Hadrian's Cycle Way - Ravenglass to South Shields

In October 2018 I rode the 174 mile Hadrian's Cycle Way, Sustrans Route 72, from Ravenglass to South Shields. Coast to Coast the Roman way.
It was an easy ride apart from a few hills in the middle, and is the least hilly of the Coast to Coast routes.
I took 5 days, but on reflection it would have been better over just 4 days.
Incidental music is from Bensound.com www.bensound.com

[@marcusjamson5396]

Thank you so much for posting this including the extra places visited. Lovely.

[@jscal2007]

Glad you liked it.

[@AptisTutor]

"Low level waste depository...Should I be worried?" - and then cut to Wind in the Willows characters. SO funny John 😀Thanks a lot for taking the time to upload/share...very informative!

[@jscal2007]

Glad you liked it.

[@MichaelHenderson1948]

Thank you for your excellent video. I did the C2C route south of this one, but that was 20 years ago. This route looks very interesting, and enjoyable.

[@pootlingalong8928]

What a lovely unhurried and enjoyable account of this journey! I did like the view from the handlebars and your interesting commentary, it has made me put the ride on my “to do” list of cycle rides. Thank you for sharing 🙂

[@jscal2007]

Glad you liked it.

[@julieamos7975]

Hi from Dallas Texas just wanted to say we loved your video hope to try this ride when the world is back to normal . Thanks for taking me on your journey.. julie and dan

[@jscal2007]

Glad you liked it.

[@garyforster9829]

Inspirational mate. The fact you did all this by yourself is tremendous. I’ve been wanting to do a ride like that for years but didn’t have the guts to do anything about it. I’m going to do it now!!

[@jscal2007]

Glad you liked it. I've done a few rides like this, sometimes with company, sometimes alone. Doing it alone allows you to pick your own pace and stop when you want to.

[@guzz1jon]

Thankyou, I really enjoyed your video. I've just started to cycle regularly (at the age of 67) and now feel inspired to do more. Incidentally, Vindolanda is well worth the entrance fee, especially if you have any interest at all in Roman history; The 'finds' on display are outstanding.

[@jscal2007]

Glad you liked it. You are never too old to start cycling, or cycle more. I was 71 when I did this trip, and for me cycling is a way of keeping fit and having a bit of an adventure at the same time.

[@markwoods6342]

Never to old for touring. Just plan for enjoyment. It's all about the fun.

[@richyf8122]

Just doing a bit of research in order to do some trips with my other half. Have to say that your video is the best I've watched, thank you for putting it on. I have it in my head to get something organised for this coming September now

[@jscal2007]

Glad you liked it, and hope you get to do it.

[@amandafeatherstone6372]

John, this is a great and really helpful video. We are planning to do this cycle trip at the end of May in the exact same stages as you. Accommodation all booked , we're very excited about it.

[@jscal2007]

Glad you liked it. Hope you get good weather.

[@markwoods6342]

Would love to hear your journey as well

[@lonlongeorge]

Thank you, this was very informative. Your commentary includes directions, which is very helpful. I will use this as reference when I plan my trip. Thank you!

[@jscal2007]

Glad you enjoyed it, and hope you have a great ride when you do it.

[@marionmcnee8759]

I really enjoyed your video. It looks like a fantastic journey- well done :-)

[@jscal2007]

Glad you liked it.

[@davesanderson707]

Great ride John very informative well done.

[@jscal2007]

Thank you. Glad you liked it.

[@douglasensor8985]

Thanks John for an informative and entertaining video. My wife and I are going to ride this route in May 2020!

[@jscal2007]

You're welcome. Enjoy the ride.

[@Tomanart]

Great video, you have a nice easy to watch and listen to style John, well done on a great effort, I have just liked and subscribed, best wishes, tom

[@jscal2007]

Hi Tom, thanks for your lovely comments. Glad you liked the video.

[@Dadssoccerschool]

Great video. Well done!

[@jscal2007]

Thank you. Glad you liked it.

[@banksarenotyourfriends]

Thanks for making and uploading this. I live about halfway along your route and it was nice to see and hear the places I've known so long through someone else's viewpoint - it helps gives a fresh appreciation for what I've got around me :) I think I'll give the Whitehaven to Newcastle stretch a go after watching this (probably in a tent given current events). Thanks for the inspiration :)

[@jscal2007]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@briandonkin2829]

Excellent helpful video Best wishes for any future rides Brian

[@jscal2007]

Hi Brian, glad you liked it. Hopefully, Coast & Castles this year.

[@aldockmusic9422]

Just. Watched the video that randomly came up on my KZbin it’s inspired me to do the coast to coast now thankyou !

[@jscal2007]

Glad you liked it. Let's hope we are given the freedom this summer to holiday again.

[@aldockmusic9422]

@@jscal2007 yep let’s hope had a look at the Whitehaven to tynemouth aswell that route looks really good with a few sights to take in along the way I’m thinking of just camping out over 3 days to complete if I can predict the weather that is haha

[@hedleywilliams392]

Thanks for the tour, my family are planning on walking the wall next year and I'm going to cycle circles around them. This is just the insight I'm looking for.

[@jscal2007]

Hope you enjoy the ride. I met people who were walking the route too, though just the bit from Wallsend to Bowness on Solway.

[@markl2815]

Enjoyed that. Thanks mate from SW France

[@jscal2007]

Glad you liked it. We have family in Carcassonne. Hope to be there as soon as covid allows.

[@markl2815]

@@jscal2007 know it well. We are up on the Lot but go that way fairly regularly in normal times. Take care and enjoy it when you get here.

[@cyclingdry]

Just watched this. A fantastic account of your ride, John 👍

[@jscal2007]

Thank you. Glad you liked it.

[@antoniacomrie9983]

Thank-you for this. I'm planning this trip for June this year and your video was helpful and informative.

[@jscal2007]

It's a nice ride. Hope you enjoy it.

[@slydawgg]

Great vid for info….its a ride im looking at doing soon so really encouraging thank you.

[@jscal2007]

Glad you liked it.

[@derekskinner6255]

Thank you for sharing this - an inspiration to get out and ride. A good video.

[@jscal2007]

Let's all hope lock down will end soon and we can all get out and enjoy rides like this again.

[@Caroline604]

That was lovely. Thanks John. It was very informative. I think this is a better 'coast to coast' option than the c2c route.

[@jscal2007]

Thanks Caroline. I chose it because it looked the least hilly to me!!

[@robchapman6526]

Excellent, really enjoyed this trip - inspirational !

[@jscal2007]

Really glad you liked it.

[@davidearl4022]

Thanks for this. Looks very amenable for cycling.

[@jscal2007]

Thank you Dan. It is, in the main, an easy route.

[@stevencowles8419]

Fantastic, fancy doing this myself, I live in Whitehaven so have done the local bits but not beyond

[@jscal2007]

Do it. You'll enjoy it.

[@criptiphelper1971]

Great video my friend, I really enjoyed it thank you 🙏

[@jscal2007]

Thank you. Glad you liked it.

[@davecalvert6803]

Hi Fella. I stumbled across this video looking for C2C bike routes as I'm getting back into it after a few years out of the saddle. I've done the Sunderland to Whitehaven route, but this looks interesting. My pops was called John too, from one Calvert to another, thanks for this video.

[@jscal2007]

Hi Dave, I chose this route because it looked like least hilly option. Could be a good choice if you're getting back to cycling.

[@Baddawgable]

Very enjoyable. Thanks for posting.

[@jscal2007]

Glad you liked it.

[@johntaylor6754]

Great video man .

[@jscal2007]

Thank you.

[@themoodyteam]

You forgot to mention that Haltwhistle claims to be the centre of the UK! 😃 (Apparently it depends how you hold your tape measure 😂)

[@jscal2007]

I did not know that. You learn something new every day :-)

[@stepheneurosailor1623]

I enjoyed your trip.

[@jscal2007]

Thank you. Glad you liked it.

[@ryanparker4996]

There is a pedestrian tunnel under the tyne somewhere, Im not sure where it is in relation to the traffic tunnel but its there, a ferry trip is not necessary (unless you really really like boats, which is fine)

[@jscal2007]

Ryan, you are absolutely right about the pedestrian tunnel. I couldn't use it at the time as it was being refurbished, but a great alternative.

[@vintage1947Cyclists]

The Pedestrian / Cycle tunnel is shortly after (ie East of) the Hadrians cycleway Arch shown in the video, at about 16:34. The refurbishment is still not completely finished (July 2022), but, the Tunnel is open for use. Beware, the lifts are frequently out of order, and, it is a very long flight of steps (actually a stationary escalator) to carry a heavily laden bicycle down (or, worse still, up!). The Pedestrian Tunnel is signposted, and, on the South side of the Tyne, at Jarrow, there is a cyclable route to South Shields (some dedicated Cycle Route, some on road). Excellent video by the way.

[@davelewis7941]

Hoping to do this Sat :). Well, start Sat, then a few more days...

[@jscal2007]

Hope you get good weather. Enjoy the ride.

[@davelewis7941]

@@jscal2007 Yeh it was great :) New book that you or your followers might be interested in :) amzn.to/2KK0oRV Cheers Dave Lewis Roman Holiday ‘Ah! Gentle, fleeting, wav’ring sprite, Friend and associate of this clay!’ - Hadrian Trust me to want to cycle backwards. Especially as on my last two ‘big’ trips I’d managed to go with the wind. And of course if you read any UK cycling guidebooks or websites they will all tell you to go west to east or south to north. If you’re looking at Land’s End to John o’ Groats (LEJOG) cycle uphill (north) and if you’re going to do the Coast to Coast / Sea to Sea (C2C) route across northern England then go east young man! The hill gradients are easier and the prevailing winds ease your passage. Bugger. It was my own fault of course. After the success of setting up the ‘Wales Trails’ route, where I’d designed the snazzy website - www.wales-trails.co.uk, enjoyed the very modest but pleasing book sales, raised over £500 for Prostate Cancer Wales and hopefully put the land of my father on the world cycling map I had the bug again. The cycling bug I mean, not my old friend double pneumonia, which was never far away either. I’d always wanted to ride across the north of England, especially the scenic Lake District, Celtic Cumbria and perhaps do the famous C2C route. It was, after all, the most popular long-ish distance, cycle ride in the UK. Not as famous as LEJOG but it was up there. The problem was, whilst looking at the map, I’d also discovered the Hadrian’s Cycleway. This is a route that roughly follows the old Roman wall built by Emperor Hadrian. Well, when I say ‘built by’ I doubt whether the old guy actually laid any of the bricks himself and he died before it was completed anyway. In fact three legions of infantrymen took around six years to complete the construction. Each legion was around 5,000 men strong and extra manpower was provided by conquered tribes. I think we call them slaves nowadays. Anyway, now I wanted to do two rides. The C2C and the Hadrian’s Cycleway. OK, first problem. Both routes should really be cycled west to east for the reasons given earlier but I wasn’t sure I’d have the time to do two separate rides that were so far from my home town in Pontypridd, south Wales. Right, easy solution, I’ll combine them and do both. And so yet another silly plan was born. I’d make it a loop and embrace the Buddhist doctrine of doing stuff in a clockwise direction. I’d start one end and cycle around Cumbria and Northumberland, taking in some great Roman towns, see a bit of the famous wall, have a ‘Newky Brown’ in Newcastle, see the river and iconic bridge (designed and built by the same contractors that built the Sydney Harbour Bridge), visit the mouth of the Tyne, tunnel or ferry across (whichever was open / running), pop down to Sunderland, then cross-country, over the Pennines, wind my way through the Lake District, over some horrible hills (or try to avoid them) and down to the beach for a couple of beers while watching ‘Game of Thrones’ or ‘Gladiator’ or some such suitable swords and toga epic on the B&B TV. Probably ‘Carry On Cleo’ with my luck. Not a bad plan I thought and seeing as I’d probably be biking alone again I thought it best to at least look at Google Maps or something before I went up north. Then I stumbled upon more problems. What shall I call this trip / book? Do I wear a centurian’s helmet or a cloth cap that might have been worn by the great poet Wordsworth? Oh dear, too many choices. Then it came to me. I’d call the trip ‘Roman Holiday’. A truly inspired idea I thought, until I looked on Amazon for cycling books called ‘Roman Holiday’. Mmm? None. OK, rethink… Reviews: ‘Dave’s third cycling adventure is another little gem for fans of amateur cycling memoirs. Following on from the success of his LEJOG and Wales Trails books his latest outing charts a week in the north of England where he tackles two iconic cycle routes: Hadrian’s Cycleway and the Sea to Sea (C2C). ‘In true Buddhist fashion Dave cycles clockwise across Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and Durham. Taking in ancient Roman sites, great modern cities and the beauty of the Pennines and Lake District. Once again he makes his journey come alive with witty comments, weird references and superb photographs. ‘If you’re thinking of doing a similar ride then this account will act not just as a guide but also highlight the pitfalls of a lack of planning, reliance on technology and disregard for the power of the British weather. A very funny book.’ - Derek Goode

[@shaunmcewan1474]

Done this in parts took quite a while but enjoyed it .

[@jscal2007]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@jasonridyardhome]

Excellent video John Don’t suppose you have strava or garmin map do you ? Would love to do the ride this summer Thanks

[@jscal2007]

Jason, I don't know if KZbin will allow a link, but the trail can be found on Wikiloc, and can be downloaded, www.wikiloc.com/bicycle-touring-trails/hadrians-cycleway-ravenglass-to-south-shields-national-cycle-route-72-29238336 I also have a GPX file which I could send if you could give me your email address. Regards, John

[@jasonridyardhome]

@@jscal2007Thanks very much John, I've managed to download the GPX from your Wililoc link.

[@100thiswilldo]

Hi John, my partner and I are planning on doing HCW this weekend but we had planned on using our road bikes (23mm tyres), would you say we could get away with road bikes or would larger tyres be better?

[@jscal2007]

I would think road bikes would be fine, as it's nearly all on paved roads.

[@leewilliamson1004]

Hi my friend just watched your amazing video diary and got a question. How was it elevation wise for you, I’m aiming to do it in my standard wheelchair using 1 arm and 1 leg. Any advice would be appreciated.TIA. Lee aka wheely lee 🦽🦽👊

[@jscal2007]

Hi Lee, it's 5 years since I did this ride, so my recollections might not be accurate. I chose this route to do the coast to coast because it was the easiest as far as hills were concerned. Certainly it's pretty flat all the way from Ravenglass until Brampton, when the hills start. Hills weren't too bad on the bike, as I only remember having to get off and push a couple of times. There are some sections though, where you will be on narrow paths with some awkward gates to get through, so you may need to make a few diversions. Can't help much more, but go for it and have a great time. John