The Haydon Hundred | Challenge Sportive 60K

GPX route

The route is displayed on the map above.

Overview

Starting in the picturesque riverside village of Haydon Bridge, the routes climb both slopes of the South Tyne Valley, head south towards Alston, and cross the Allendale Moors. Carefully planned to deliver challenging riding alongside jaw-dropping scenery, this sportive is a day you won’t forget.

Route highlights

Some or all of these highlights will be included in your route, depending on which distance you choose:

• Start and finish in the picturesque riverside village of Haydon Bridge 
• Climb both sides of the South Tyne Valley
• Follow the ancient Stanegate Roman Road along a high ridge with expansive views 
• Drop into the Tyne Valley before rolling along quiet valley roads 
• Take on the tough ascent of Bellister Bank and continue up to Plenmeller Common 
• Ride a dramatic ‘top of the world’ ridge across open moorland 
• Fast, sweeping descents into the Allen Valley 
• Classic route extension heads to Alston, including the famous cobbled high street climb 
• Long, steady climb over the moors followed by a fast descent into Alston 
• Climb Black Hill – one of England’s highest roads – with panoramic summit views 
• Ride across dramatic High Pennines landscapes with big, open scenery throughout 
• Choose from three routes (60km, 100km, 140km), each sharing similar scenery

Event HQ

The Bridge
Church Street
Haydon Bridge
Hexham
Northumberland
NE47 6JQ
UK

Race HQ

Event HQ is the Bridge Library and Visitor Information Point.

By rail

It is located in the car park of Haydon Bridge Railway station with regular trains to Newcastle and Carlisle and points in between.

Parking

Free Parking is available at the High School, or roadside to the west of the village.

Included

• Waymarked routes
• Feed stations on route
• Famous flapjacks
• Chip timing and recorded results
• Marshalls
• Event HQ facilities
• Food/drink voucher at the finish

Something for every rider. This is a great event with three routes covering three distances and elevations. Run by the community rather than a professional company the event has a friendly, community feel while still being very well organised. It would be good to offer an alternative to the free water bottle as I now have quite a collection! Love the flapjacks. Alan I

Superb event. A truly memorable event. My first time and it will definitely be an annual event for me. I completed the Classic 100. The scenery was incredible and the views from the top of the world were spectacular. It had enough tough sections to make it challenging and provide a sense of achievement but wasn’t ott. Brilliant organisation - a real feeling of genuine warmth and friendship. Mark S

Brilliant community event. Top marks to the Haydon Bridge community trust for organising this event. That it is organised and run on the day by so many dedicated volunteers is testimony to the spirit of the local community and a real sense of welcome I felt as a cyclist from away participating in the event. The route itself was well planned, challenging in terms of vertical ascent but not too taxing in terms of gradients. The feed stations were well positioned and the flapjacks excellent. I'll definitely be back to do it again. Thomas H

Excellent organisation and support. My friend and I took part in the 100km (although in the past I have also completed the short and long routes). From start to finish, the volunteers and marshals were welcoming and supportive and dotted around the route in strategic places. Feed stations were well stocked with delicious flapjacks! The toilets at Nenthead are the cleanest I’ve ever seen! The hills are certainly a challenge but the scenery is beautiful. Very wet for us so can I order sunshine for next time please? Nicola Mc

A sportive that’s welcoming to all cycling abilities and bikes as well as supporting the local community. We have been entering the Haydon Hundred since its very first event through all weathers and temperatures! It has encouraged us to get out on our bikes and the scenery is amazing in this special part of Northumberland. Everyone is so welcoming and friendly and the skill and determination of the more experienced riders never ceases to amaze us! Sioban W

Stunning ride, great organisation, very friendly Jeremy C

I've done a few bike rides and sportives over the last 10 years or so at different places; this is, by a long way, the best and my favourite. Great welcome when signing on, upon completion and also at the feed stations en route. Next year I will keep my phone or camera handy to snap the great views along the way. The £7 voucher to spend in the village is a bonus - I spent mine in the cafe across the old bridge, next door to the chippy. Thank you to the organisers and volunteers who make this such a special event. David T

Challenging route but wonderful scenery. The volunteers are amazing. The only thing missing for me was the chance of a hot drink at the feeding stations. But I don't know how they would manage that anyway. Julie C

The friendliest sportive. The organisers do such a brilliant job putting this together you really get the sense it’s community driven. The route is challenging but it’s well thought out with feed stations along the way. Thank you to the organisers who make this such a brilliant day out no matter the weather conditions. Philip K

Great event Stephen Mc

Fabulous event, brilliant views, hard work but worth the effort. Support was amazing. James T

Great day out on the bike. Great route. Well organised. Helpful volunteers and a lovely pork sandwich at the end. I'll be back next year. Neil C

Another excellently organised event. Super friendly organisers and marshals with great feed stations. What's not to like and the beer and music festival was a great way to finish the day. James R

Beautiful route. Well organised. This is a simply stunning route on extremely quiet roads. Great organisation and a lovely hog roast treat at the end of… Ben E

Brutal climbs loved and hated it at the same time. Great ride, feed stations excellent. Certainly do it again. And very cheap to enter. Worth the entry fee just for the flapjacks. Well done to all involved in organising it. Jeff B

Brilliantly organised event, even better for it being local and being able to use your voucher in the village. All the marshals were very supportive and encouraging. I lost my van key! Somewhere Jane M

Amazing day. This is one of the best organised sportives that I have done in many years. I'll be back next year, but only if you don't order the rain. Gareth C

The most friendly sportive in the area. Great organisation and communication in the lead up to the event. Extremely friendly volunteers at the start, end and en-route. Great scenery even in less than perfect weather this year and of course plenty of climbing! Delicious and plentiful home made flapjacks, bananas and drinks at feed stations. All in all a great event! Gail M

Excellent sportive. Fantastic day out, even with the few showers that hit us. Overall the course was a fantastic route, very hilly ride with some great descents, fantastic scenery. The feed stations were very well accommodating with flapjacks etc. The salted caramel one was very delicious Steve G

Just the most fabulous scenery and roads. Everyone really friendly. Well organised and very well sign-posted. The 140k ride was hard and very hilly but the views, even with imperfect weather, were fantastic. Charles T

This event is run entirely by volunteers and all funds raised go towards maintaining the village Library and Visitor Information Point which is an essential facility for many in the village and is no longer funded by the County Council.

Riders under the age of 16 can take part but the entry must be made by their parent/guardian, who must also sign a disclaimer.

Entry fees