Trip Highlights

  • The Sandstone Way is a 193km (120 mile) mountain biking route that runs along the Sandstone Ridge in North Numberland, UK.

    You can choose to begin your ride in Berwick-upon-Tweed and head south towards Hexham or reverse the route and head north. Both offer amazing views, ever-changing landscapes and natural beauty. We recommend riding the route south to take advantage of the hills but it's completely up to you.

    The route has been designed for mountain bikers, using a mix of existing Public Rights of Way, Unclassified County Roads, and a few quiet roads.

    Enjoy this adventure on one of our e-Bikes and we can drop it off and collect it for you. We'll also send you route guides and downloadable GPX files to map your route for you.

  • Duration
    3 Days Riding

    Grade
    Challenging

    Start | Finish
    Berwick-Upon-Tweed, UK | Hexham, UK

    Distance
    192km Approx

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Suggested Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrival

Your arrival point completely depends on which way you would prefer to complete the Sandstone Way. Our recommendation is to head to Hexham, leave your car there, and then transfer to Berwick-Upon-Tweed on the morning of Day 2.

Day 2 | Berwick to Wooler (56km approx)

Start the day with a transfer from Hexham to Berwick and the official starting point of the Sandstone Way. If you're hiring bikes with us you will collect them here.

The ride begins with a scenic pedal down the Northumberland coast with picture-worthy views over Lindisfarne (also known as Holy Island). The route then begins to head inland towards the moorland of Northumberland. Farm tracks and quiet roads pass through small villages that are perfect for finding a local pub for some lunch. Arrive into Wooler for a relaxed evening sampling the local area.

Day 3 | Wooler to Rothbury (60km approx)

Day 3 takes you right into the heart of Northumberland's wilderness with open moorland, singletrack and some hill climbs and descents to keep you on your toes.

Pass through the Breamish Valley and take on Wether Hill, a tough little climb, but a great descent on the other side more than makes up for it.

As you continue along the route you pass through small villages and hamlets before heading east on some great technical woodland track, down to the town of Rothbury and your overnight stay.

Day 4 | Rothbury to Hexham (79km approx)

Make sure to take in a good breakfast today ahead of what will be a long and challenging ride.

The morning starts with a climb up Simonside Hills (the largest climb on the route) before heading into Harwood Forest. Tricky farm track and a cruise along the River Rede take you to West Woodburn where your next steps are determined by the weather.

From here choose to climb over Highstead Hill (if conditions allow) or take the lower road into Bellingham - the perfect place for a pitstop.

After leaving Bellingham you head past Kielder Forest Park and Northumberland National Park before negotiating bridelways, stream crossings and a few more climbs for good measure.

The final descent into Hexham passes over Hadrians Wall and marks a tough, but rewarding, day in the saddle. Your ride ends here but you can tag on an extra night in Hexham if you wish.

Suggested Accommodation

Check out our recommended accommodation options. All vetted by ourselves and our customers.

Hexham, Northumberland

The County Hotel

A friendly, welcoming English pub set right in the heart of Hexham.

Check It Out

Rothbury, Northumberland

The Turks Head

Another friendly, welcoming English pub offering great comfort food and comfy beds. It's a great place to spend the night after a tough first day on the bike.

Check It Out

Wooler, Northumberland

Arlington House Hotel

We love a good apartment when on our biking adventures and this spot in Wooler is a great find. Accommodation is few and far between here so grab this place if you can!

Check It Out

Some more useful info

Biking Info

Bike Type
In general we recommend a mountain bike due to plenty of off-road sections on this route. Gravel bikes may be able to complete the route at a push - but we wouldn't recommend it.

Bike Hire
We have an excellent range of bikes available to hire for this adventure. Check out the range here.

Packing

Clothing
We recommend padded cycling shorts and a comfortable top for all of our rides. Remember light waterproofs may be needed at any time of year, and a warm fleece or jacket is recommended for cooler days/evenings. Other items you may find useful are cycle gloves and a gel seat cover. Bike helmets are required at all times on our biking adventures. 

Out partners at Layer offer a great range of sports and casual apparel. Check them our here.

Footwear
If you do not use cleated cycle shoes we recommend you try to bring stiff-soled shoes as they provide better support for cycling. Comfortable footwear is useful when not on the bike. 

Equipment
A daypack or panniers are recommended. We also advise you to bring a reusable water bottle or alternative water delivery pack (Camelback etc.), cycle glasses, puncture repair kits and spare inner tubes. Sun cream may also be required. 

Nutrition and Hydration
It is important to stay well hydrated. Tap water is fine to drink but there won't be many places to refill on the rides. We also encourage you to travel with sufficient food and snacks. A lot of the rides are in remote areas meaning shops will be few and far between.

Travel and Transfers

By Car
We recommend parking in Hexham and travelling to Berwick-upon-Tweed via transfer on the morning of Day 2. We can recommend places for you to park.

By Train
Both Hexham and Berwick are easily accessible by train.

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The Sandstone Way

The Sandstone Way

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