us to stop now.
Opting to follow a path into the Horton Burn, we arrived at Humford Woods Stepping Stones. The last time I crossed the river here the water level was quite a bit above the level of the stepping stones. That hadn’t been a wise choice, but this time, thankfully, the river was low and you couldn’t ever imagine it could present a face of danger and hostility. On a quiet sunny day this spot radiates peace and calm. A great spot for paddling.
Beyond the stepping stones lay a mere half a mile of riverside trail back to the car, but with a short section running along a fairly narrow potholed concrete ledge. A lapse of concentration here and one of us could have been making a wet ride home. Of course, we made it to the finish, dry(ish) and agreeing that this one had been a belter. More of the same next time please!!