I'm trying to plan out a route in northern Northumberland, part of which will be from Coldstream (yes I know this is in Scotland) to Wooler and then to Rothbury. The obvious way to do this is alond the A697. I was wondering if anyone out there has cycled along this road. Is it OK? I don't mind a bit of traffic but I'm worried that it will be a bit too busy for comfort - or does most of the heavy traffic use the A1 or the A68? Would it make sense to drop west of Rothbury on the minor roads?
Coldstream to Wooler and Rothbury
- Thread starter fimm
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By national standards A697 is not busy but it's the only main road so expect fast traffic every few seconds. However overtaking doesnt seem to be a problem.
From Coldstream head for Mindrum and B6351. You have to ride a section of A697 before Wooler so you'll be able to judge whether or not it's a road for you. If not you can pick up NCN 68/6 in Wooler - it's well signed and virtually deserted apart from other cyclists. Last bit to Rothbury is up to you and lumpy (another reason for not using A697?).
From Coldstream head for Mindrum and B6351. You have to ride a section of A697 before Wooler so you'll be able to judge whether or not it's a road for you. If not you can pick up NCN 68/6 in Wooler - it's well signed and virtually deserted apart from other cyclists. Last bit to Rothbury is up to you and lumpy (another reason for not using A697?).
agreed. The A697 carries a lot of traffic - by the standards of that part of the world, which is to say not very much at all by comparison with roads in Surrey or Berkshire. Be that as it may, my guess is that it contributes more than 50% of the traffic north of the junction with the A68, and it takes a fair few articulated trucks which can be a bit intimidating when there's a crosswind.
I've had a look at Google maps and the OS map at StreetMap and I see your B6351 route, thank you for that. The NCN68/6 looks like it uses some roads coloured white on the OS map - ie "other road, track or path" (IIRC) - my current plan is to use my TT bike (there is a good reason for this) so I really need tarmac! Are these sections more like Landrover tracks or are they very minor roads, do you know?
Thank you.
I have no experience of cycling the roads of southern England, so I guess by my standards it is going to be quite busy. Hmmm.
(The alternative is to go down the A68 rather than go round to the east - but that would be busy all the way, rather than just busy for a section...)
The A68 is a completely different proposition to the A697, or, indeed, any road that I have ever cycled on. It is the work of some demented Roman engineer, going up and down, up and down until you lose sense of what is up and what is down. For that reason I'll be taking The Fridays LEJoG along it..........
I rode the B6341 Alnwick-Rothbury last June, and it's not a route I'd choose again. Traffic can see you very clearly, but its long straight stretches are a gift to idiot drivers, and I have never seen so much roadkill (although the worst bit for that was east of the A697). Long, straight uphill drags galore as well...
The A68 is a completely different proposition to the A697, or, indeed, any road that I have ever cycled on. It is the work of some demented Roman engineer, going up and down, up and down until you lose sense of what is up and what is down. For that reason I'll be taking The Fridays LEJoG along it..........
Aha, you decided to go that way! Fortunately I would go off down the A696 before the really demented bit of the A68 starts...
The primary requirement is 100+ miles on the TT bike as training for something else. The scope creep is attempting to cycle from my home in Edinburgh to my parent's place north of Newcastle. (Logistics of clothes etc work.) It might make more sense to do the latter on my road bike some other time.
theloafer
Legendary Member
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hi
this might be of use to you mate... http://www.cyclestreets.net/
this might be of use to you mate... http://www.cyclestreets.net/
neilupnorth
New Member
I regulary use the A697 as a TT training road, you'll belt down to Morpeth from Coldstream, you will get lorries but they are generally pretty okay. I really wouldn't use another road down this way on a TT bike for any serious distance work.
Ah, Reiver, excellent, I was hoping you would show up! 
Thank you for the information and routes.
That first link looks good. You did get the bit about a Time Trial bike? - at a quick glance I think they are all proper roads. I will check properly later, I'm at work and just wanted to reply.
What are your thoughts on cycling on the A68/A696 in general?
Thank you for the information and routes.That first link looks good. You did get the bit about a Time Trial bike? - at a quick glance I think they are all proper roads. I will check properly later, I'm at work and just wanted to reply.
What are your thoughts on cycling on the A68/A696 in general?
graham56
Legendary Member
From Cornhill head to Millfield via Flodden. Cross the 697 and make your way to Doddington, turn right onto the B6525 toward Wooler, turn left and head for Weetwood Hall.From here make your way towards Old Bewick and then Bewick.Next make for Beanley and drop down to Powburn crossing the 697 again.
From Powburn head for Glanton, Whittingham - that's pronounced Whittingjam- through Callaly, Lorbottle and then to Thropton. Turn left onto the B6341 to Rothbury. This will keep you off the main roads. By the way the 68 & 696 are as bad as the 697.Keep off them where possible.
Hope this helps.
Well, I have to confess that after 5 hours and 110km into a stiff headwind 
I bailed out at Wooler when my support car (aka boyfriend) turned up. 
I found the Coldstream - Wooler section OK - the was on Saturday so there would be less commercial traffic, and the couple of larger vehicles that did arrive behind me sat back patiently until they were able to pass (I found a stopping point as soon as I could). I still have designs on doing the whole thing sometime.
Thanks once again to all for the advice.
I bailed out at Wooler when my support car (aka boyfriend) turned up. I found the Coldstream - Wooler section OK - the was on Saturday so there would be less commercial traffic, and the couple of larger vehicles that did arrive behind me sat back patiently until they were able to pass (I found a stopping point as soon as I could). I still have designs on doing the whole thing sometime.
Thanks once again to all for the advice.