Hi all - I don't know the routes around Alnwick and I am looking for local knowledge/ advice.
My family of self, hubby and 2 boys (age 9 and 11) are going to Alnwick for a week's holiday, by train. I have just discovered that we can take 4 bikes together on the train if we want! Wow! Hurrah!
Anyway - having been working on the assumption up to now that that would be impossible, I had been thinking about taxis, buses, hire cars etc to get us where we want to go. But I would much rather take the bikes provided we can get around reasonably well.
I am a bit cagey when travelling by bike with the children - they are excellent cyclists for their age both on and off road as far as control of the bike goes, but I don't especially want to expose them to a lot of traffic. We have done the odd national cycle route on-road and it's been fine. I don't want this to be a long-distance touring holiday for them, just use the bike to get around.
I have been Googling like a demon today and have found out a lot, but am hoping that someone with local knowledge will be able to fill in the remaining blanks for me:
1. Alnmouth Station to Alnwick - on the map there looks to be a quietish route heading south-west from the station and then northwest ish a couple of miles later. But it joins up with the A1068 and goes under the A1 on the outskirts of Alnwick. What I want to know is - is there a pavement at that point so we can get off and walk? And am I right about its being a quiet route up to that point?
2. As an alternative, there is (apparently) a river walk from Alnmouth to Alnwick, around 4 miles. Takes in some muddy field paths. Can anyone tell me if that is suitable for bikes (even if we have to get off and walk at some bits)? We are a bit spoiled in Scotland as bikes are allowed more or less anywhere a walker could go. But if some bits of this path are out of bounds to bikes, or if there are steps/ stiles etc, it would be useful to know.
3. Alnwick to Cragside (national trust property near Rothbury) - any quiet routes? We are used to detours!
4. Anything you'd recommend in the area for 2 rascals (with/ without bikes)? They seem strangely unenthused by Alnwick Castle Gardens and the book store ...
And - if you got this far - thanks for reading, hope you can help.
My family of self, hubby and 2 boys (age 9 and 11) are going to Alnwick for a week's holiday, by train. I have just discovered that we can take 4 bikes together on the train if we want! Wow! Hurrah!
Anyway - having been working on the assumption up to now that that would be impossible, I had been thinking about taxis, buses, hire cars etc to get us where we want to go. But I would much rather take the bikes provided we can get around reasonably well.
I am a bit cagey when travelling by bike with the children - they are excellent cyclists for their age both on and off road as far as control of the bike goes, but I don't especially want to expose them to a lot of traffic. We have done the odd national cycle route on-road and it's been fine. I don't want this to be a long-distance touring holiday for them, just use the bike to get around.
I have been Googling like a demon today and have found out a lot, but am hoping that someone with local knowledge will be able to fill in the remaining blanks for me:
1. Alnmouth Station to Alnwick - on the map there looks to be a quietish route heading south-west from the station and then northwest ish a couple of miles later. But it joins up with the A1068 and goes under the A1 on the outskirts of Alnwick. What I want to know is - is there a pavement at that point so we can get off and walk? And am I right about its being a quiet route up to that point?
2. As an alternative, there is (apparently) a river walk from Alnmouth to Alnwick, around 4 miles. Takes in some muddy field paths. Can anyone tell me if that is suitable for bikes (even if we have to get off and walk at some bits)? We are a bit spoiled in Scotland as bikes are allowed more or less anywhere a walker could go. But if some bits of this path are out of bounds to bikes, or if there are steps/ stiles etc, it would be useful to know.
3. Alnwick to Cragside (national trust property near Rothbury) - any quiet routes? We are used to detours!
4. Anything you'd recommend in the area for 2 rascals (with/ without bikes)? They seem strangely unenthused by Alnwick Castle Gardens and the book store ...
And - if you got this far - thanks for reading, hope you can help.
