Otterburn Military Range Northumberland

wiffachip

It's not open to the public very often, but if you ever get the chance it is a fantastic ride

incredibly remote but superb roads, not a single pothole

several access points, but in at Holystone and out down the coquet valley is best

open for the rest of april

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1822294

Valy

Were you on the M Steel demo ride by any chance?

wiffachip

yup, brilliant weekend

Valy

Yeah, amen to that.

Those descents... man had me paying attention!

shouldbeinbed

@rse just come back from a week up home. That would have been a new one for me.

AndyF16

Happen to be at the in-laws in Newcastle for a few days, and brought a bike! Any further info on routes etc please?

wiffachip

http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/CFBCD587 ... lenge2.pdf

there you gan. park at Holystone and do it clockwise

or park down the valley at Rothbury for a 45 mile circuit. crackin tea room at Barrowburn

let's know how you get on

have you got the Bianchi with you ? could join you for a twin Bianchi cross bike ride !

AndyF16

Thanks Wiffachip, looks great - will be trying to do that Wednesday as the missus should be able to drop me on her way to Alnwick castle with the binlids....

Yes I brought the Bianchi as it happens, will post on Tuesday when I've sorted details with her, would be great to have company - no problem

nwallace

Seen my brothers pace notes from when he did the rally there.
Mostly composed of, Straight Downhill, flat over crest, K-xxx, flat over crest IIRC.

AndyF16

Right that's sorted; should be setting out from Rothbury between 11:00-11:30 tomorrow morning, if Wiffachip or anyone else fancies it then PM me for my mobile number?

Dunno if it's particularly hilly, but the pathetic 20 mile I just did up to Ebchester and back has ruined any notion that my climbing was getting good :oops: So it won't be a flying run by any stretch of the imagination

wiffachip

Andy

At work tomorrow, so can't make it

hills are ok clockwise, more gradual

enjoy

at Holystone, make sure you turn right and go through the village to access the range

Valy

nwallace wrote:

Seen my brothers pace notes from when he did the rally there.
Mostly composed of, Straight Downhill, flat over crest, K-xxx, flat over crest IIRC.

Hmm..

Further along - in the hills there are definitely some cool descents. Twisty, narrow and have a sprinkling of dust/gravel almost throughout.

nwallace

Don't know what roads were used for it.
Can't remember what rally it was either but it was one where notes aren't sold prior to the event so you have to rece your own.
This means giving the driver the keys to a nominated car, shoving the co driver in the passenger seat and anyone else that wants to go along in the back.

I think my dad enjoyed his back seat rally recce experience...
(He is a terrible passenger)

Ollieda

might be a lovely place to go riding but I sure hatted it when I was training up there last. Boiling hot sun mixed with tons of midges! Got to the point where if we had a break in the training plan we were laying in streams as it was the only cool place where you could have relative peace from the midges! At least I can always joke that after a week in/near newcastle i cam back with a tan!!!

Granted it is a very nice place to look at and riding would be great through there in the current weather!

Buckled_Rims

I'd forgotten about lambing time in Otterburn.

I failed to climb the road going from Brownhart Law to point 509 on the map. However, it was a boiling hot day and I was a podgy that year

Shame I can't do it this week, maybe on royal wedding day next week for me.

AndyF16

Lovely ride out today up there, 47 miles total from Rothbury and back via Ryehill - would recommend it to anyone whilst you can get on there

Went clockwise as suggested by Wiffachip, and managed not to have to walk any hills - bit of a hairy moment descending to Brownhart Law when a spoke snapped and wrapped itself around the axle behind the cassette :shock: luckily I was taking it fairly steady as my canti brakes are crap....

shieldsman

Anyone doing this next week- thinking of heading up (based in North Shields) and wouldn't mind some company. Thinking of doing the 50 mile loop from Rothbury. Might be able to pick anyone up from Newcastle/ North Tyneside.

Valy

The m Steel guys may be heading there?

shieldsman

Anyone going up this week? Maybe tomorrow morning...?

Buckled_Rims

I was due to go up on Friday, but looks like I'll be mountain biking in Scotland instead. Shame this wasn't posted at the beginning of April as I would have gone there quiet a few times.

I'll go on the next non-firing date. If anyone is interested I'll post the dates when they are available.

wiffachip

it's usually open for all of may

open dates tend to be last 2 weeks in april, all of may, 2 weeks over new year and 2 days a month for the rest of the year

the 2 days in each month are subject to very last minute cancellations if they suddenly decide they need to let off steam, the longer closures are more reliable

details on the MOD website

Buckled_Rims

Cheers Wiffa. So if that's the case I'd probably be able to do it from Wednesday onwards.