We woke up to yet another sunny day for the Reivers Route Day 2 – Seaton Burn to Tarset. Having stayed at the Travelodge we had breakfast at the Little Chef, next door. After breakfast  we made our way back to Seaton Burn and picked up the route where we had left it yesterday.

The route took us down some lovely quiet lanes.

Just after we had passed through Ponteland, the route took us through the edge of Ponteland Park.

We passed something called the Cycle Stop  offering cups of tea. It was too interesting to pass!

We can highly recommend the place. In effect it was a kind of DIY cafe based in a shed in someone’s garden. There was even homemade cake with an honesty box for the money.
Feeling a bit more refreshed, we continued on the route. By now the temperature had reached about 30 degrees!

It was interesting to listen to the thunder rumbling around. The skies started to get black and we kept hoping we would miss the storm!

We were wrong and suddenly the rain started. The temperature dropped to about 20 degrees. We stopped to shelter by a wall at the entrance to a grand house. Andy tried to shelter across the road under the trees.

Just as we were starting to think that the road would never stop, eventually it did! We set off again feeling rather damp but it was still very warm.

The next hill and the jackets had to come off, it was just too warm!

The next section of the ride was more undulating.

There was then some good downhill sections. Andy said his top speed reached 48 miles an hour!

After about 38 miles we reached Bellingham. We tried to get some food at the pub but we were too late for lunch and too early for dinner! The local Cooperative provided enough for a picnic style lunch, which we were all really ready for  (it was 4pm after all)!

Feeling better for some food we set off to Tarset where we were staying for the night. It was only about 4 miles but there were a few lumps along the way. The first part followed some familiar roads which were also NCN 68 (which we followed on the Pennine Cycleway).

The route then went a different way.

The farm we were staying out was in the middle of nowhere. It was on the route but when I picked it I hadn’t thought about Tea!

Having had a cup of tea and some cake, showered and changed we then cycled 4 miles back to Bellingham for a meal at The Cheviot. The main route had been about 43 miles.

You can view our Reivers Route Day 2 below:

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