Reivers route.

[Paulus]

Part of this years plan is to cycle the Sustrans Reivers route. Who else has done it? It looks fairly challenging and I think it would be a good 4 day ride. Am I being realistic and it is a good ride?

 

[vernon]

Not done it myself but several pals have. Four days is a perfectly realistic timescale - my pals did it in four and a half and they are not the speediest of cyclists.

 

[geocycle]

Part of this years plan is to cycle the Sustrans Reivers route. Who else has done it? It looks fairly challenging and I think it would be a good 4 day ride. Am I being realistic and it is a good ride?

It's a very good route if you like forest roads. You can do an all road option but that does miss some of the bits that makes this route special. I did it in three days using B+Bs as part of a 4 day W-E run from Lancaster staying in Eskdale then picking the route up at Whitehaven staying in Hesket Newmarket, and Kielder village before finishing at Newcastle. The Lake District section is beautiful, its on back roads with no really serious climbs by LD standards. The middle section is quite challenging, especially if you take the offroad through Kielder. You then cross the moors around Bellingham and have a pleasant run into Newcastle. I found there was a lot of work going on in the forest and I'd suggest a solid bike. I did it on my heavy duty tourer. Here are a couple of shots of the Kielder section which gives you a flavour.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2161/2370660593_67f4f76203.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2208/2371497700_9a5a3eeecd.jpg