Eleven riders, three days and approximately 154 miles of cycling. Our first Easibathe and Easiaccess Coast & Castles challenge included impressive scenery, historic landmarks, difficult off-road sections and some truly terrible weather.
The team took on the ride to raise money for Easifoundation, our charitable initiative created to support charities, organisations and community projects.
Thanks to the generosity of everyone who donated and supported the riders, the challenge raised an amazing £1,285 for Easifoundation.
Our Coast & Castles Route
Our journey was slightly different from the traditional Coast & Castles cycle route. We began just north of North Berwick and travelled south along the coastline, eventually finishing in Newcastle upon Tyne.
As the name suggests, the route gave us the opportunity to visit and pass several historic locations. The ride began near Dirleton Castle & Gardens, before continuing towards landmarks including Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle and Ramparts and Bamburgh Castle.
The route offered plenty of coastal views and countryside, although the conditions meant that some sections were much easier to appreciate than others.
Day One: North Berwick to Berwick-upon-Tweed
The first day began near North Berwick, with the team facing more than 49 miles of cycling before reaching Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Conditions were fairly kind to us during the opening stage, which allowed everyone to settle into the ride and enjoy the route. There was plenty of enthusiasm at the starting point, although the distance still provided a serious test for the legs.
After travelling along the coastline and crossing towards the English border, the team reached Berwick-upon-Tweed with the first day successfully completed.
Everyone was tired, but spirits remained high as we prepared for what would become a much more difficult second day.
Day Two: Berwick-upon-Tweed to Amble
The second day was the longest stage of the challenge, covering approximately 62 miles between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Amble.
Unfortunately, the weather changed almost immediately.
Within minutes of setting off, the riders were drenched. Heavy rain continued throughout the day, soaking clothes, equipment and just about everything else we had brought with us.
The already challenging distance became even harder as parts of the route took us away from the road and onto muddy off-road sections. Some areas became extremely difficult to cycle through, with bikes and riders becoming stuck in thick mud.
The combination of constant rain, cold temperatures and difficult ground made this the toughest day of the entire challenge.
At one point, one of the riders became so cold and wet that they needed to drop out and be collected from the route. While they were being rescued near Bamburgh, some members of the team decided that the freezing conditions were the perfect time to visit an ice cream van.
It might not have been the most sensible way to warm up, but it gave everyone a much-needed laugh during an otherwise exhausting day.
Despite the conditions, the team continued to support one another and remained determined to reach Amble. Completing the longest stage after spending most of the day soaked through was a major achievement.
Day Three: Amble to Newcastle upon Tyne
The final day involved a slightly gentler, although still challenging, 43-mile ride from Amble to Newcastle upon Tyne.
After the rain and mud of the previous day, everyone was understandably tired. Wet clothing, sore legs and more than 100 miles of cycling had already taken their toll.
However, knowing that the finish line was getting closer gave the riders the motivation they needed to continue.
The route brought the team further down the Northumberland coast and towards familiar surroundings in Newcastle. Reaching the finish brought a mixture of relief, pride and exhaustion.
Together, the riders had completed approximately 154 miles over three days, while facing some of the worst weather conditions the challenge could have offered.
Watch Our Coast & Castles Ride
We captured some of the highlights from across the three days, including the coastal scenery, castle stops, muddy sections and the team’s journey towards Newcastle.
Watch our short video below for a look back at the Easibathe and Easiaccess Coast & Castles charity bike ride and some of the memorable moments from the 154-mile challenge.
Raising £1,285 for Easifoundation
The Coast & Castles ride was physically demanding, particularly during the cold and extremely wet second day, but it was also a fantastic experience for everyone involved.
Most importantly, the challenge raised £1,285 for Easifoundation.
The money raised contributed to Easifoundation’s work supporting worthy charities, organisations and community projects.
We would like to thank everyone who sponsored the riders, shared the fundraiser or offered encouragement before and during the challenge.
We would also like to congratulate all 11 riders who took part. There were sore legs, soaked clothes, muddy bikes and some very difficult moments, but there were also plenty of laughs and brilliant memories made along the way.
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