This must be one of the best parts of the UK for quality and quantity of quiet off-road routes, from the relatively flat and easy ones in and around towns - such as here in this immediate area in North Tyneside - to the hilly and rural parts of Durham and Northumberland. There may be more organised and polished routes in other regions, but cycle in the North East and as often as not you are on your own.

Having said that, purpose built facilities are developing fast, particularly in the forests. Hamsterley in mid County Durham is for the MTB enthusiast and Kielder in the west of Northumberland caters for a more mixed client base (and there are hire bikes there too).

General off road links:
Mountain Bike Routes UK - does a series of route cards
Ernest Press - two key books on MTB-ing in Durham and Northumberland
Trailblasters - a good intro to off road cycling in North Yorkshire just down the road

Forestry Commission links:
Article about District Forester for Recreation, Communities and Tourism
Kielder Forest
Hamsterley Forest

More on Hamsterly:
Beyond Hamsterley
Descend Hamsterley
3gp Hamsterley

More on Kielder:
www.kielder.org
Kielder Bikes

And Northumberland:
Visit Northumberland

This page updated 19 October 2008.