Hartside - Hadrian’s Wall - Carter Bar - Cheviot Hills - Kielder Forest
Raid ride from the Lake District to Northumberland then the Scottish Borders, a sort of Reivers raid in reverse. Up the twisty road to Hartside Summit (575 m.) with photos taken for me by an electric company linesman up a pole while he was waiting for other work to complete. He rides a KTM 990. Fantastic views of my Ninja Z250SL and the Eden Valley beyond.
On to Alston, coffee stop at Haltwhistle; next Hadrian’s Wall and the Scottish Border at Carter Bar (418 m.). Refuelling at Jedburgh then the ride down through Kielder Forest and calling in at the grim fortress of Hermitage Castle before a tea-time stop for a luscious chocolate cake at Newcastleton, still in Scotland.
Home in Keswick, a cross-border dinner menu of Scotch beef rump steak, English salad with Provence style tomatoes, whole-grain mustard and Béarnaise sauce. Accompanied by Forest gin from the Pennines with fresh orange juice.
Hot and humid weather and wonderful clear roads with riding midweek.
Hadrian’s Wall
Carter Bar - Scottish Border
Kielder Forest
Hermitage Castle
Cross-border dinner: Scotch beef rump steak, English salad with Provence style tomatoes, whole-grain mustard and Béarnaise sauce. Accompanied by Forest gin from the Pennines with fresh orange juice.