Off road hacking in North East England

[ann-jen]

Ok NE people - can any one recommend any good places to ride off road? Jenny has got to have a break from competing for 6 months and she's not exactly an ideal hack.

So I'm looking for places I can box her up to on weekends for a ride to make a change from riding round the farm or going in the school. So far I have Hamsterley Forest and Seaton Carew beach but would be interested in any more places that anyone could think of. She's not to jump for 6 mths so I'm not really looking for XC rides more places where I can go for a plod and a change of scenery.
Also I don't know if anyone would be interested in a HHO ride out somewhere - perhaps Druridge Bay or somewhere like that? I am definitely looking for a hacking buddy if anyone is interested.

 

[limerick2]

How about Chopwell Woods?
The Derwent Walk (down near Blaydon)?
You can pay to ride on the Nicholoson's estate (although they do have optional jumps)....

Erm..... can't think of anymore right now!

 

[limerick2]

Also, look for one-off pleasure rides.... e.g the Alnwick ride.
I think there is a club based in Sunniside aswell that do a lot of pleasure rides......they usually advertise their events in the Ad-Trader.

 

[ChowChow]

Have a look at this website http://www.bridleways.co.uk/default.asp

and this one

http://www.visitnorthumberland.com/site/things-to-do/the-great-outdoors/horse-riding

Northumberland has some lovely off road hacking areas

I would be your hacking buddy but I live a bit far from yourself in North Tyneside and I don't have transport.

However, have a look at this website www.giddyupnorth.co.uk they sometimes advertise for hacking buddys.

 

[ChowChow]

[ QUOTE ]
Also, look for one-off pleasure rides.... e.g the Alnwick ride.
I think there is a club based in Sunniside aswell that do a lot of pleasure rides......they usually advertise their events in the Ad-Trader.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Alnwick ride is on next Sunday its advertised today in The Journal

 

[limerick2]

Thanks..... I thought it was usually on around this time!

 

[hotellie]

i think i am too far south for you...but we have a 2000 acre wood with wonderful tracks through it but i am near york.

 

[ann-jen]

Thanks everyone - those websites were really useful - I'm going to have to get thinking where to go. I have transport so its not really a problem at weekends to go a bit further afield. I did think of the Nicholson estate as its not far from me but without being able to jump there is an awful lot of gates to open and shut! Saying that it would probably do me good to get into the hang of opening and shutting gates from on top.
Ellie your woods sound fantastic but sadly I think you are right it is just a bit too far south for me or I'd of loved to of given it a try.

 

[Starsy]

What about the old Scarborough to Whitby railway line, nice and flat with not many gates?

 

[suzyseymour]

I second Chopwell woods and the Derwent Walk!!

 

[ann-jen]

Scarborough to Whitby might again be a bit too far south for me -although I bet it would be lovely.
Where abouts are Chopwell Woods and the Derwent Walk? I'm thinking to the West of Newcastle or am I way off the mark?

 

[ChowChow]

Chopwell Woods, if I'm right in thinking is not that far from the Metro Centre?

 

[ann-jen]

That wouldn't be too far for me on a weekend - I'm going to have to get an ordinance surey map I think.

 

[suzyseymour]

yes, Chopwell is about 15 mins from the Metro Centre. If you want directions, just let me know and I'll PM you, there is plenty of parking. Not sure where the parking is for the Derwent Walk, but its only 10 ins from the Metro Centre as well.

 

[suzyseymour]

Unfortunately mine is out of work at the moment, she has arthritis in her hocks, so not sure how long she'll be out of action, she needs to do a couple of month rehab before I can start doing much work with her, but if you are still wanting to go when she is well enought, be happy to meet you at Chopwell Woods, its only 5 mins in box for us!!

 

[ann-jen]

Oh that would be great - I'm going to get a map out as a friend has mentioned there is a network of disused railway lines around Durham that I could use - but it will depend if there is a safe place to park and leave the box so I'll have to have a scout around first.
Jenny is on hacking duties for the next 6 months so I'll definitely meet you for a ride when you get going if you want to.

 

[littlemisslauren]

i used to hack on the 'lines' around durham every other day!

im unsure on parking though as i hacked from home.

 

[ann-jen]

Thanks - do you know roughly where they run - I know about the Bishop-Brandon line as I used to live in Bishop Auckland but I don't know where I would join it from this end. Or any others in the Durham area. PM me if you don't want to give away your location as such.

 

[guisbrogal]

Come to Guisborough!

We have miles and miles of forestry and Moorland to play in

Saying that Ellie went lame again today (she has a bruised sole

) so we might not be able to play but if she is sound when you come then we know lots of lovely rides!

How to get there: Guisborough Forest & Walkway is situated in Pinchinthorpe on the outskirts of Guisborough at the northern end of the A173. It extends for 2.5 miles along part of the route followed by the old Guisborough branch railway line, heading west towards Nunthorpe and east to Guisborough Forest, which is mangaged by the Forest Enterprise.

 

[ann-jen]

That would be cool! - Let me know when she's up and running again and I'd love to come over for a ride.

 

[suzyseymour]

Have Pmd you! Forgot there's a really good beach that runs from Recar to Salturn got couple of miles of beach there and its a good one for riding on.

 

[Nic74]

Another vote for Guisborough. My husband part owns land there with direct access to miles of hacking. Now we have transport we'll be going over alot and parking at his place.

 

[ann-jen]

Well I've definitely got Seaton Carew, Druridge Bay and Seaham beach on my list for some point over the next 6mths so a trip to Redcar could be added as well.

Maybe we should have a mini HHO trip to Guisborough then as it sounds like a good hacking spot. Seem to remember there's a farily decent tack shop there too for shopping.

 

[Nic74]

Yeah I'd do a mini meet up in Guisborough. The only tack shop round there I know of is Armstrong Richardsons.

 

[suzyseymour]

I used to work at Armstrong Richardson's!! A long time ago mind. There is Priory Tack Shop is Guisborough, that's a good one.

 

[Scribbles]

Awww I'd love to come along as we're new to hacking in this area, but no transport =(