Hipsburn to Dunstan and back

It's seventeen years since I rode National Cycle Route 1 from Newcastle to Edinburgh. This year I'm gradually revisiting the Northumberland section. Last time I covered this in one go, in one direction, over a few days. Now I'm now riding it in both directions, in short sections, over several months. 

Bit by bit I've already covered quite a lot of the section between the Tyne and Seahouses. Some of it I've ridden in both directions, and some of it several times. However, there are also some parts that I have yet to revisit. Today I was able to plug one of the local gaps by riding from Hipsburn to Dunstan and back.

It was a bit of a grey day. A cold wind was blowing off-shore, but that only had a noticeable effect on progress when the route departed from the coast. I expected the climb out of Alnmouth to be a bit of a challenge. In the event I was pleased (and quite surprised) to manage it without having to get off and push. The rest of today's route is fairly flat. So this was a relatively speedy ride (by my standards).

Between Boulmer an Howick there's a choice between an on-road and an off-road option. I've ridden parts of the off-road option in the past, and walk it quite often. I cleaned the bike yesterday and at this time of year I'd expect the off-road option to be quite wet and clarty. Also, at this time of year, on the roads, the volume of visitor traffic is only just starting to build up. So today I decided to stick with the on-road option in both directions.

I didn't have anything that resembled a plan, but there were several alternatives for a refreshment break when I felt like one. The Arch Cafe just outside Craster is more-or-less at today's half-way point. So that seemed a sensible choice. It turned out to be a good one.

In sumamry, a very pleasant ride. But lacking in anything that I need to bring to the attention of the world. Except for this UFO Monitoring Station just outside Alnmouth.