Brompton bikepacking - my toughest tour yet. Northumberland coast and castles

I'm off on a bikepacking tour along the Northumberland Coast on my Brompton folding bike. My goal is to find at least four castles along the way.
It's my toughest cycling tour, a 140-km journey over three days and two nights along country roads, coast paths, and National Cycle Route One.
Despite the challenging weather and constant battle against headwinds, the experience of exploring Northumberland, a place I had never been to before, was incredible.
If you came across my adventure film, thank you for watching it. Part 2 will be coming soon!
In Part 1, I visited:
Morpeth, Cresswell, Amble, Warkworth, Shilbottle, Alnwick, Dunstan, Craster and Dunstanburgh Castle.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:04 Leaving Morpeth on the outskirts of Newcastle
02:00 Route map and plan
2:19 Trouble on a path in a woodland
3:49 Turning around and heading back on the actual road
5:24 Arriving at Warkworth
5:42 Heading to camp
6:04 Arriving at the first campsite
7:06 Pitching my new tent
7:39 Dinner time and tent tour
09:01 Plan for day two
10:02 On the country lanes to Alnwick
11:02 Arriving at Alnwick
11:38 On the road to Dunstanburgh
12:15 Dunstanburgh Castle
12:53 Part 2 preview

[@shauncollins4291]

Awesome video.

[@johalford708]

Great video - will watch more

[@darinjgraham]

Thank you, I’ll post the next part very soon.

[@mt1256]

Loved your Video. Inspired me to do a similar trip. Thankyou

[@darinjgraham]

Let me know how it goes!

[@karenfry421]

I did the 'Coast and Castles' route last September as my first Brompton cycle tour - similar but different to your route, lots less off-road. I stayed at Walkmill Campsite too - lovely.

[@darinjgraham]

Oh isn’t it just the nicest little camp site? I loved everything from the lanes to get to the farm, the cycle down to the gate (apart from falling through the cattle grid) and the caravan with the fresh fruit, charging station and other goodies

[@zoid88]

Great video, that path along the river by Morpeth is pretty interesting. Probably for the better you took the road as the climbs at the other end are brutal. I've been planning a trip going the other way from Berwick back to Newcastle, was going to smash it out in a day but now might make a weekend of it and camp half way.

[@darinjgraham]

The whole thing was so varied. Lots of great paths and cycle lanes. The Morpeth path was beautiful but I just had to turn back mainly because of all the luggage on the back. Just thought there was no point wearing myself out for the hours of cycling ahead.

[@ssmaman-sx2ft]

That fire coral is a cracking colour - lovely video - look forward to more castle-themed tours. Cheers and happy cycling!

[@darinjgraham]

Thank you. Love the fire coral too. I think I might go and have a look at Arundel Castle next!

[@gordonmculloch4904]

Great video. The Brompton wheels are too small for the cattle grid. The wheels only have to be at a slight angle to the grid when you start to go over it and you'll come off. Better to dismount and walk over them. Hopefully, you weren't injured. Ps out of interest, can you store your Brompton in the tent vestibule?

[@darinjgraham]

I learned my lesson and walked over all the other cattle grids I encountered lol. Yeah it fits in there quite nicely. If I tuck it in it doesn’t interfere with the tent material which I was worried about in case a Brompton part tore through it or something in the wind. When I close the tent I have the Brompton in one vestibule which also has a dry zone for my helmet etc. Then the other vestibule is free for cooking stuff/food etc.

[@damedavidfrith55]

Loved it ❤,how do you plan your routes 😊

[@darinjgraham]

hi! I just pick locations I have never really seen or know much about and use google and OS maps to plan routes. Then I estimate how long it will take me and divide it up to around 40km per day. Then I try and find camping locations on the route and book them! I loved the campsite near Warkworth in this video. I have planned a new bikepacking trip based on shipwrecks around the UK plus a nice Pembrokeshire trip.