Hadrian's Cycleway Self Guided Tour

Make your own way to Whitehaven, an attractive quiet coastal town with a redeveloped harbour. This used to be a Roman port and became one of the busiest in England with trade links to America. You can have a relaxing stroll along the seaside on your arrival date.

After breakfast, collect hire bikes and catch your prebooked taxi van to Ravenglass, which is to the south of Whitehaven. Ravensglass is an interesting little coastal village and you may wish to lock your bikes and allow approx 2 hours return.

Hadrian’s Cycleway begins at the Glannoventa Roman Bath House, about 500m from the village. The route passes Ravenglass station and crosses the estuary on the railway bridge. From here you will cycle on mainly quiet roads and off-road paths through the villages of Holmrook, Drigg and Seascale. Further on you join the Coast to Coast path, which takes you into Whitehaven.

Head north passing through Workington to reach Maryport. Climb the observation tower for a fabulous view of the site. Continue cycling along to Silloth a classic, unspoilt English seaside town on the Solway coast. It has an extensive town green in its centre, and on its long promenade you can go for a lovely walk taking in the the majestic Solway Firth and views across the water to Scotland.

Rolling out from Silloth your attention turns to the East as you turn and head around the splendid Solway Firth, which is all that separates you from Scotland. On the Cumbrian side, much of the coastline is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The minor roads head around the marshes before winding west then back east via the village of Bowness on Solway. The Wall originally was made of mud in this area and not much survives. However, the village is situated on the site of the Roman fort called Maia, which was the second largest on Hadrian's Wall. You then cycle through Port Carlisle. From here you briefly meet the River Eden before pedalling into Carlisle: a border city that has changed nationality a few times through its turbulent history. If you have time, it is worth visiting the castle and museum, otherwise take a walk through the Cathedral.

After Carlisle, ascend out of the Eden Valley and head into the Pennines.  On the way you could have a break in Bampton. Passing by the wall and Banks, you reach the great Roman fort of Birdoswald. After crossing the River Irthing, comes a new traffic-free cycle path alongside the railway, and the steepest climb of the whole route up to Greenhead Bank begins. As a reward, visit the Roman Army Museum at the top (tip: buy a combined ticket, to get into Vindolanda tomorrow as well). It's time to descend, this route will finally take you to Haltwhistle, considered the most central town in the British Isles.

Today is a shorter bike ride, not only because it is hilly but so that you can take in the museum sites along the way. Seven miles after Haltwhistle, there is a steep ascent from Bardon Mill back towards Hadrian’s Wall. You could opt to take a short diversion to the pub and the Northumberland National Park visitor centre at Once/Twice Brewed. Otherwise it is straight on to the museum remains at Vindolanda - the most impressive site along Hadrian’s Wall. This remote outpost of the Roman Empire has been extensively excavated and a large number of relics are housed in the newly renovated museum.

Past Vindolana, the road is roughly surfaced and after 1/2 a mile of climbing, you reach the highest point of Hadrian’s Cycleway. Now you have 6 exhilarating miles of descending on a largely straight road taking you to the banks of the River Tyne. The route will now follow the river closely all the way to the North Sea, but first you arrive at the busy market town called Hexham. Probably the most picturesque town on the trip, it has abbey ruins with a Saxon crypt which dominate the town centre.

Leaving Hexham having crossed the River Tyne, it’s not far to Corbridge. This is a smaller, attractive town, uniform in its stone buildings and slate roofs. Continuing on cycling from Prudhoe to Tynemouth, the route is almost entirely traffic-free, following the north bank of the River Tyne. The cycle route glides serenely into town, sometimes green, sometimes built-up, but always interesting. First come 7 miles of quiet lanes from Corbridge to Ovingham. Then this section of Hadrian's Cycleway briefly crosses the Tyne on a rickety road bridge to join the Wylam Waggonway – a tramroad dating from the 1740s. The way gets busier but you soon arrive at Newcastle’s riverside with seven bridges in the space of a mile. The newest, the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, is reserved for cyclists and walkers. Staying on the north bank you now climb above the river onto a railway path. There are dramatic views back down to the river and the site of the old Swan Hunter shipyard. Cycle around the rather built-up riverside district passing the last Roman fort museum at Segendunm. Cross the river on the ferry and cycle the last mile to Arbeia South Shields Roman Fort, the official end of Hadrian's Cycleway.

From here you retrace your cycle back to the ferry and make your way into Tynemouth to drop off your bikes and check in to your accommodation. You can celebrate your achievement in local style with fish, chips and a pint!

Depart from Tynemouth. There is a convenient metro train to Newcastle Central Station from where you can join the national rail network.