I used the GPX file from [cycle.travel](https://cycle.travel/) as a starting point and adapted the route to my preferences. Rather than starting in Carlisle as that site suggests, I wanted to start on the coast, but not to follow the longer full route from Ravenglass. I chose Mawbray as my starting point so that I could camp at the [Lowther Arms](https://www.thelowtherarms.co.uk/) community pub/campsite, which seemed the best option in the area as many of the other sites were for caravans/motorhomes only. Rather than follow the official Hadrian’s Cycleway route around the Solway Firth, I headed directly to Carlisle on quiet roads and then picked up the route out of the city. All-in-all my route was 105 miles/169 km over two days, plus another 10 miles/16 km back into Newcastle to get the train home, so 115 miles/185 km in total.
It rained all day the first day, but the wind was moderate and the temperature was mild so it was bearable. I stayed at the Hadrian’s Wall Campsite, just past Haltwhistle, which was up a very big hill. The second day was mostly dry and overcast until hitting sunny Newcastle.
Hadrian’s Cycleway is one of the flatter routes across northern England but there were still a few challenging climbs for which my 1:1 bottom gear wasn’t really suitable with 89kg rider + load.
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I used the GPX file from [cycle.travel](https://cycle.travel/) as a starting point and adapted the route to my preferences. Rather than starting in Carlisle as that site suggests, I wanted to start on the coast, but not to follow the longer full route from Ravenglass. I chose Mawbray as my starting point so that I could camp at the [Lowther Arms](https://www.thelowtherarms.co.uk/) community pub/campsite, which seemed the best option in the area as many of the other sites were for caravans/motorhomes only. Rather than follow the official Hadrian’s Cycleway route around the Solway Firth, I headed directly to Carlisle on quiet roads and then picked up the route out of the city. All-in-all my route was 105 miles/169 km over two days, plus another 10 miles/16 km back into Newcastle to get the train home, so 115 miles/185 km in total.
It rained all day the first day, but the wind was moderate and the temperature was mild so it was bearable. I stayed at the Hadrian’s Wall Campsite, just past Haltwhistle, which was up a very big hill. The second day was mostly dry and overcast until hitting sunny Newcastle.
Hadrian’s Cycleway is one of the flatter routes across northern England but there were still a few challenging climbs for which my 1:1 bottom gear wasn’t really suitable with 89kg rider + load.