Escape City Life And Explore The North Of England*

*This is a collaborative post*

If you're an avid walker or cyclist then a trip to the North of England could make for the perfect adventure. The North Pennines is a great escape for anyone looking to remove themselves from city life and focus on their own wellbeing. Gaining the title 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' in 1988, the Pennines is one of the greatest landscapes in the UK, so if you haven’t been already – you’re really missing out.

But what makes the ‘mighty Pennines’ worth visiting?

Depending on whether you’re a hiker or a cyclist and what you plan to do there, there will never be a dull moment. With the stunning views that this heritage site provides, you will constantly be pushing yourself to find the most magnificent spot – although this could prove to be difficult as the entire area is breath-taking. 

Although a challenging place at times, this seems to be the core reason as to why people keep returning regularly to head out and achieve more of their goals. The North Pennines is a great place to explore with all it's heather moors, peatlands, dales, meadows, upland rivers and woodland areas.

With the help of Leisure Lakes Bikes, I've got a handy itinerary to help you plan out your stay. So, grab your mountain bikes and hiking boots and make your way to this stunning part of the country to create everlasting memories...

Where to start?

The Wear & Rockhope Valleys is one of the better cycle routes in the North Pennines as it has a bit of everything. From the Burnhope Reservoir to Lintzgarth Arch, the beautiful scenes will encourage you to keep pedalling and complete this trail.

You should consider beginning at the Durham Dales Centre in Stanhope and if you’re staying for the night you might want to book a hotel close by where you can relax after a long bike ride. The Durham Dales Centre is home to a gift shop, craft shop and tea room, giving you the opportunity to have a warm drink before you set off on your journey.

Beginning your journey

Once you’ve got your bike ready and you’re all prepared to leave, exit the Durham Dales Centre and follow the A689 towards Stanhope Town Hall – don’t be tempted to stop at the Stanhope Fish and Chips shop, you need to stay focused. (You can have a chippy tea later for a much deserved treat!)

Continue to follow this road and you will eventually come to a bridge that you need to cross. Proceed in the direction you’re currently going in, before taking your third right and following the road upwards. You will pass Greenfoot Hotel and Greenhead Farm before eventually reaching Rockhope. If you need to have a break in Rockhope, The Rockhope Inn would be the ideal place to stop. It has outdoor seating so you can grab a drink and freshen yourself up.

Once you’ve passed Saint John’s Church, continue forward where you will then reach the town centre. Here, take your second left, following the main road channelling the Rockhope Burn river where you will come to Allenheads. Once you’ve reached Allenheads, a stopping off point would be the Allenheads Inn as it a popular destination for cyclists and hikers alike.

Once you come into Allenheads, take a right and stay on the B6295 road and you will be in Cowshill. In Cowshill, the only place you will be able to stop at will be the Cowshill Hotel. 
Fortunately, they are more than welcoming to cyclists who are stopping by for a well-deserved break. After this visit, follow the road downwards where you will come to the A689 road — remain on this road and continue to Ireshopeburn.

Then you will cycle past St John’s Chapel and Daddry Shield — make sure to stay on Pleasant Road and not divert onto any other route. This area is full of different cafes and pubs, including Chatterbox Café, The Golden Lion and The Blue Bell Inn. You will then reach Brotherlee, where you need to remain on the road that you’re currently on and eventually you will pass Horsley Hall – a country hotel. Continue following this road and you will reach a bridge crossing the River Wear. Take the right onto the B6278 here and you will be back in Stanhope!

To complete your journey, take a right and head back towards the Durham Dales Centre and relax!

How long will it take?

The entire distance to complete this route is 24.36 miles. If you’re completing this at a speed of 10mph, you should complete this in 2 hours, 26 minutes. For those who are a bit quicker, at 13mph you will reach the finish line in 1 hour, 52 minutes.

At 19mph though, you will complete this course in 1 hour and 16 minutes. If you’re going 22mph, however, you will complete this cycle route in just 1 hour and 6 minutes.

Any challenges?

Hills can be a test for some cyclists and depending on the weather conditions, these can become even more challenging. Fortunately, we’ve listed these in advance so that you know what you’re in for:

The Brandon Walls and Hill Top has a height of 1570ft and will take 2 miles to complete.
Rookhope Head has a height of 1745ft and will only take 0.75 miles.
Burtree Fell has a height of 1836ft and will take up 1.8 miles of your journey. 

If you do decide to venture to North of England, my advice would be to prepare adequately. That way you won't be in for any surprises. Above all, take lots of photos and enjoy! 

*This is a guest post edited by GGD

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