New mountain bike trail gets maps and website

New mountain bike route steps up a gear

The official map for Northumberland’s most exciting new mountain bike trail - The Sandstone Way, is now available, together with a brand new website sandstoneway.co.uk in readiness for the new holiday season. It contains information on local facilities and cycling-friendly accommodation along the way.

The 120-mile (193km) mountain bike trail between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Hexham passes through numerous villages and small communities including Wooler, Belford, Rothbury, Elsdon and Bellingham, hugging the coastline before taking in the Simonside sandstone ridge and other features of Northumberland National Park.  Cyclists will ride through an amazing, ever-changing landscape, rich in history, geology and iconic scenery.

The official map, designed and published by Blagdon-based company, Northern Heritage Services Ltd, is retailing for £7.99, with a minimum of £2 from each sale going towards improving the Sandstone Way experience. Maps can be purchased either through local retail outlets such as Tourist Information Centres or on-line at: Northern Heritage or sandstoneway.co.uk 

Most riders are encouraged to take three or four days to complete it, whilst the ‘fit and the fast’ could possibly ride the route in two days. Organisers hope that families will be encouraged to ride safe, traffic-free sections of the Sandstone Way with older children. The route is clearly waymarked with the distinctive green and yellow “S” roundel, and ten optional loops are also offered to appeal to ‘day riders’ who wish to cycle back to their starting point or follow a more challenging option.

The Sandstone Way is the brainchild of passionate cyclist, Ted Liddle, and was seed funded by Northumberland National Park Authority (who managed the project), Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Project, Northumberland County Council, Tyne Valley Mountain Bike Club and the Rural Development Programme for England through the Northern Lands Project.

Ted Liddle said, “The Sandstone Way was designed to link some of the best lengths of off-road track in Northumberland taking mountain bikers into Northumberland’s hidden corners on centuries-old tracks and historic byways. Cycling the Sandstone Way really is an adventure which guarantees a truly memorable experience for all the right reasons.”

Graham Vickers of The CyclePAD Ltd also added, “We have been part of the journey to bring The Sandstone Way to reality and are delighted to be running the website and building more relationships with the local communities on the route and associated businesses who can support it. We all want to see the Sandstone Way become a success not only for the mountain bike rider, who will have a unique opportunity to explore the interior of Northumberland, but for the local community and county as a whole.”

Both Hexham and Berwick upon Tweed are served by rail, and there are bus connections along the Northumberland Coast AONB  and into the valleys of the National Park for those wishing to make a holiday of it and leave the car behind. 

The Sandstone Way uses existing Public Rights of Way for most of its length, including an interesting mix of double-width dirt tracks, sections of single-track, unsurfaced lanes and bridleways of all types as well as byways and little known Unclassified County Roads (UCRs). There are linking sections of quiet minor roads and surfaced country lanes.

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