A route with good views from Simonside, and the worlds stoniest fast downhill (allegedly).
- START GR057015 Rothbury river-side car park
- Leave the car park and turn right on the road steeply uphill to a T junction. Turn left at the junction and take the first lane to the right. This climbs up past a tower (the first recorded folly in the country). Just follow the track to Whitton Hillhead Farm ( 045999). Right and immediately left at the farm leads to a continuation of the lane along the edge of a field.
- Follow the cycle signs over the field (trend left) to emerge at a minor road at (040995)
- Turn right and then left into the “Forest Walks Car Park”. From here go round the barrier and up the forest ride at the right end of the parking area. Follow this long drag uphill until the gradient flattens out below Simonside.
- Keep straight on for 4km to Chartners (002957) Turn right at Chartners up the short hill and continue until the ride turns left. Our route goes straight ahead through the gate.
- Enjoy the exhilarating, but rocky downhill which leads eventually to Hepple Whitefield (986992)
- At the minor road turn right and follow this via Little Tosson and Newtown back to the car park.
Rothbury & Simonside– 22km medium/Hard
The site for off-road cycle routes
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