I’ve been reviewing a new guidebook dedicated to gravel cycling in Northumberland, in the north-east of England. Gravel Rides Northumberland is written by Jordan Matthews and published by Vertebrate Press. It’s not an area of the UK that I know well, although I have visited on several occasions and I love the beautiful sandy beaches.
The book details 15 gravel ride adventures, extending from distances of 10km to 104km. The routes span a wide variety of terrain, from lowland trails to remote upland tracks in Kielder, the Cheviots and the North Pennines.
Who is the author Jordan Matthews?
Jordan is a north-east England-based cyclist with extensive experience in route design, event organisation and cycling development. Every route has been researched, ridden and refined, with an emphasis on ride quality, landscape and accessibility.
The guidebook: Gravel Rides Northumberland
Each chapter includes Ordnance Survey mapping, turn-by-turn directions, distance, ascent, timings and difficulty grading, alongside practical information, such as refreshment stops and access notes. I like that the terrain guide tells you what to expect, such as gravel tracks, back roads, single track etc.
The book also has some lovely photography, as well as an appendix with cafes, bike and repair shops, pubs and accommodation suggestions, plus links to download GPX files for each route.
My thoughts: Gravel Rides Northumberland guidebook
If you are looking for new gravel ride routes, this book may well interest you. Whether you live locally or you are thinking about a new destination for cycling routes, it’s a guide that will serve you well.
The author clearly knows his stuff and explains and details each route so that you can ride it yourself. It’s really useful to have written descriptions, maps and GPX downloads.
The book is a handy size, although, as a consequence, the text is small so you will definitely need your reading glasses to properly.
There is a good spread of routes, from four easier routes, through six “straightforward” routes; to five challenging routes. I think, if I was on a short break to Northumberland, I would start with a straightforward route, such as Derwent Reservour & Slaley Forest, then do an easier route the next day, such as Hexhamshire Common. I might then go for a challenging route, such as Kidland Forest.
The book would make a great gift for a gravel rider, or you could treat yourself to it.
Gravel Rides Northumberland is priced at £15.95 and sold by Vertebrate Publishing. It can be bought from Adventure Books. (I receive a small commission for book sales through this website. Thanks!)