Blyth

For the next section of the journey you need to keep your wits about you, due to some poor signposting and a bewildering number of path options. First you head 1km up the A1061 towards Cramlington, before crossing the road. You will soon see a curved sign indicating a left turn painted on the pathway - don't take the immediate sharp lett, as would seem the obvious choice; take the middle of three paths to the right of a blue cycle sign.

Ten yards on you see a Route 1 sign, which takes you through some houses, to the end of Barras Avenue. Cross over Plessey Road and pick up a blue sign opposite, going right into Newlands Ave. Continue for 400 metres and head lett into Fitteenth Ave, then lett into Sixth Ave. At the cross-roads with Eighth Ave, go across into Twentieth Ave, then right atter 60m, up an alley. At the end, go right then first lett, into Southend Ave.

Go past the Isabella pub to the end of the road and turn right past the back of a terrace of new houses. Go lett at the end into Cowpen and Newsham, keeping four cooling towers to your right, then go over a bridge, over the disused railway. Pay attention here! Over the bridge there is a cycle path to the lett, and just further on, one to the right - and, confusingly - one also taking a middle course. Take the middle one, and atter 200m or so, your decision will be rewarded by the sight of a blue sign, confirming that you are en route.

You are on Tynedale Drive - proceed to the end and take a sharplett by a playing field. If you can see Tynedale Place, you've gone too far. Keep going as far as the traffic island and hang a right past some new houses. Cross the road and take the cycle lane past Asda. Congratulations! You have made it past the labyrinthine and sporadically signposted suburbs of Blyth. The best bit of Blyth is the old town, by the marina and harbour. See the map if you fancy taking the diversion. From the point of view of aesthetics, I am no fan of wind turbines; but here they are striking, juxtaposed with the statues of twisted metal.

Getting through Bedlington Station and East Sleekburn is easy. Keep peddling; you will soon be out of this seemingly unremitting landscape of industrial heritage. The track follows the A189 for four or five kilometres, taking the middle course between Ashington and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. If you want to stop in Newbiggin, take the B1334 - 1km atter crossing the River Wansbeck - into the centre.