Gravel Rides Northumberland maps 15 standout routes in the North East
A new guidebook dedicated to gravel cycling in the North East has been published, offering riders a detailed and carefully curated selection of routes across Northumberland and the North Pennines.
Gravel Rides Northumberland, published on 12 March, features 15 gravel rides ranging from 10 to 104 kilometres. The routes span a wide variety of terrain, from lowland rail trails to remote upland tracks in Kielder, the Cheviots and the North Pennines.
The book is written by Jordan Matthews, a North East-based cyclist with extensive experience in route design, event organisation and cycling development. Every route has been researched, ridden and refined, with an emphasis on ride quality, landscape and accessibility.
Each chapter includes Ordnance Survey mapping, turn-by-turn directions, distance, ascent, timings and difficulty grading, alongside practical information such as refreshment stops and access notes. The book also includes high-quality action photography, a detailed appendix and downloadable GPX files.
Matthews has worked in the bike industry since his teens and has held roles in retail, mechanics, charity cycling and adaptive cycling. In 2024, he acted as events manager for a gravel cycling events company, delivering more than 20 events across northern England and Scotland. He is currently Cycling UK’s Cycling Development Officer for the North East and will take on route coordination responsibilities for the Sandstone Way and Reivers Off-Road routes in 2026.
His writing has previously appeared in Cycle magazine, and he contributed routes and advice to Cycling in Northumbria (Bradt, 2023). Gravel Rides Northumberland is his first book.
Learn more at the Adventure Books Website