This year’s National Tandem Rally (NTR) was held in Alnwick, near the coast of Northumberland. We decided to drive there rather than cycle, but this did open up the opportunity to have a larger tent – one we could stand up in!
We drove part way and stopped overnight so we could arrive at the Rally campsite at Alnwick Rugby Club around lunchtime, which would give us the afternoon to set up and sort out. In the evening there was the usual welcome with drinks and nibbles and a briefing for the week’s rides and activities.
Day 1
Day 1 – Sunday. The route took us north along the coast, as far as Bamburgh where we collected the BCQ (British Cycle Quest) there. 50 miles is a bit more than we are used to – ok in the Netherlands, but not in more hilly Northumberland. This would be the longest ride of the week.
Day 2
Day 2 – Monday. Our ‘target’ for the day was Rothbury. We rode with Bernie and Sue, who we’ve ridden with at a few rallies now. The outward route ran along a busy main road for much of the way, so we abandoned the official route and took a fast descent to join the return route, which we then followed all the way to Rothbury, stopping at Whittingham to collect another BCQ.
At Rothbury the Newcastle House Hotel were providing tea/coffee/cake to Tandem Club riders on arrival. A little green next to the Hotel became the place to chill with the goodies. For our return, we again abandoned the official route, as we’d covered much of it on the way there, and we knew therefore of the stiff, long climb that awaited those who would be taking the planned route back to Alnwick.
A little way into the return we took a left and embarked on a climb that was not quite so high or steep, but probably added a mile or two. However, this turned out to be a good move as the lanes were quiet and the views rewarding. At Whittingham we rejoined the official return route and followed it for the rest of the ride.
Day 3
Tuesday and we had decided to skip the official planned ‘Velocio’… a kind of treasure hunt, timed while following a course to uncover clues and get to the finish. Fastest wins. We are not fast, so headed for the Scottish border for a treasure hunt of our own – two more BCQs. We drove to Coldstream and parked up then headed towards Berwick for the Union Bridge, downstream on the Tweed. Once again we were delighted at the lack of other traffic. These quiet roads made a nice change from the busy roads near us at home.
At Norham we stopped for coffee and cake in a pub then pushed on. Our return from the bridge was entirely on the Scottish side, but the weather decided to make it feel more Scottish with a drop of rain. Back at Coldstream we found a pub – The Besom – serving food so had lunch before finishing the ride and heading back to Alnwick.
Day 4
Wednesday is usually the ‘rest day’ with no planned rides. While many of the rally goers went into Alnwick to show the town their tandems and give the mayor a go as stoker, we took advantage of the great weather and timely tides to cycle out to Holy Island, aka Lindisfarne. We drove up the coast to Belford, a little way inland and away from the busy A1. From here we could use country lanes to reach the road that goes out to the causeway and across to the Island.
Karon’s blood-sugar was getting low and just after Beale station there’s a large café where we had hopes of grabbing a coffee there, but the queue was way too long, so we continued to the start of the causeway then stopped and ate some lunch we had bought with us.
Once on the island we stopped just after the car-park entrance, pulled the bike up onto the grass verge and sat on a bench there with an ice-cream. After that we rode the short distance into the village and found the English Heritage run Priory Museum and ruins. After a quick wander of both we popped in to the Crown and Anchor pub. £4 – something wasn’t bad for a Coke and red wine.
The Castle beckoned but the lane to it was very busy with other tourists. We decided to stop at the gate and not join the stream of people on the walk into the Castle.
Had a quick rummage on the stoney beach – Karon loves looking for interesting rocks and fossils – then headed for the causeway and ride back to the car at Belford.
Day’s 5 and 6
On Thursday, we awoke to the patter of rain on the tent so we were in no hurry to get up. The forecast was for it to stay wet until early afternoon. That decided it – we would take our ‘rest day’ and leave the bike, taking the car into town so Karon could wander the Barter’s Books shop housed in the old railway station buildings. Then we drove out to Shilbottle, to the Running Fox pub/café for a very tasty and enjoyable lunch.
While there, a half-dozen other rally goers turned up looking rather soggy, which only reinforced our thoughts that this was the best day of the week to stay off the bike.
In the evening we had an appointment back at the campsite to help out with the Tandem Games. Evidently Alnwick Castle was used as a set for some of the Harry Potter films and as such, the games had a loosely associated theme. It was for that reason that we dressed accordingly.
Friday the good weather had returned, along with a stiff breeze from the south. The official route headed inland but we both wanted to ride the previous day’s route, south, along the coast. We weren’t alone either.
After lunch in the Running Fox, it wasn’t too far back to Alnwick and a large chunk was downhill. Once back at the campsite and showered, we part packed for leaving the next day. In the evening there was a communal BBQ on the Rugby Club patio. Having had a good lunch we weren’t bothered with more food but enjoyed a couple of drinks in the bar. Later there was a Ceilidh in the marquee, but we were both tired and ready for bed!
