Black Hill, North Pennines
Black Hill (609 m.), view East

Black Hill, North Pennines
Black Hill (609 m.), view West

Riding the highest altitude roads in the North Pennines. The Helm, the only named wind in England, was blowing strongly from the North-east, keeping the clouds moving and the air clear. By eye, I could see the North Sea from Black Hill (609 m.) and the Irish Sea from Hartside (575 m.). This was a loop from Alston to Weardale, pause with a GBMCC member at his pub in the mining town of St. John’s Chapel. Then over high moorland ridges to Teesdale, passing High Force and back to Cumbria over Yad Moss (598 m.). Routes popular with bikers but there are many warnings posted to ride safely.
The Village Bakery on the green in Melmerby provided an excellent stop for coffee and cake once safely down down the challenging (and therefore unmissable) road down from Hartside Cross (575 m.).
A fine ride: big, bleak and windy but clear and dry too.

Killhope Cross, North Pennines
Killhope Cross (623 m.), reputedly the highest A road in England

Weardale, North Pennines
Weardale

Weardale, North Pennines
Killhope Lead Mining Centre, Weardale

Weardale, North Pennines
Weardale

St. John’s Chapel.,Weardale, North Pennines
St. John’s Chapel., Weardale

Stanhope Quarry,Weardale
Stanhope Quarry, Weardale

Weardale, North Pennines
Weardale

Weardale, North Pennines
Middleton Common, Teesdale ridge with Bollihope Common, Weardale (511 m.)

Low Force, Teesdale, North Pennines
Low Force, Teesdale

Yad Moss, North Pennines
Yad Moss (598 m.)

Hartside Cross, North Pennines
Hartside Cross (575 m.), view East

Hartside Cross, North Pennines
Hartside Cross (575 m.), view West

Melmerby, Cumbria, North Pennines
Melmerby, Cumbria