Having completed St Cuthbert’s Way Coast-to-Coast Day 4 and enjoyed the meal celebrating Nicholl’s birthday yesterday, St Cuthbert’s Way Coast-to-Coast Day 5 would now see us cycle from Wooler to Beal.

It was another fine sunny day.

The distance between Wooler and Beal is relatively short. So, instead, we had plotted a longer more circuitous route between the two. 

We quickly picked up Andy S’s favourite cycle route, NCN Route 68, the Pennine Cycleway.

After a few miles we reached North Middleton and turned away from NCN Route 68.

After crossing the A697, we eventually arrived at the entrance to Chillingham Castle.

We then cycled around the edge of the estate and made our way up Hepburn Moor. It was a steep climb.

Towards the top of Hepburn Moor is Ros Castle. This is not an actual castle, it is in fact a hill. Ros Hill, however, is often known as Ros Castle due to the Iron Age hill fort that sits on its summit.

The views from the top of the hill were fantastic.

However, we still had some cylcing to do. So we set off down the other side of the hill and on towards the coast.

Before reaching the coast, however, we first went in search of some lunch. We cycled through Ellingham first, but there was no where to stop.

Eventually, we came to the village of Lucker. In it was The School House. The service was rather slow, but the surroundings and the food itseelf were excellent.

Upon leaving the cafe we cycled through the rest of the village.

For much of the afternoon we were cycling along quiet lanes that run parallel with the A1, and for a while we were following NCN Route 1.

We passed the Outchester Ducket. Dating back to the 18th century, it is shown on some maps as a windmill. It was, however. more likely to have served a pigeon dovecote. Today, it has been restored as a holiday cottage. 

Finally, we got our first glimpse of the North Sea and in the distance, Holy Island.

Then, after crossing the A1 we arrived at The Lindisfarne Inn at Beal, where we would be staying overnight.

For the moment, we didn’t stop, however. Instead, we continued down the lane at the side of the Inn towards the causeway.

Having now arrived on the east coast, we took our photos. Then waited …

You can view our St Cuthbert’s Way Coast-to-Coast Day 5 route from Wooler to Beal below:

An hour or so later, we greeted Sarah and Neil when they arived following their days walk. The culmination of their walk would be tomorrow when they walk across to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.