New Northumberland cycle path opens between Alnmouth and Alnwick

A new cycle path taking in beautiful scenery between Alnwick and Alnmouth has been officially opened.
Alnwick county councillor Gordon Castle (second from right) joined staff from the Aln Valley Railway Trust at the opening.Alnwick county councillor Gordon Castle (second from right) joined staff from the Aln Valley Railway Trust at the opening.
Alnwick county councillor Gordon Castle (second from right) joined staff from the Aln Valley Railway Trust at the opening.

The Aln Valley Cycle Path is a 2.3km track which runs along the route of the former railway line between Lionheart Station in Alnwick and Greenrigg near Alnmouth, where it joins the local road network.

The idea came from the Aln Valley Railway Trust, which is re-opening the Alnwick to Alnmouth railway line as a tourist attraction and had proposed a cycle and footpath running alongside it.

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Northumberland County Council then secured £144,000 in European funding to construct the new path which is now complete and open to all.

Coun Glen Sanderson, cabinet member for environment and local services, said: “We’re blessed in this county with some fantastic paths and this new route is no exception, passing through a beautiful and quiet stretch of countryside and providing a new link between Alnwick and Alnmouth.”

Coun Cath Homer, cabinet member for culture, arts, leisure and tourism, said: “This is a great new addition to the network, bringing a safer and more peaceful route between the two tourist areas and hopefully attracting new visitors.”

Coun Gordon Castle, member for Alnwick, added: “The A1068 road between Alnwick, Lesbury and Alnmouth has never been a suitable road for cycling or walking and a cycle path has long been needed.

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“At last it is open and joins up with the Greenrigg road to Bilton and Lesbury.

“A few hundred metres away from that exit is the cycle path from Hipsburn to Warkworth. We are serious about making cycling and walking safer and more enjoyable and this demonstrates our commitment to local people and visitors.”

Kevin Holden, the Aln Valley Railway’s permanent way manager, on behalf of the Trust, said: “It was a huge pleasure working with the team from the contractors, Straughans, who have completed the footpath and cycleway adjacent to our railway.

“It is great to see so many people now using the new safe pathway, both cyclists and families on foot. We are now looking forward to our next ‘push’ from Greenrigg on towards Alnmouth.”