Cycling Holidays in Northumberland
Find your perfect cycling holiday in Northumberland
Stretching right up to the Scottish Borders in the north-east corner of the country, Northumberland is nicknamed ‘the Secret Kingdom’ as it’s the least populated county in England and contains a wealth of hidden treasures. It’s a place where you can pedal along vast expanses of dune-fringed beaches, climb dramatic hills and glorious rolling valleys, or just revel in its wide-open spaces.
And when you’re not on your bike, there’s plenty to learn about the region’s rich history too. Northumberland is a magical place filled with ancient castles and houses; hidden gardens; friendly little market towns and a cultural heritage all of its own. Get catapulted back to Roman times along Hadrian’s Wall, or follow in the footsteps of boy wizard Harry Potter. You’ll meet plenty of real-life characters along the way too, and experience Northumberland hospitality which is famous the world-over.
Or you could just take time to relax. Star gaze under the darkest skies in England before lingering over memorable meals with a fusion of local fare. Northumberland has so much to offer and we hope our holidays will inspire you to visit this truly picturesque, untamed and historic corner of England.
Our rides
Coast & Castles
Follow the spectacular North Sea coast on a mixture of on and off-road trails, through quaint fishing villages and along deserted beaches, and revel in awe as spectacular castles emerge on the horizon at numerous points along the route.
Hadrian’s Cycleway and the Roman Frontier
This relaxed coast-to-coast adventure follows the northern boundary of the Roman Empire, starting and finishing at either end of Hadrian’s Wall. It’s a wonderfully tranquil cross-country journey allowing you to sample some of the rich heritage both Cumbria and Northumberland have to offer.
The Sandstone Way
This soon-to-be-classic long-distance mountain bike trail takes you across glorious Northumberland, one of the most unspoilt Counties in the UK, giving you the opportunity to experience the best views of the Northumberland’s Heritage Coast, Northumberland National Park and the world-famous Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site.
Reivers Cycle Route
This longer coast-to-coast adventure takes you through a hilly, remote and ever-changing landscape as you traverse from Cumbria to Northumberland via a brief foray into Scotland. The Lake District, Kielder Water and Hadrian’s Wall all feature on this hugely rewarding ride.
Getting to Northumberland
By car:
From the South: Enjoy a scenic drive into Northumberland by passing the Angel of the North at Gateshead travelling on the A1.
From the North: From Scotland, the A1 crosses the magnificent River Tweed on its way into the county.
From the West: Use the A69 which links Carlisle with Newcastle, and the A66 which runs between Scotch Corner and Penrith.
From the East: The A19 links Northumberland with the Port of Tyne International Passenger Terminal.
Approximate journey times:
London to Newcastle - 4 hours
Edinburgh to Berwick - 1 hour
Manchester to Hexham – 2.5 hours
Leeds to Alnwick – 2.5 hours
By coach:
Mega Bus run a route into Newcastle and National Express coaches stop at numerous points in Northumberland. Local bus operators can then be used to connect to villages and towns across the county.
By rail:
Stations on the East Coast Main Line (which runs from London Kings Cross to Aberdeen) servicing Northumberland include Newcastle, Morpeth, Alnmouth and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Connecting westbound services are run by CrossCountry and the Hadrian’s Wall Country Line.
By air:
Flights land at Newcastle International Airport, a 25-minute drive from Morpeth and 45 minutes from Alnwick. As well as domestic flights, Newcastle welcomes flights from across the globe including direct Emirates flights from Australia and New Zealand.
Further south is Teeside International Airport, just over an hour’s drive south of Morpeth.
By sea:
Northumberland is just 20 minutes’ drive from the Port of Tyne International Passenger Terminal at Royal Quays.
DFDS Seaways run a shuttle bus from the Terminal to Newcastle Central Station and the Tyne & Wear Metro rail service also runs from Newcastle city centre to Percy Main, the closest Metro stop to the Terminal.
