Cycling Routes in Northumberland

Our Northumberland campsite at Herding Hill Farm is an ideal base for cycling in Northumberland.  With quiet lanes, traffic-free trails, big-sky views and castle-studded coastlines, Northumberland is a cyclist’s dream. 

Why is Herding Hill Farm a bike-friendly campsite?

• Location: minutes from Hadrian’s Wall and NCN routes, central for exploring coast, countryside and Kielder
• Bike-friendly facilities: secure bike storage, laundry and drying room, free water top-ups, and helpful local tips at Reception
• 5-star campsite facilities: free hot showers, bath tubs in our ladies’ facilities and family bathroom and a unisex sauna that is available for private hire
  
• Campsite with shop: On site licensed shop selling essentials
• Indoor campers kitchen: vending machines, including hot drinks, kettle and mircowave and indoor seating
  
• Flexible stays: hardstanding touring pitches, glamping pods in Northumberland; hot tub accommodation and dog-friendly glamping
• Campsite with WiFi: Free WiFi for cycle route mapping
• All our touring and tent pitches have electric hook-up if you need to recharge your electric bike
• Quiet site policy after 10.30pm for a good night's sleep

Practical Information for cycling in Northumberland

• The nearest bike shops selling road bikes, mountain bikes, gravel bikes, clothing and accessories will be found in Carlisle including Scotby Cycles  although The Cyclogist and Hadrian Cycling in Haltwhistle offers some bike repair services, the latter also offers EV bike hire
• We have a large OS map of the local area in our indoor campers kitche which might help with route oversight and planning
• Trains for linear rides: Haltwhistle sits on the Tyne Valley Line (Carlisle ↔ Newcastle). Many trains are bike-friendly but spaces can be limited—check timetables and reserve where possible. For a timetable click HERE.
  
• What to pack: Layers for changeable weather, front/rear lights (for forest or mist), power bank, basic tool kit and a lock for café stops
• Safety & countryside code for cyclists: Wear a helmet, be visible, pass walkers and horses with care, and leave gates as you find them. Please note the B6318 Military Road is a fast, unlit road, with long straight sections and hidden dips.
  

For more information on Cycle Friendly Routes Northumberland read our blog. Northumberland Council also produce a guide to local routes. 

Best Cycling Routes in Northumberland

There are so many advantages of cycling in Northumberland, from discovering authentic experiences of nature at your own pace and reducing your carbon footprint. You see so many things on 4 wheels that you will miss on two. We are spoilt for choice for cycling routes in Northumberland, here is just a flavour.

1) Hadrian’s Cycleway (NCN 72) – Signature Roman Wall cycle route

Type: Road & mixed-surface | Difficulty: Moderate | Distance: Pick a section (full route ~174 miles / 280 km) Closest access: Haltwhistle / Walltown Country Park (about 5–10 minutes from site) | Start and End: Ravenglass to Tynemouth or South Shields

Why you’ll love it: Rolling countryside, milecastles, museums and world-class Wall scenery along this Hadrian's Wall cycle route. 

Our favourite day sections: Walltown → Corbridge (eastbound): ~25–30 miles. Coffee in Hexham, optional train return (check times) or Brampton → Herding Hill Farm (westbound): ~20–25 miles with panoramic views over the Tyne Gap. 

Tip: Surfaces vary; 28–35 mm tyres are ideal if you’re on a road bike.

Tip2: If you're cycling east towards Herding Hill Farm along Route 72, rather than turning off the B6318 and descending into Haltwhistle, make a slight detour and save yourself a very steep hill climb back up! Stay on the B6318 for a mile or so until you reach the Milecastle Inn and turn right there.

2) South Tyne Trail -  Family-friendly railway path

Type: Traffic-free multi-use | Difficulty: Easy to Moderate | Distance: Up to ~23 miles one-way (Haltwhistle–Alston) 

Why you'll love it: Good for families: Start in Haltwhistle and ride north/south as far as little legs fancy. Pack a picnic and linger at riverside spots and the impressive Lambley Viaduct.

Tip: Mix of compacted gravel path and quiet roads with one short but steep hill (which can be avoided by retracing the route directly back to Haltwhistle from point 7). The greenway forms part of the Pennine Cycleway with its distinctive blue signs with the number 68. For a map click HERE.

3) Kielder Lakeside Way – Forest & water loop 

Type: Gravel/forest track | Difficulty: Moderate | Distance: ~26 miles (42 km) full loop Start/parking: Kielder Water (about 1 hr by car) 

Why ride it: Continuous shoreline circuit with art installations, wildlife, and options to shorten your loop using bridges and spurs. Great on gravel, hybrid or MTB.

More Northumberland Cycling Routes

There are a number of national cycle trail networks passing through Northumberland. which are suitable for electric bikes, road bikes and hybrids and which can be enjoyed a short car ride from Herding Hill Farm or (depending on your level of fitness) as a full day cycle. 

1) Coast & Castles (NCN 1)  – Big-views coastal scenic epic 

Type: Road | Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging | Distance: Choose a day stage (full route Newcastle→Edinburgh ~200 miles / 320 km) 

Best day out from Herding Hill Farm: Park at Bamburgh/Seahouses (1 hr 15–30 by car) and ride a 25–40 mile loop with castle views, seaside villages and fresh seafood stops. Highlights: Bamburgh Castle, Dunstanburgh Castle, Beadnell Bay.

2) Pennine Cycleway (NCN68) -  Wild upland lanes,  railway paths and canal towpaths

Type: Road | Difficulty: Challenging hills | Distance: Selective day sections (full route 350 miles) | Start and End: Derby to Berwick Upon Tweed

Nearby taster: Haltwhistle → Alston → Lambley Viaduct loop (mix with the South Tyne Trail—see below) for a spectacular day with classic Pennine climbs, quiet roads and huge horizons.

3) Sandstone Way - Northumberland’s classic MTB route 

Type: Mountain bike / gravel | Difficulty: Challenging | Distance: ~120 miles (193 km) Berwick-upon-Tweed → Hexham 

How to taste it from Herding Hill Farm: Dip into selected southern sections near Hexham/Rothbury or plan a multi-day with baggage support. Expect moorland tracks, farm byways and huge views.

Northumberland Cycling Routes at a Glance

• Easiest traffic-free: South Tyne Trail (Haltwhistle → Lambley Viaduct return, 8–12 miles) 
• Best “Roman Wall” scenery: Hadrian’s Cycleway sections around Walltown & Steel Rigg 
• Coastal postcard ride: NCN 1 around Bamburgh & Seahouses (25–40 miles) 
• Gravel day out: Kielder Lakeside Way loop (26 miles) 
• MTB challenge: Sandstone Way southern stages near Hexham