06/22/2005

Coast & Castles Cycle Route

Coast and Castles by Cycle
The 200 mile Coast & Castles Cycle Route links the Forth and Tyne estuaries, taking in some of Britain's best built and natural heritage. Cycle this hiostoric route with the aid of the new Coast & Castles Cycle Route map, published by Sustrans, the UK's leading sustainable transport charity.

What better way to spend sunny summer days than by exploring your local countryside, on your bike, with friends and family?

Starting in Newcastle, the cycle route passes Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site, unspoiled coastline and beautiful Tweed Valley towns, before reaching Edinburgh, Scotland's capital. The updated map includes new National Cycle Network routes built since 2000, including improvements in the Gateshead and Dalkeith areas and proposed routes to be built over the next few years.

Some suggestions for family day rides on the route are:
Gateshead to Whitley Bay: this largely traffic-free, 13 mile long route passes a wealth of attractions including the spectacular Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Bede's World Museum, Arbeia Roman Fort & Museum and the Blue Reef Aquarium.

Bamburgh to Lindisfarne: this 20 mile, Castle to Castle route follows minor roads from Bamburgh Castle (billed as the finest castle in England), through the village of Belford and on across the causeway to Holy Island where the romantic 16th Century Lindisfarne Castle sits.

Edinburgh to Musselburgh: this 8 mile route from Edinburgh Castle, past Arthur's Seat and along the Innocent Railway Path into the attractive historic town of Musselburgh.

The Coast & Castles Cycle Route map is available from independent bike shops, branches of Halfords, select bookshops and from Sustrans online shop www.sustrans.org.uk or by calling 0845 113 0065. The map is full-colour, printed on waterproof paper and costs £5.99 + p&p.

Further information about Sustrans, including other detailed online route mapping, is available through the website:
www.sustrans.org.uk