North Yorkshire, Northumberland and Yorkshire Dales in  long weekend.

A rapid trip up to North Yorkshire and Northumberland. We stayed at some excellent hotels that will become firm favourites.  Visiting Whitby for fish and chips and to visit the Abbey (actually more posing as we weren't really going to attempt tthe 99 steps in biking gear). Ten shooting up to the borders and crossing over via most of Northumberland staying at Corbridge and Greenhaugh.

Your Northumberland website

This trip is of course all about the roads. But that isn't to take away from the amazing scenery the N.Yorks Moors, the Dales and Northumberland have to offer. Problems with the camera on bike mean that there aren't many pictures unfortunately.

July 24 - Trip up. 

Dash up the A1 to get to Redcar. Used Peterborough services on the A1 as a rendezvous point. Biker friendly stop.

Stay in Redcar overnight. Down to the local pub Turners Mill for a few bevies. Beer very well priced at less than 3 pounds a pint!

July 25 - North Yorks and Teesdale

The route takes in the North Yorks moors in the morning and then Teesdale and the North Penines in the afternoon. in order to transition between the two we use the A66. The roads on the moors are fast and the scenery stunning. Up through Teesdale the roads are slower but curvier with more villages. Once in the North Penines the roads are fast, twisty and hilly getting to quite some heights.

• Saltburn
  • Just a five minute ride from Redcar but worth a visit and a stop to have coffee by the beach. 
  • Camfields
    • Coffee on the beach
    • Good crisp bacon butty or a breakfast roll hits the spot
  • 

Redcar to Saltburn

Saltburn to Pickering

• Skelton
• Castleton
• Hutton Le Hole
  • A hit with Kerry. Great little picturesque village.
  • If you visit check out the Rydales Musuem (didn't do that ourselves this time but will next time)

• Pickering
  • Castle (Worth a visit - we have done this on previous trips so can recommend but did not go there this time)
  • Bothams Tea Rooms
    • A great little tea room with good cakes and good service. Took on some water as the heat was relentless.
  • Bike Parking
    • Right outside Botham's Tea Rooms (limited to 1hr but that should be enough)
    • Outside of the Castle by the toilets
  • 
  • North Yorkshire Moors Railway
  • 
• Whitby and Abbey (Lunch)
• Whitby is always worth a visit and spending some time as it is a great little picturesque seaside port.
• Quayside Cafe
  
  • The fish and chips were good but in my humble opinion Hadley's is just as good and cheaper and less of a queue.
• Bike Parking
  • Parking in Whitby can be a pain.
  • The Whistestop Cafe (follow the signs to the railway station) has bike parking outside that is free, but is very popular.
  • On West Cliff, by the Captain Cook monument there is free bike parking available.
  • Across the bridge and just round the corner from Hadley's Fish and Chips is a small car park with free bike parking

Pickering to Whitby

Hole of Horcum

An interesting phenomenon caused by a small spring over millennia.

Whitby to Saltburn

A quick route back to Saltburn via the coast road.

• Going across the gap between N.Yorks and Teesdale is best done on the A66 as it is quick and easy much faster than the temptation to go on the side roads which are slow.
  • A66 through Middlesborough to Darlington, then on to Barnard Castle on the A67.
  • Before getting into Barnard Castle there is rght turn signposted High orce and Middleton in Teesdale.
• Barnard Castle
  • Only passed through this time but this is well worth a stop if you have time
    • Castle
    • Pie Shop
    • Costa 
    • Scott Leathers
• Middleton in Teesdale
• High Force (expensive parking and you have to pay to see the waterfall - I would give it a miss)
• North Pennines
  • The road (B6277) up through Teesdale past high force and through to Alston will have you gasping in awe and wondering if you are still in England . This is a fantastic ride.
• Alston
  • The A686 fromAlston to Haydon Bridge is a fantastic bit of road that has everything.
  • Parking in Alston is difficult as it is on a very steep hill. There are a number of good coffee sops here and there is also a petrol station at the exit from town.
• Corbridge
• Angel Inn at Corbridge (Overnight stop - good food and beer)
  • Accommodation is very good here is a little pricey
  • Food is excellent - I heartily recommend the burger
• Entertainment for the evening here
• 

July 26  - Northumberland and Cumbria

• Cragside (great place to stop for coffee and cake and use your NT membership to save money)
  • National Trust
  • Wiki
  • Fine teas and coffees
  • 
• Bamburgh Castle
  • Wiki
  • History
  • 
• Flodden
  
  • Battle
  • Museum
• Etal Castle
  • 
• Kielder Lake/ Forest
  • We travelled to Jedburgh and down the A68.
  •  
    • We turned onto the B6357 and started our trip into Kielder Forsect. This is a highly recommended road.
    • And then we turned off the B6357 towards Kielder Water and Greenhaugh (and he Hollybush)taking us past Kielder Reservoir to the Hollybush Inn.
    • Kieder Reservoir is a huge expanse of water.
• Overnight stop in Greenhaugh
  • Staying at the Hollybush Inn - very much a drinking pub so if that isn't your ind set I would stay for another night at the Angel in Corbridge (only 17miles away).
  • The music was raucous and obviously enjoyed by all those in the bar, but not so by those in their beds wanting to sleep.
• 

 OS Map of the area

July 27 - Yorkshire Dales

• Starting off from Kielder Hollybush Inn.
• Alston
  • Fill up with petrol here as the next filling station is Hawes!
• 
• Middleton in Teesdale
• 
• 
• Highest pub in England - and a good place to stop for a breather and lunch.
• Brough
• Dales
  • This is a classic Dales route with lots of rolling hills and dales, lots of twisties, quite a bit of traffic (mainly other motorcycles so watch out).
  • The most memorable part of the route is from Hawes to Ingleton and down towards the viaduct.  Quite a sight when that appears on the horizon as you come down into the Dale.
• Thwaite
  • A lovely little village - the best part being a 1 in 4 hill (25% if you like) with several very tricky hair pin bends!
• 
• Hawes
  • Note - one of the few petrol stations in the Dales (until Grassington or Pately Bridge) so if you hadn't filled up already it is a good idea to do it now.
• Ingleton
• Ribblesdale Viaduct
  • Classic
• Cracoe
  • Stop for coffe and a break at the eponomously named coffee bar
  • Good cakes
  • Good coffee
• 
• Grassington
  • Coffee if you need it (we didn't of course after stopping at Cracoe)
• Pately Bridge
  • Rest point
  • Petrol
• Stay overnight in Topcliffe
  • The Angel
  • 
  • Fortuitously Toplcliff is right next door to Asenby where I know the Crab and Lobster  to serve fine food as well so we will be well catered for. 

July 28 - Return home

A dash down the A1 early to get back for lunch would have been sensible. We don't do sensible and went home via Skegness.