Sunday 12th October 2025
Four of us (Colin Mitcheson, Deryck Brown, Ian Mundy and Meesel) departed from Moonbase Asda (if you're old, you know) at 0905 with TeeKay in the T-Caddy leading Colin's car up the A19, A1, A697 and U1086. What? Where or what is the U1086 you may well ask. Well, it's the unclassified road to the village of Ingram in the Breamish Valley. Unfortunately our intended target was the village of Alwinton in the Coquet Valley, some 18 miles away! Turn around you witless moron.
Hence a somewhat later start than planned as we eventually cruised into the right village. Well done me, not very. My lugs were on fire, deservedly so. Beautiful day by now though, who could have guessed that I planned the little diversion/excursion to allow the mist to burn off the hills before we started the ride?
Deryck took the reins as we foursome mounted our two-wheeled electrically assisted transport, first stop Clennel Hall which he definitely has a fixation for. When I worked for BT we had our annual summer staff picnics either here or at Plankey Mill, good memories.
Time to hit the hills, although quite a long haul to reach the right one, as Deryck had another target in mind, so up we went. And up, and up, and...there it was - a secluded chalet village high up in the clouds. I think he's gonna buy one. After he'd satisfied his curiosity we headed back down the gravel track again until gravel hater Me stopped the squad when I spotted one of those funny little blue arrows on a gatepost. So naturally, I ushered the boys through the gate and into a field where our first little adventure was about to unfold. And cause another substantial delay. VIDEO LINK HERE
The skinny path got very gradually steeper until we came to a stop when Colin up front shouted "Whoa!". He was teetering on the brink of an impossible-looking drop down to the gravel road below and declared it a no-go, so we didn't go. Instead, someone took it upon himself to declare a better way, only to find the exact same trap awaiting him a short time later, but worse. Ok, 'twas I, Dumbo. The minutes dragged by with me sat on the deck holding the Merida's back brake on wile hanging onto the base of a bunch of ferns to stop bike and me sliding over the side of this 10 foot, 3.048 metre vertical drop. Doesn't look much here, does it? But IT WAS! VIDEO LINK HERE
Eventually Deryck came to my rescue and hauled the bike back up the slope for me while Ian had discovered a better path down for all of us. We spent the next few minutes lowering each bike down a hand-to-hand chain from Deryck to me to Ian to Colin wo'd managed to get down to the roadside. We'd been at this place around 25 minutes earlier before making the big climb, so not much overall ride progress made thus far.
Eventually we started another climb. This one was much nicer, being a slightly overgrown, grassy earth dual track, but it was much longer and very tiring. Yes, tiring, e-bikes notwithstanding. This one led us to Deryck's third, and final point of interest for the day an hour later, one he regularly spends time at in a little tent with walking boots. We stopped, finally and thankfully, for a well earned rest and a snack. A nearby slope offered a short challenge we (I) couldn't resist so up I went, failing to reach the crest, while D managed to clean it and headed up the adjoining hilltop to get some photies. Ian and Colin came unstuck on the same lower lip as I had, but we did all get to the top eventually where the already stunning views were excelled, the Cheviot just poking the top of it's head between the hills in the distance. Awesome views.
I had already proven how good my navigation skills were before we got on the bikes, but I wasn't the only one to get things wrong. I'd like to say Deryck led us off the beaten track, but he didn't, we stayed on the beaten track, aka gravel road, for another hour or more.
Don't do it Colin!!!
THEN it was my turn again. "I recognise this junction", sez me. And after a quick perusal of my map declared "This way to Barrowburn". Er, if only. VIDEO LINK HERE
The first pic below shows the trail I'd spotted (arrowed) just after we'd become bogged down on the path I had suggested. Of course the other three had gone in completely the opposite direction, way up to my left before descending, which made it much harder for them to escape this very difficult terrain.
I persisted with my own route, finally closing up on Deryck who'd finally turned towards the stream on our far right, and eventually hanging back for the other two to catch up before making my mind up to go vertical and ignore the boys. I did take a small tumble as video shows, but still got the best of the deal. Not sure why I was the only one to spot this path. VIDEO LINK HERE
But here it was. Alone at last. Until I heard a plaintive cry from way down below me. Deryck. Stopped stock still, staring ahead, unmoving, exhausted. Like us other threesome. "Howay man, get a wriggle on" yells me, and eventually he responded, pushing the Canyon up this desolate canyon. Colin and Ian were some distance aherad of him but still too low; until they spotted our progress and turned uphill to join us. Some hike-a-bike this one. However, we should feel proud that we actually rode some unrideable terrain.
VIDEO LINK HERE
Once we'd regrouped we stopped for the mid-ride break around 2:15, just beautiful out here, wherever it was. Were the lads happy with my route? While nothing was going on here, the last thing the three Grumpies needed to hear about was Stevie Bowden grinning like a Cheshire cat at the Golfie!
Deryck wandered off and returned claiming he could see the Barrowburn Barn down in the valley. Oh goody, tea and cake.
And someone agreed!
That statement proved to be utter bollox as we were still five miles off it. OK, there was A barn. Regardless of that, we'd had a decent ride, a bit of an adventure, a bit of an explore, and a bit of sunbathing so it was time to head home. Downhill all the way, but unfortunately most of it on gravel again after the initial green slope. My estimation would be three miles worth of off-road out of the twenty. Whoever suggested "an XC ride"? Having said that, it was a change, although not as good as a rest 😂 VIDEO LINK HERE
We had a lovely sit in the back garden of Alwinton's ale house, no wind, blue sky, bit of a chat with an old fella mounted on the same bike as Ian and some welcome refreshment (cheers for that, whoever paid!).
Next ride - jumps and berms! (I wouldn't dream of suggesting Ingram).
https://www.strava.com/activities/16119637601
