03 Middlesbrough to Dundee
This route was brought to you by:
RouteXpert Nick Carthew - (MRA Master)
Last edit: 21-02-2021
Route Summary
The 3rd route of: The Ultimate 10 Day (North) UK Tour.A journey through the beautiful countryside and coast of east England and up into Scotland. Including the Tees Transporter Bridge, The Angel of the North, the spiritual Holy Island of Lindisfarne and across the border into Scotland. The Holy Island is accessed across a tidal road and a knowledge of tide times is crucial. link provided in review. The Tees Transporter Bridge is closed on Sundays and only operates between 07:15 - 18:20 Mon -Fri and 09:30 - 15:05 on Sat. The fee is £1.50 for cars or motorcycles.
The route has earned 4**** stars from me because of the scenery and attractions despite many miles on fast roads. Using the fast roads allows time to visit these attractions.
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Verdict
Duration
8h 59m
Mode of travel
Car or motorcycle
Distance
385.96 km
Countries
Bamburgh Castle
RouteXpert Review
As this is part of a tour, the route starts from a hotel in the middle of Middlesbrough and soon arrives at the Tees Transporter Bridge, a different method of crossing the water and a great way to start the day. The bridge is closed on Sundays and only operates between 07:15 - 18:20 Mon -Fri and 09:30 - 15:05 on Sat. The fee is £1.50 for cars or motorcycles. Skip RPs 3 and 4 to avoid using the bridge.The route uses the A19 dual carriageway to travel north, it's a fast road but quite pleasant to use and in less than an hour from the bridge you'll be at the giant 'Angel of the North' art installation. Since spreading its wings in February 1998, Antony Gormley's The Angel of the North has become one of the most talked about pieces of public art ever produced.
Rising 20 metres from the earth near the A1 in Gateshead, the Angel dominates the skyline, dwarfing all those who come to see it. Made from 200 tonnes of steel, it has a wingspan of 54 metres and a red-brown colour that comes from the weathering steel which can withstand winds of more than 100 miles per hour. Getting up close and personal with the Angel is an experience you'll never forget! There is often a coffee van parked in the car park.
Joining another fast dual carriageway road to leave Newcastle, you can take a short detour to see a small section of Hadrian's Wall at RP 9. Hadrian’s Wall was the north-west frontier of the Roman empire for nearly 300 years. It was built by the Roman army on the orders of the emperor Hadrian following his visit to Britain in AD 122. At 73 miles (80 Roman miles) long, it crossed northern Britain from Wallsend on the River Tyne in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west. The most famous of all the frontiers of the Roman empire, Hadrian’s Wall was made a World Heritage Site in 1987.
The route leaves the A1 briefly for a view of the Farne Islands and Bamburgh Castle. With its origins in the Anglo-Saxon period, Bamburgh Castle has dominated its volcanic outcrop and the surrounding countryside for centuries. From its humble wooden palisade to the impressive stone walls of today it strikes an iconic pose on the Northumbrian coastline. Open all year round it welcomes visitors to enjoy the grounds and staterooms.
Back onto the A1 again for a short ride to the jewel in the crown of this route, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Just a few miles south of the border with Scotland. The island is linked to the mainland by a causeway which twice a day is covered by the tide. Possibly the holiest site of Anglo-Saxon England, Lindisfarne was founded by St. Aidan, an Irish monk, who came from Iona the centre of Christianity in Scotland. St Aidan converted Northumbria to Christianity at the invitation of its king, Oswald. St. Aidan founded Lindisfarne Monastery on Holy Island in 635, becoming its first Abbot and Bishop.
The tidal causeway not only becomes covered twice a day, but it can be slippery and those using two wheels need to be cautious. The island is a thriving community, with a busy harbour, shops, hotels and inns. There is much to see on the island and although a return trip to the centre is only a 15 minute ride, I would advise you to stay a while and enjoy the beauty and history, whether you have religion or not. Check the tide times in the link below. Ever since 635, when King Oswald gave the Holy Island of Lindisfarne to St. Aidan to establish his monastery, the island has been a place of pilgrimage. The road was not constructed until 1954 and until then the vertical poles were the only indicators of the safe route between the mainland and island. The sight of the poles stretching across the sand and mud is one of the most iconic views in Northumberland.
Rejoin the A1, again briefly as the route passes through Berwick upon Tweed and over the River Tweed on the Royal Tweed Bridge that runs alongside the lovely old stone bridge. Follow the A1 again and cross the Scottish border at RP 20 and onto the Queensferry Crossing bridge to the east of Edinburgh. The Queensferry Crossing opened to traffic on 30 August 2017. The 1.7 miles (2.7km) structure is the longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world and also by far the largest to feature cables which cross mid-span. This innovative design provides extra strength and stiffness, allowing the towers and the deck to be more slender and elegant.
From here, it's an hours ride through some really nice countryside to the River Tay. The Premier Inn Hotel at Dundee is the end of the route and situated on the north bank of the River Tay. This is reached by using the unspectacular but long 1.3 mile (2.1 km) Tay Road Bridge. The hotel is next to the Royal Research Ship Discovery and Discovery Point. Discovery Point is home to RRS Discovery – Made in Dundee and designed for adventure. This award-winning visitor attraction tells the story of the iconic ship ‘Discovery’ from her beginnings in Dundee, her amazing Antarctic expedition with Captain Scott and her voyages thereafter. I would suggest 2 nights in the hotel to allow you to visit this attraction and perhaps a short ride up the coast to sample some Arbroath Smokies from where they are made. No visit to East Scotland is complete without a visit to Arbroath and the chance to eat Arbroath Smokies in this fishing town. These haddock are salt-dried and hot-smoked. They can be eaten cold or warm or used in a variety of recipes employing smoked fish. The Arboath Smokie has a pronounced smoke aroma, as well as a smoked flavor, almost sweet, with a bit of salt. The outside of the fish is dry while the flesh is cream-colored, moist, and flaky. Aficionados say the flavor has more depth than other types of smoked haddock.
Tees Transporter Bridge.
Upturned boats used as sheds on Lindisfarne.
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Use of this GPS route is at your own expense and risk. The route has been carefully composed and checked by a MyRoute-app accredited RouteXpert for use on TomTom, Garmin and MyRoute-app Navigation.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
Changes may nevertheless have occurred due to changed circumstances, road diversions or seasonal closures. We therefore recommend checking each route before use.
Preferably use the route track in your navigation system. More information about the use of MyRoute-app can be found on the website under 'Community' or 'Academy'.
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About this region
The points of the compass are an evenly spaced set of horizontal directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and geography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each separated by 90 degrees, and secondarily divided by four ordinal (intercardinal) directions—northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest—each located halfway between two cardinal directions. Some disciplines such as meteorology and navigation further divide the compass with additional azimuths. Within European tradition, a fully defined compass has 32 'points' (and any finer subdivisions are described in fractions of points).Compass points are valuable in that they allow a user to refer to a specific azimuth in a colloquial fashion, without having to compute or remember degrees.
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Route Collections in this region
The Ultimate 10 Day (North) UK Tour
Starting from and returning to Harwich ferry port, this tour follows the east coast of England up to the Highlands of Scotland and returns via the Lake District. It visits 6 of the UK's national parks and explores 2 islands and visits 2 James Bond 007 film locations.
Daily highlights.
Day 1, Harwich to Wells Next the Sea:
Southwold lighthouse, Cromer Crab lunch and sleeping on a Dutch barge.
Day 2, Wells Next the Sea to Middlesbrough:
Royal Sandringham Estate, Humber Bridge, a lap of Oliver's Mount, North York Moors National Park, Whitby Abbey the inspiration for Dracula.
Day 3, Middlesbrough to Dundee:
Tees Transporter Bridge, Angel of the North, Bamburgh Castle, Holy Island of Lindisfarne.
Day 4, Dundee to Inverness:
Cairngorms National Park, Balmoral Castle, Whisky Distilleries.
Day 5, Inverness to Ullapool:
Exceptional Landscapes, Falls of Shin, Loch Drumbeg Viewpoint, Kylesku Bridge.
Day 6, Ullapool to Dornie:
Kinlochewe viewpoint, Applecross Pass, Isle of Skye.
Day 7, Dornie to Keswick:
Eilean Donan Castle (007), Glencoe Pass, Glen Etive (007), Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.
Day 8, Keswick to Kendal:
A tour of the Lake District National Park visiting 6 of the best passes including Wrynose Pass and Hardknott Pass and 7 of the great lakes including Ullswater and Windermere.
Day 9, Kendal to Matlock:
Yorkshire Dales National Park, Ribblehead Viaduct, Peak District National Park, Snake Pass, Matlock Bath (motorcycle Mecca).
Day 10, Matlock to Harwich:
Heckington Windmill, Moulton Windmill, Dutch Quarter in Colchester.
By starting from Harwich, this tour avoids the traffic congestion of the south east and London making it perfect for European visitors wanting to see some of the best landscapes and sights that the north of the UK has to offer.
The cost of the ferry from Hoek Van Holland to Harwich return for motorcycle and rider costs £139.00 (163.51 Euro) (in 2019) which includes a cabin on the outward leg.
Where possible, motorways have been avoided and scenic routes are used every day.
Enjoy.
Daily highlights.
Day 1, Harwich to Wells Next the Sea:
Southwold lighthouse, Cromer Crab lunch and sleeping on a Dutch barge.
Day 2, Wells Next the Sea to Middlesbrough:
Royal Sandringham Estate, Humber Bridge, a lap of Oliver's Mount, North York Moors National Park, Whitby Abbey the inspiration for Dracula.
Day 3, Middlesbrough to Dundee:
Tees Transporter Bridge, Angel of the North, Bamburgh Castle, Holy Island of Lindisfarne.
Day 4, Dundee to Inverness:
Cairngorms National Park, Balmoral Castle, Whisky Distilleries.
Day 5, Inverness to Ullapool:
Exceptional Landscapes, Falls of Shin, Loch Drumbeg Viewpoint, Kylesku Bridge.
Day 6, Ullapool to Dornie:
Kinlochewe viewpoint, Applecross Pass, Isle of Skye.
Day 7, Dornie to Keswick:
Eilean Donan Castle (007), Glencoe Pass, Glen Etive (007), Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.
Day 8, Keswick to Kendal:
A tour of the Lake District National Park visiting 6 of the best passes including Wrynose Pass and Hardknott Pass and 7 of the great lakes including Ullswater and Windermere.
Day 9, Kendal to Matlock:
Yorkshire Dales National Park, Ribblehead Viaduct, Peak District National Park, Snake Pass, Matlock Bath (motorcycle Mecca).
Day 10, Matlock to Harwich:
Heckington Windmill, Moulton Windmill, Dutch Quarter in Colchester.
By starting from Harwich, this tour avoids the traffic congestion of the south east and London making it perfect for European visitors wanting to see some of the best landscapes and sights that the north of the UK has to offer.
The cost of the ferry from Hoek Van Holland to Harwich return for motorcycle and rider costs £139.00 (163.51 Euro) (in 2019) which includes a cabin on the outward leg.
Where possible, motorways have been avoided and scenic routes are used every day.
Enjoy.
View Route Collection
10 Routes
3206.27 km
79h 4m
5 thrilling routes for the North West of England
A superb collection of 5 routes that all use National Parks and therefore travel through breathtakingly beautiful landscapes. The header picture was taken from my GoPro footage of Wrynose Pass in the Lake District. Other National Parks in this collection are the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and the Peak District all of them offering a thrilling ride through unspoilt scenery.
As with all MyRoute-app RouteXpert routes, these have been made equal for MRA Navigation, TomTom and Garmin devices meaning that whatever GPS satnav you use, you and all of your buddies are guaranteed to follow these routes precisely. Enjoy.
As with all MyRoute-app RouteXpert routes, these have been made equal for MRA Navigation, TomTom and Garmin devices meaning that whatever GPS satnav you use, you and all of your buddies are guaranteed to follow these routes precisely. Enjoy.
View Route Collection
5 Routes
1224.6 km
39h 34m