When I (we) commence this bike ride I often refer to it as the Pigeon ride.

Let me explain, imagine it is a lovely sunny day and what you would like most in the world is to sit in the sun eating corn with an occasional peck from the missus. Then some bloke grabs you sticks you in a crate drives you hundreds of miles away and tells you to fly home. What speeds you on your return journey is that memory of the sunny day, corn etc and possibly the missus.

Well opposite the car park is the pub (Big Lamp Brewery) who brew their own beer and prepare delicious pub grub. Enough said.

History Lesson- Newburn

The Percy family of Northumberland acquired Newburn in 1367. It comprised a dovecote, two watermills, a brewery, a salmon fishery, a coalmine and a stone quarry for stone slates. By 1613 all the local woods had been used for pit props in the local mines.

1640 was the date of the famous Battle of Newburn when the Scottish army, under General Leslie, defeated the English army and laid siege to Newcastle which he later occupied for a whole year.

Newburn was always an important crossing point on the River Tyne because its' fords provided river crossings at the tidal limit.

Romans, Saxons, Scots and English used these fords.

This is one of my favourite rides as it offers several different routes and alternatives dependent on the weather, fitness and time.

As always I encourage you to plan your own route dependent upon afore mentioned circumstances but this is my suggestion which I find enjoyable.

Leaving the car park you head away from the centre back towards Newburn Bridge as you are to cross over and then follow the river on the south side. There is a track to your right through bushes leading you out on to the bridge.

Once over the bridge and on the track just peddle and enjoy the river, there is usually quite a lot going on with the rowing club nearby and after a mile or so you pass to the side of Ryton golf club.

Ryton is an interesting challenge for the golfer being bordered by the Newcastle Carlise Rail on one side and the Tyne on the other. In my experience, golfers there tend to be bad tempered and of a nervous disposition, so please no comments or sniggering as another ball disappears into the Tyne especially as you may be in their direct line of fire.

Passing the golf course it is a short journey to Wylam where you must cross the bridge and exit right into the public car park where you join up with the Hadrians Way and head up the Tyne to Prudhoe.

Warning as you are about to cross the bridge you will notice on your left the Boathouse which announces it is arguably the best pub in the world. At this point I would suggest you tear yourself away but do plan to revisit as I have never experienced a finer array of real ales anywhere but do tread carefully.

There are several shops in Wylam if you require further provision otherwise carry on along the old railway line crossing the small replica Tyne bridge. I don't know a lot about bridges except that old chestnut "Which is the only town in the world with the same bridges as Newcastle" (you are supposed to say Sydney)- no the answer is Gateshead.

A little pull up to Hag Bank and turn right racing down the hill and into a lovely parkland setting. I should at this stage encourage you to pause and take in the surroundings.

What we forget to recognise is quite how wonderful our countryside is and how fortunate we are (for several months of the year at least) to be able to enjoy the opportunity to just get out there and breathe.

My work required me to travel to most parts of the UK and I came to recognise that we live in a truly beautiful and varied country if only you could get out there and explore.

The car is a great tool to relocate you to another part of the country but it often requires an inner strength to tear you from its interior.

My wife is a great one for reminding me to stop and look around and absorb the countryside, usually half way up a hill.

Setting of on our way to Prudhoe there are several such stopping places that may take your fancy and indeed as we approach Prudhoe Bridge there are conveniently placed park benches which I usually take advantage of.

This is the end of the old railway track and the beginning of usually quite tarmac roads but as usual with all roads there are occasional plonkers in cars so take care.

Crossing Prudhoe bridge can be fun I refuse to get off and push over the separate pedestrian way but prefer to wait for my turn as this is a single track, "cross when nothing is coming or the traffic gives way" bridge and often results in me peddling like mad to keep up with the car in front. My wife however gladly takes the opportunity to get of her bike and push and depending on the traffic occasionally arrives first with that look on her face that all women are capable of when men act foolishly.

This is a well signposted route being part of the Hadrian's Wall trail so turn left and follow the signs.

I didn't want to mention to early on as it might disincentivise you but this is an out and back ride and you can at any time simply turn around if you feel you have done enough, however the roads through to Bywell and beyond, run alongside the river and are fairly flat ish.

Bywell is a strange place. There is no village, yet two churches right next to each other! It sits at the boundary of two Norman baronies. St. Peter's was actually the church of Bywell where the castle and Bywell Hall remain. St. Andrew's served the now non-existent community of Styford.

There are two historic buildings of note in this attractive village. The first is Bywell Castle, built by Ralph Mortimer in about 1430. All that remains of the castle is an impressive fortified gatehouse. The other building is the 18th century manor of Bywell Hall, built around 1760 by William Fenwick, son of the High Sheriff of Northumberland. The Hall is in private hands and is not generally open to the public.

Can I suggest you detour to visit the churches and take up the opportunity to explore St Peter's (once inside you will find a wonderful A4 leaflet on what you may encounter). Also if you time it right in the summer you may encounter the junior horse trials as I did last year.

I was able to watch from the road as tiny children jumped huge horses over 2 foot fences and I couldn't help marvel at the skill and enormous courage it must take.
All with the added benefit of a quick snack from a handily placed burger van right next to the road, a perfect stop over.

Again follow the river and begin your ascent to Corbridge this is the hill climb part of the route but remember what goes up must come down and subsequently becomes the easy part on the way back.

This is a good test of your fitness, if you can ride all the way up to the road into Corbridge you have done well and if not then can use it as a gauge for next time.

Sorry forgot to mention that this is a well used route for all levels of cyclist and very often they will sneak up behind you before racing past. I don't mind when they approach as I can spot them and pick up my speed temporarily and nod as if I belong to the club before slowing down again and commencing my heavy breathing.

You have a choice to make now you have reached the junction, left to Corbridge and the shops or right to Brockbushes fruit picking farm and its café and produce store.
Your choice and my only advice is that Brockbushes is a lot closer.

However if you do venture into Corbridge you will be surprised as to the opportunity to spend a couple of hours. There are exceptional shops, good pubs and a Roman site which is well worth a visit with a great picnic area.

History Lesson- Corbridge

Corbridge has a long history, recorded from early times. The Romans created a town and administrative centre here, called Corstopitum. The Roman road known as Watling Street passes through the parish. Corstopitum was known as a centre where the surrounding British people lived and worked much as they had before the Romans came. There are only three fortified vicarages in the county, and one of these is at Corbridge.

Corbridge suffered, as did many other settlements in the county, from the border warfare which was particularly prevalent between 1300 and 1700. Raids were commonplace, and it was not unusual for the livestock to be brought into the town at night and a watch placed to guard either end of the street for marauders. The bridge over the Tyne at Corbridge dates from the thirteenth century, but has not survived. The present bridge was erected in 1674, an impressive stone structure with 7 arches.

The Pigeon returns

I can guarantee you will be at least 10 minutes quicker on the return journey just by thinking of the pub and fine beer (and mostly down hill which helps)

We are to return the same way to Wylam and then continue on the old rail track to Newburn via George Stephenson's cottage.

This quaint small stone cottage was built circa 1760 to accommodate mining families. The furnishings reflect the year the great rail pioneer, George Stephenson was born here (1781), when his whole family lived in the one room.

Continue past Close House Golf complex (great course) until reaching your destination. I trust you have enjoyed your expedition and hope I have not put you off from revisiting this site as I add additional routes for the "average cyclist"