Walney to Wear (W2W) – The Ultimate Guide

Passing through Deerness Valley, briefly near the Broompark Picninc Area.

With a total distance of 153 miles the Walney to Wear is a challenging route, so you may want to break your journey into sections.

This is a spectacular “Coast to Coast” cycle route, starting on the Island of Walney-in-Furness, passing through Barrow-in-Furness and the South Lakes. You can enjoy the Market town of Kendal, before cycling through the stunning Howgills and climbing to England‘s highest pub (Tan Hill at 1732 ft).  What a bonus! The Cycle Route takes you through the beautiful and historic Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland and Durham, finishing in the old industrial heartlands of the North East .

The route is part of the National Cycle Network taking in the Lake District Peninsulars, North Pennines and the Land of the Prince Bishop. It has been designated regional route 20.

Walney 2 Wear.

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Bike Week 2012 – A national celebration of cycling!

Bike Week is the UK’s biggest mass participation cycling event, with almost half a million people participating at events across the country. The aim is to promote everyday cycling for everyone and to get more people cycling, more often. Bike Week events offer something for everyone; from families, schools and companies, to seasoned cyclists and those who have never cycled before.

The official Bike Week will take place 16th – 24th June 2012.

via Bike Week 2012.

Events

Local Events taking part in Bike Week 2012

Looks like not much happening in Durham, mostly Tyne n Wear, Tees areas.

Botanic Garden Free Entry	16/06/12	-24/06/12	Durham
Get Cycling Boompark Picnic Area	16/06/12		Broompark, Durham
teamvalleylinks.com CIC Bike Breakfast	20/06/12	-20/06/12	Gateshead
City Chief Cycle Challenge = 4C	16/06/12	-24/06/12	Newcastle
Dr Bike	20/06/12	-20/06/12	Newcastle upon Tyne
Bikers Breakfast	20/06/12	-20/06/12	Newcastle upon Tyne
Scrap Heap Challenge	18/06/12	-22/06/12	Newcastle upon Tyne
Group Bike Ride	20/06/12	-20/06/12	Newcastle upon Tyne
Local Motion MEGA Festival	24/06/12	-24/06/12	Darlington
Guided Bike Ride from The Transporter Bridge to Tees Barrage and back	24/06/12	-24/06/12	Middlesbrough
Free Bikers Breakfasts	16/06/12	-16/06/12	Middlesbrough
Free Bikers Breakfasts	18/06/12	-18/06/12	Middlesbrough
Free Bikers Breakfasts	19/06/12	-19/06/12	Middlesbrough
Free Bikers Breakfasts	20/06/12	-20/06/12	Middlesbrough
Free Bikers Breakfasts	21/06/12	-21/06/12	Middlesbrough
Free Bikers Breakfasts	22/06/12	-22/06/12	Middlesbrough
Free Bikers Breakfasts	23/06/12	-23/06/12	Middlesbrough
Guided Bike Ride from Middlesbrough to Castle Eden Walkway and back	16/06/12	-16/06/12	Middlesbrough
Dr Bike	19/06/12	-19/06/12	Middlesbrough
Dr Bike	21/06/12	-21/06/12	Middlesbrough
Guided Bike Ride from James Cook University Hospital to the seaside	20/06/12	-20/06/12	Middlesbrough
National Cycle to Work Day	22/06/12	-22/06/12	Redcar

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Video Footage of Deerness Valley Cycle Path

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Durham Big Ride has teamed up with Get Active

Durham Big Ride has teamed up with Get Active to encourage more people throughout the Durham region to enjoy cycling.

Get Active has regular cycle sessions across the Durham area for beginners and families to help then ‘get back into the saddle’ and enjoy some great countryside as well.

“The scheme is a wonderful way of less active people out and about and Durham Big Ride is a great ‘goal’ for families and individuals to aim for while enjoying the company of other like-minded people” Said Colin Wilkes, Durham Big Ride Director.

Saturday 16th June – 10.00 – 14.00 – Broompark Picnic Area, Durham

News and views from E T Communications: Getting ready for the Big Ride.

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Sunderland Big Bike Ride 2012 – Sunderland City Council

The second Sunderland Big Bike Ride will take place on both Saturday and Sunday the 26 and 27 May at Herrington Country Park and St Peter’s Riverside.

With a focus on leisure, recreational and family cycling, the Sunderland Big Bike Ride offers four alternative rides, providing a route to suit all ages and abilities.

Please be aware your  Big Bike Ride Application Form 2012 [132kb] is required by Monday 7 May at the latest.

The 5 mile family ride will take place at the wonderful Herrington Country Park on Saturday 26 May, and the longer 14 mile, 20 mile and 35 mile routes will take place on Sunday 27 May 2012, starting and finishing at St Peter’s Riverside.

Building on the success of the 2011 Sunderland Big Bike Ride, all routes have been redesigned and improved, ensuring a fun filled, enjoyable day for all.

Route options are:

A Family Ride – This 5 mile route which circles the perimeter of Herrington Country Park is ideal for beginner cyclists and families with younger children.

A 14 Mile Ride – Family Ride too short? 20 miles too long? This fun 14 mile route is the ideal way for beginner adult cyclists, young people and capable children (accompanied by an adult) to take part in the Sunderland Big Bike Ride. The route completes a scenic loop of the River Wear between St Peter’s and Washington and is enjoyable and challenging without taking things too far!

A 20 Mile Ride – The 20 mile route allows participants to cycle a little further into Washington than the 14 mile ride and discover new routes. This option is ideal for regular cyclists and capable young people and children (accompanied by an adult).

A 35 Mile ‘Tour de Sunderland’ Ride – This 35 mile route may be slightly shorter than last years ‘Tour de Sunderland’ but the route has been improved and the challenge just as great. The addition of some hill climbs makes up for the shorter distance and allows participants to cycle the city and enjoy its landmarks and open spaces. This option is ideal for strong and regular cyclists, those wishing to challenge themselves, or capable young people and children (accompanied by an adult).

All rides are non-competitive and there are no prizes for 1st place!

Routes are suitable for mountain and hybrid bikes. Due to varying surfaces throughout all routes, road and cyclo-x bikes are not recommended.

via Sunderland City Council : Sunderland Big Bike Ride 2012.

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Followed coast road B1267 to Seaham. Called in at the harbour, looks like they developing it into a marina, can’t get access yet.

Cloughy's Cycling BLOG

Popped into Durham, had a bit of lunch pasta meal at Tesco.. Sat up by the Cathedral in Durham, decided to head off for a ride, was unplanned.

Decided to go along A690 , bad idea roadworks, single lanes, turned off at West Rainton, and headed towards Great Lumley on through Bournmoor and through Shiney Row.

Skirting Penshaw Woods with Penshaw Monument to my East carried on Counrty Lane near old railway line, crossing A183 to Thorney Close, Middle Herrington, East Herrington, Silksworth to Ryhope.

Followed coast road B1267 to Seaham. Called in at the harbour, looks like they developing it into a marina, can’t get access yet.

Headed back via A182, always a long climb this with wind in my face. Through Cold Hesledon , Murton, Easington Lane, Low and High Moorsley, Carville, Durham, Nevilles Cross and home.

Lovely ride out, was quite warm..

Leisure Ride – Ushaw Moor…

View original post 24 more words

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The Beast Warm Up/Training Ride – On Road Cycling Sunday 25th March 10:30am

Sunday, 25 March 2012

10:30 until 17:00

Training Ride for Beast Sunday 25th March 2012 – Early warm up/training ride taking in some hills in County Durham. Meet at Broompark Picnic Area at 10:30 am

All road starting at Broompark Picnic Area, Broompark and heading west through Ushaw Moor, Esh Winning climbing up through Cornsay Colliery, then heading west eventually over to the west of Rowley…

To check out the route go HERE

I did this ride with a couple of guys from The Durham Cycling Club when it was going, last year.

If you want to do the ride simply turn up at the Broompark Picnic Area b4 10:30 am on 25th March.

via The Beast Training Ride – On Road Cycling.

310 ft Start Elev

1037.0 ft Max Elev

1798.0 ft Gain

7

36.2 mi

The Beast Warm Up Ride

Broompark,Durham

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Lanchester Valley Railway Path Masterplan – update

Lanchester Valley Railway Path Masterplan – update

Starts:

24/03/2012

Finishes:

24/03/2012

Time:

10.30am to 1.00pm

Location:

Lanchester Village Green Lanchester

Price:

Free

Description:

Last year the Countryside Service and the Mid Durham AAP commissioned a consultation to ask people living in villages along the Lanchester Valley Way what improvements they would like to see along

Ideas included:

• natural play areas

• community orchards

• wildflower and wildlife areas

• improving sign-posting

• installing quirky seats

• creating path links and woodland trails

Please come along and find out what happens next and how you can get involved.

If you’d like more information about the Railway Paths project call Durham County Council’s Countryside Service on 0191 372 9102 or email countryside@durham.gov.uk

via Event Information-Durham County Council.

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Draft Cycling Strategy for County Durham 2012-15 – Durham County Council

The draft Cycling Strategy is now open for consultation until Wednesday 2 May 2012. The strategy supports the role cycling plays in travel, leisure, health and the environment and sets the scene for how it can become more influential to society and the economy of the county.

Our vision is:

“‘Cycling is a visible, normal, everyday activity. Cycling is part of Durham’s culture and is a safe, affordable and enjoyable mode of transport as well as a fun, family-friendly, cheap, accessible and competitive leisure activity.'”

The strategy and action plan will help County Durham to:

Become more widely recognised as a cycling friendly county

Provide a high quality cycling network that’s accessible, well maintained, signed, recorded and promoted

Increase opportunities for sustainable travel to work, school and key services and reduce reliance on cars

Encourage drivers to become more aware and tolerant of cyclists

Contribute to the quality of people’s lives, their fitness, health and well-being

Encourage visitors on active breaks and increase opportunities to enjoy tourist destinations and the countryside

Enhance the environment and contribute to reducing climate change.

More information

You can see the draft Cycling Strategy for County Durham 2012-15 below:

PDF IconDraft Cycling Strategy for County Durham 2012-15.pdf (19 pages, 8633kb)

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the pdf. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader from the Adobe website. The Adobe Access Plug-in enables vision impaired users to read PDF documents.

Contact us

If you have any comments on the draft strategy, please send them to the email address below, and title your email ‘Draft Cycling Strategy’.

via Draft Cycling Strategy for County Durham 2012-15 – Durham County Council.

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Newton Aycliffe Jobcentre considers buying bikes for unemployed – Today’s News – News – JournalLive

A JOB centre in the North East is considering helping the unemployed get on a bike and look for work by purchasing bicycles for those on the dole.

MPs heard the Jobcentre Plus in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is investigating the purchase of bikes due to the poor state of public transport.

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson questioned whether this was now official Government policy to avoid providing train and bus services.

The move echoes the famous comment by Tory minister Lord Tebbit in 1981 that his father “got on his bike and looked for work” during the Depression in the 1930s.

During questions on future Commons business, Mr Wilson asked Leader of the House Sir George Young: “Can we have a statement or a debate on the state of public transport in County Durham, which the Employment Minister (Chris Grayling) himself has called poor?

“It is now so bad that Jobcentre Plus in Newton Aycliffe is considering the purchase of bicycles so that people can now get to work.

via Newton Aycliffe Jobcentre considers buying bikes for unemployed – Today’s News – News – JournalLive.

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