THE MUDDY BUMS (aka "the Clarty Ars#ses") MOUNTAIN BIKING IN NORTHUMBERLAND AND BEYOND

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Only three Muddy bums remembered to set their clocks forward today Arthur, Isobel and Ian A. Although the sun was out, a gale was blowing and the prospects on setting off from Hedgely Service station were for a hard ride out. Gusts blew Izzy’s bike over twice before she managed to pin the thing down by sitting on it!

Off out of the blocks, armed with map and GPS, we were quickly up a wind-assisted tarmac climb to Beanley before turning off and left, down across field and to a bridge. At this point, the current was flowing too fast for us all, none willing to fall victim to a sudden gust blowing us off sideways so early into the ride, Sealskins and goretex notwithstanding. It was hard enough standing upright on the bridge before heading on to New Bewick Bridge village.

A short climb took us into the trees at Harehope Hall, continuing up a lovely, dry single track climb through Hannah’s wood , though missing the sharp right first time, up to Harehope Hill. Pause for breath and map check… We then took a left
at Harehope farm before embarking on a climb up to Eglingham Moor. The proliferation of tracks on the way up was somewhat confusing and at this point, our map reading skills let us down (who put that cairn there?!) and we and the official bridleway parted company temporarily. We could say we were sussing out alternative routes but it would be a lie! Another map check and a good look around meant we soon spotted where we should have been but by this time, Arthur declared himself “knackered” and clutching his GPS, headed for home.

Ian and Is (the blind leading the blind I hear you say) backtrack to the correct bridleway and before long, whizzing along a metalled track, passed the bridleway we should have taken, we were carried away by the prospect of a fast descent towards Hagdon. Realising our error before it was too late, (b****r! Who moved those trees?) quick check of the map AGAIN, turning round and climbing back up into that fierce wind, to the start of the correct bridlepath.

Across the moor we came across the first real boggy section of the ride, which, in conjuction with the wind from the side, sapped our reserves to the extent Izzy felt the need to stop for a snack stop at the coppice of trees south east of Cateran Hill where we sat hookered down behind the wall to get shelter. Reinvigorated by magic snackbar, we continued our mooreland crossing to the road adjacent to Cuddys Knowe. Off the moor, we took a westerly route along the road before following the lovely Bridle to Blawearie - a magical spot. There we stopped for lunch and sat the sun in the shelter, next to budding rhodedendrons. Bliss!

Before long we were off again via Hanging crag to Old Bewick. A short ride along the tarmac before we turned off and down a bridle to the river Till then climbed out of the valley to a farm at New Bewick. Although we thought our presence was discrete, we set the heavily pregnant ewes off at the gallop. Maybe it was the bright orange bike that did it? From there, both recognising we’d been there earlier (note!), we retraced our outward route back to Beanley, riding the ford this time and cleaning the boots. Straight on at Beanley hall, climbing the tracks towards Shepherds Law then down on the road towards the disused railway cutting, riding back in to Powburn along the raised embankment.

Feeling relatively pleased with our map reading, we were just about to reward
ourselves with a hard-earned coffee when Ian managed to lock the b****y keys
 in his car. Weighing up the options, we went and had a coffee and then with
the help of the woman in the service station, sticks, wire, tongs and a
screwdriver, Ian broke in, retrieved said keys and we drove back to the Toon,
via Julie & Willie’s new pad where we partook of great cake.
A grand day out and cleanish bikes to boot!

Izzy (TOW) and Ian