My second favourite route around the Coalfields

Starting point – The Old Rectory car park in Houghton Rectory Park (What3words - https://w3w.co/format.mirror.rides )

Free car parking is available at the Old Rectory, DH4 4BB
located in the park opposite St Michael’s and All Angels Church. Car park entrance is next to the RED POST BOXES BEFORE THE ENTRANCE TO NEWBOTTLE STREET.

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Just because the evenings are getting darker and colder doesn’t mean we stop cycling!!!!!
Just make sure you bring gloves and wear suitable warm clothes.
Because we will be cycling on a mixture of shared paths, unlit tracks, and quiet roads your FRONT LIGHTS SHOULD BE A 400+ LUMENS.
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Starting in The Old Rectory car park in Houghton Rectory Park, we cycle past the church over the foot bridge, follow a quiet road along Hall Lane joining the cycle path at Gillas Lane, travel to Hetton Lyons Park using the shared path and quiet roads. In the park we will join NCN70 and follow the route towards Windmill Hill and the NCN1 at Seaton. Going up the NCN1 we will exit at the Murton Lane opening and travel back Hetton Lyons Park using the shared path. Back at the park we will follow NCN70 towards Durham, turning at the Moorsley junction back towards Houghton and The Mill Roundabout. Back on the shared paths and quiet roads the route pasts the playing fields back to Rectory Park.

On this route we will be cycling over a variety of different terrains including roads, quiet roads, cycle paths, shared paths, muddy tracks, muddy puddles, wet leaves etc. Therefore, this ride is only suitable for Hybrids or Mountain bikes.

It’s now spring cycling weather, PLEASE DRESS APPROPRIATELY it can get cold on an evening.
REMEMBER TO BRING – Bike Lights, warm gloves, wind/raincoat.
There is no coffee/cake café or toilet stops during this ride,

IMPORTANT STUFF….

In view of COVID-19 we will be taking this into account with our ride leading and we will follow govt. guidelines. Please note the following:
• Participants must be booked onto the ride via www.letsride.co.uk. If you are not booked on then unfortunately you cannot join the ride.
• Your personal contact details must be correct and up to date on your Lets ride profile.
• There are no open public toilet’s on this route.
• We will ride taking social distancing into account. At the time of writing British Cycling recommend riding 2m apart.
• You should pay particular attention to your bike being in good working order before attending a ride so as to minimise risks and disruption to rides.
• Helmets are recommended, but not mandatory.
• We will not share any equipment so please be organised and bring your own items e.g.
- Torch,
- Face covering,
- Hand sanitizer,
- Gloves,
- Drink,
- Snacks,
- Lock,
- Spare inner tube,
- Tyre levers and pump,
- Suitable clothing,

• Participants must not attend a ride if they have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in contact with anyone with symptoms.
• Anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms during a ride must inform a leader.
• Anyone who develops COVID symptoms after a ride must contact the leader who will inform British Cycling HQ who will then contact everyone who attended the ride.

You can contact the leader directly via the ‘Message Ride Creator’ tab in the ride posting on let’s ride unless you have their direct contact details already.

For any queries please contact [email protected]. For any last minute cancellations on the day please text 07404 453745 (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 3pm 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.

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First-timers welcome!