Cornish Spennymoor Breeze

Cornish Spennymoor Breeze
Tues 2nd Nov 10am 14 miles
Start at Brancepeth Station car park DH7 8DL

Despite the short ride this will be a day out to visit the Norman Cornish collection (and mining museum if we have time) at Spennymoor Town Hall. Norman was born in Spennymoor and his art is world renowned, depicting the everyday lives of local people with a warmth and glow. He stated that ‘Spennymoor has all that a painter needs in order to depict humanity’. The Town Hall art gallery is a significant collection of Norman’s permanent work and there is a reconstruction of his studio from his Spennymoor home. Well worth a visit and an excuse for a breeze ride.

So, to the cycling bit. We’ll be starting from Brancepeth Station car park on the Brandon-Bishop railway path and will firstly head to Willington. Then we’ll be joining the road across Jubilee Bridge and uphill (bit of a tough one but short) towards Newfield. We’ll head off on quieter roads to Byers Green before joining the Auckland Way to Spennymoor. Here we’ll stop for refreshments and take a leisurely look around the gallery.
Our return route will be via Tudhoe and Sunderland Bridge and finally up the Scripton Gill bridleway before rejoining the Brandon -Bishop Railway path and back to the start.

The ride is a mix of on and off road so most suitable for hybrid bikes. A mountain bike would be fine, but not a slick road bike.

In order for the ride to leave promptly, please be punctual so we can carry out bike checks, etc. prior to us setting off. Please make sure your bike is in working condition and bring a spare tube to fit your tyres. We may well be out for up to 5 hours including our Spennymoor stop.

As always we can’t predict the weather so please dress suitably. You are better to be overdressed as you can always take layers off.

For any queries please contact us at [email protected]. For any last minute cancellations on the day please text 07708 327943 (note this phone is only for the day of the ride) otherwise use the option to cancel when you log in to letsride.co.uk. If the weather is bad we will only contact you if we are cancelling the ride and will do so no later than 8am on the day by putting a message in the ‘conversation’ tab in the ride. You should receive a notification by email if there is a message. If you have not heard from us we are still riding.

We look forward to meeting you.
Spennymoor Art Gallery
https://www.spennymoor-tc.gov.uk/index.php/art-gallery/
Durham Mining Museum
https://www.spennymoor-tc.gov.uk/index.php/durham-miners-museum/