Day 1 :   Arrival in Newcastle

With its excellent road, rail and air connections getting to Newcastle is easy (see travel options for more details). The guide representative will meet you at your hotel the following morning.

Day 2 :   From Newcastle to Warkworth

Distance 1 : 47 Miles - 76 Km 
Elevation gain 1 : 600 Meters 

The guide will meet you with your hire bikes (if hiring) and an information pack containing route notes and maps and will answer any questions. You will then start cycling from here along the Newcastle quayside past the Millennium Bridge as you head eastwards along the River Tyne to the coast. You will soon find yourself passing through the heart of the former ship building area of the Tyne and at Wallsend – the end of Hadrian’s Wall you’ll need to keep an eye out for Segedunum Roman Fort Museum. Continuing along close to the river you soon reach the Fish Quays of North Shields, where you’ll find a bustling littleharbour. You are now at the very mouth of the Tyne and a few more pedal turns lead along its quayside, pass Lord Collingwood and you’ll reach Tynemouth. This is a great place for a late morning coffee or to stock up on snacks for the miles ahead. From here you continue along the seafront, past the Victorian resort of Whitley Bay and on to the seaport of Blyth. You’ll soon leave the urban surroundings behind and pass into much more open countryside and quiet country lanes. The next point of interest is the stunning Druridge Bay. With its seven mile sandy beach, nature reserve and some of Northumberland’s biggest sand dunes it is a real treat. Next comes Warkworth with its impressive 12th century castle, where you will spend this evening.

Day 3 :   From Warkworth to Bamburgh

Distance 1 : 27 Miles - 43 Km 
Elevation gain 1 : 10 Meters 

Your first stop this morning is the pretty village of Alnmouth. After stopping for a quick cup of tea your route takes you towards the impressive medieval castles of Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh, as and the attractive coastal village of Craster. At Bamburgh, as well as the castle in its dramatic setting on a rock outcrop, there is the Grace Darling museum, a famous heroine of the lifeboats.

Day 4 :   From Bamburgh to Berwick-upon-Tweed

Distance 1 : 25 Miles - 40 Km 
Elevation gain 1 : 30 Meters 

Just up the coast from Bamburgh you come to Lindisfarne, otherwise known as Holy Island, a key site in early Christianity and the place where the Lindisfarne Gospels were created in the 8th century. If the tide and time allows, it’s worth a visit by crossing the tidal causeway. From Holy Island, it’s on to the Elizabethan border town of Berwick upon Tweed, with its complex defences built up over the years of border wars. If you choose visit Holy Island you will need to add an additional 7 miles or 11 kms to todays cycling.

Day 5 :   From Berwick-upon-Tweed to Kelso

Distance 1 : 30 Miles - 48 Km 

From Berwick-upon-Tweed, it’s inland, along the Tweed valley to Kelso. On the way you’ll cross the border into Scotland, then back into England over the famous Union Suspension Bridge, that spans the River Tweed between Horncliffe in Northumberland and Fishwick in the Scottish Borders. At the Chainbridge Honey Farm, you can get a cup of tea and feast yourselves on yummy cakes and enjoy them on an old London red double decker bus! As the name implies, you can buy lots of honey there too. A few miles on you cross back into Scotland at Norham Castle, and on to Kelso, with the impressive Floors Castle and your first night spent over the border!

Day 6 :   From Kelso to Innerleithen

Distance 1 : 32 Miles - 52 Km 
Elevation gain 1 : 110 Meters 

The countryside is different to yesterday’s riding, with a gentler landscape of farmland and woodland. A real combination of surfaces today, quiet lanes, cycle paths and a disused railway line through the beautiful Glen Ogle. You are now close to the birthplace of folk hero and latter day Robin Hood, Rob Roy Macgregor, whose grave may be found in Balquhidder. The final stretch is to Killin (or nearby) where you stop for the night.

Day 7 :   From Innerleithen to Edinburgh

Distance 1 : 32 Miles - 52 Km 

Heading north out of Innerleithen the route climbs up an over the Moorfoot Hills, with views of Edinburgh in the distance. Dropping down from the hills and heading through Dalkeith and Musselburgh you make your way into Edinburgh through the Innocent Tunnel and past Arthur’s Seat to the finish point at The Mound.