Sunday, 1 February 2015

Dragonride 2015 - Northumberland

It was good to see everyone last night and to welcome Jim to the group. Although one or two alternatives were submitted it was quickly agreed that the tour focus this year would be Northumberland and after some discussion a basically triangular loop to/from Newcastle was settled on. This would comprise two nights at Bellingham YH to allow a tour of Kielder Water and two at Wooler for a visit to Holy Island (Lindisfarne). NCN68 runs between Bellingham and Wooler. By good fortune the Lindisfarne causeway opening times are favourable for a late morning arrival/afternoon departure in that week. From Wooler we would return to Newcastle using the "Coasts and Castles" route NCN1 over 2 days. We all agreed to try to find suitable accommodation in the Warkworth/Amble area. The question of the starting date was left open for all to consult diaries/wives etc but would be Sunday May 24th, Monday 25th or Tuesday 26th. An early decision on this would be good to allow maximum time to book the Hostel at Bellingham which has only 15 beds. Responses in the form of comments would be appreciated.


UPDATE Sun 1st February.


Thanks for all the comments which I summarise:


Bellingham for the nights of May 25th and 26th - Shawn to book.


Wooler for the nights of May 27th and 28th - Peter to book.


Warkworth/Amble area for the night of 29th May - Maldwyn to find and book.


Those returning home by train can either take an early evening train from Newcastle on 30th or stay over in Newcastle. All to make their own arrangements for this.
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8 comments:

  1. Jim Ashbourne29 January 2015 at 15:07

    My calendar is surprisingly empty for the last week of May so I am happy with whatever date is chosen.

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  2. sh29 January 2015 at 17:49

    I'll go along with Mon 25 or Sun 24 - whatever the majority wants! Freezing cold train back to Matlock last night - bloody EMT! Conductor said that the auxiliary engine, which apparently drives the heating, wouldn't start up after they cut the engines at Derby. Peter, Martin - is this right? Cheers, Clyde (whatever it may say above)

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  3. swaddywaddy29 January 2015 at 20:47

    I would prefer sunday 24th as the 1st night in Bellingham having hopefully taken a saturday morning train to Carlisle and ridden the Hadrians cycleway to Twice(once?) Brewed Hostel near Haltwistle on the saturday. Vindolanda on the sunday. Martin are you up for it?

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  4. swaddywaddy29 January 2015 at 21:30

    Once Brewed is booked up saturday/sunday nights so I might ride from Carlisle to Bellingham on monday 25th. Its only 42 miles via NCN 72 and 68 so 1st night monday. OK?

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  5. Jim Ashbourne30 January 2015 at 00:42

    Just been looking at the YHA's Terms & Conditions.The following is an extract: Individual Bookings: for Bookings made via the YHA Contact Centre, the YHA Website or at a Youth Hostel, full payment is required when you request a Booking.
    Groups are defined as being an organised official group having a constitution or memorandum and articles; people travelling as an informal group with friends or family are not entitled to Group membership.
    Did you realise full payment was needed in advance?

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  6. BirdyRed30 January 2015 at 17:25

    No Jim, I did not. Well spotted. As far as Bellingham is concerned I still think we need to book asap (we will take up 40% of the available accommodation) whether we have to pay up front or not.

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  7. Jim Ashbourne30 January 2015 at 17:48

    Peter - the snag with booking just one hostel at a time is that you could end up with nowhere to go if by the time you got round to trying to book subsequent nights (hostels and B&Bs) nothing suitable was available. Somehow you need to establish there is availability for ALL nights, then book everything at the same time.
    Being half-term & bank holiday week decreases chances of flexibility in finding accommodation.

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  8. Jim Ashbourne1 February 2015 at 12:32

    Been trying to see what may be possible. Online could book dorms for 6 people at Bellingham YH 26th & 27th then Alnwick YH 28th, 29th, 30th & 31st at total cost of £744. If prefer Wooler then cannot book online; need to phone to check availability.
    Cycle Travel gives Alnwick to Newcastle distance via Coast & Castles route as about 53 miles. If that means arrival in N/C is a bit too late in day then could cut stay at Alnwick to 3 nights, ride 35 or so miles to Whitley Bay where there is a range of accommodation from B&Bs, guest houses to hotels (although the cheapest is already booked up). That leaves an easy 15 miles or less to N/C on morning of Monday 1st June for trains.

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