In other news, I was out route-checking today, and checking the routesheet instructions.
No changes to the published route - I wasn't sure of the route from the 697 to Shilbottle, but this is the shortest route, and it's lovely. There's a hill, and it's a bit rough in places, but the alternative is all hills, and all rough, and you'd have to go through Alnwick, eurgh.
Worth it for the view from the top of Lemmington Bank alone, I reckon:
I was quite happy with the route through North Tyneside, too. Well, as far as I got - it was pissing down from Cresswell south, and I bailed to a train at Cramlington. I stopped at a bus shelter in Ashington to hide from the rain, and a couple walking past checked I was OK, which was lovely. Decent roads between towns, no silly overtakes. A bit of a comedown after Druridge Bay, but what wouldn't be?
I do still have to check the instructions for Cramlington-Washington (be still my beating heart), but nae rush, I don't expect that to change, barring the appearance of a magical cyclepath from the south end of the tunnel to Fatfield Bridge.