We're doing this in June after doing the C2C last year which was amazing, anyone done it, got any advice?

I have checked out http://www.coast-and-castles.co.uk/ website but would like first hand knowlege from someone who has done it.

It's longer than the C2C but have a feeling it's going to be easier!

hi
which way are you planning on doing the coast and castles?
i would love to do the coast and castles and the 3 rivers also making a total of around 330 miles.
i would start at edinburgh and finish at middlesbrough which is only 4ish miles from where i live.

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suziec
please help
http://www.justgiving.com/johncaldicott

We're doing it the other way - starting at Newcastle then heading north - probably have a night out in Edinburgh whilst we're up there.

Thinking of doing the 3 rivers as training.

ru planning on doing the 3 rivers in one day or 2?
its 130 ish miles i think.

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suziec
please help
http://www.justgiving.com/johncaldicott

Hi,

Train booked for the 25th Sept to Newcastle for the Coast & Castles, camping on route so planning 5 and half days to do it,


Martyn........

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hi there martyn,have you got your camp sites sorted,and dont forget your camera as theres some beltin photo oppertunities to be had around duridge and bamburgh

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camping out on the edge of reality

Hi,

Day One at 32 miles Wansbeck Riverside Park, Ashington (or might do a B&B as i don't arrive in Newcastle till 2.30ish

Day Two Annstead Holiday park at Seahouses at 72 miles

Day Three Old House Country Patk at Berwick Upon Tweed 100 miles

Day Four Gibson Park at Melrose, 145 miles

Day Five Tweedside Caravan Park Innerleithen 163 miles

Day Six Drummohr Campsire ne Musselburgh 193 miles.

Day Seven 7 miles into Edinburgh, spend a couple of hours looking around and then train home

Last year i did the C2C in two and half days but as i am camping and fully loaded this year i have allowed me much more time, hope the weather will be kind end of September,


Regards,



Martyn.......

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Hi,

Ride completed and must say i got such a lucky break in the lousy summer weather this year, it rained for just 5 hours in 6 days.
I did the route as pre planned and stayed at the campsites previously mentioned and they were all adequate, with a special mention to Annstead Holiday Park at Beadnell just before Seahouses and also Gibson Park at Melrose (just £5 each) both were excellent value and very clean, some others charged me nearly £20 for me and my pushbike.

Compared to the C2C which i did last year the hills were much easier and i could have done the ride in a day less even with the 4 panniers and tent/cooker etc so was carrying a lot of weight this year on my old heavy Kona.

Should i ever do this ride again i would miss out the section along the Tyne, it was nice seeing the Millenium Bridge at the start with all the trendy appartments and bars as a backdrop however you are soon into a very unsightly and rundown industrial area and not very clear paths some covered in glass, i would have prefered to have taken the direct road route to the coast to Tynemouth and as soon as i hit the coast road the views were excellent with miles of deserted sandy beaches and of course the castles, some of which certainly had the wow factor due to their size.

There are 2 options on this ride as once you get to Berwick Upon Tweed you can do the shorter option and keep to the coast all the way to Edinburgh or go inland which according to the map appears very hilly once you get to Innleithen and i was still undecided at Berwick as to which route to take having had to walk up some of the C2C hills last year. Eventually i decided to go for the inland option and it was a pleasant change to the coast road and on my last day leaving Innerleithen to tackle the Moorfoot Hills i was soon at the peak and had a smile when on the map it mentions "suberb views to Edinburgh from here" it was so misty i could not see 30 yards let alone 30 miles to Edinburgh.

On arriving in Edinburgh i heard the piper and seized the usual photo opportunity alongside him and then headed off for one of the many whisky shops to take a bottle home.

On the whole the route was well signposted, unlike last year i did not meet anybody else enroute also doing the same ride and there were a couple of housing estates i would have diverted around if i had known, eg in Blyth as i seemed to be riding around an estate for ages instead of a more direct route.

Roll on next summer, Outer Herbrides here i come,


Martyn............

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sounds like you had a good trip, have you got any pics of the ride?
johnb

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camping out on the edge of reality

2008 Coast and Castles ride,











Martyn...........