Matfen Village Store and Café – George Stephenson's Birthplace loop from MetroCentre

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North East England

Matfen Village Store and Café – George Stephenson's Birthplace loop from MetroCentre

Moderate

riders

Matfen Village Store and Café – George Stephenson's Birthplace loop from MetroCentre

04:01

66.3km

450m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: October 14, 2026

Tips

Includes segments that go up or down a series of steps

You may need to carry your bike.

After 44 m for 9 m

After 66.3 km for 9 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

19.2 km

Streethouses Plantation

Forest

21.7 km

Stamfordham Village

Highlight • Other

Stamfordham is a picturesque village set in the rolling Northumberland countryside, ideal as a resting point on the Reivers Cycle Route. The spacious village green is lined with historic stone cottages, dominated by the 13th century church of St Mary and the Butter Cross from 1735. Enjoy a break at the Swinburne Arms, or relax on a bench under the lime trees.

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27.4 km

Matfen Village Store and Café

Highlight • Rest Area

Next to the village hall with its historic charm, lies the friendly village shop and café. Ideal for a break, lunch stop or to charge your phone. Inside you will find modern facilities, from Wi-Fi to a well-equipped kitchen.

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Tip by

27.5 km

Stone Cross and Church in Matfen

Highlight • Bridge

It's a beautiful town in the countryside. I passed through by bike, but would come back for a walk/wander.

Tip by

46.1 km

View of the River Tyne from Bywell Bridge

Highlight • Viewpoint

Bywell Bridge is a striking stone arch bridge spanning the River Tyne, connecting the villages of Bywell and Stocksfield since 1838. Built in the classical 19th-century style, the bridge consists of five broad segmental arches of locally quarried sandstone, supported by sturdy piers with buttresses. Originally designed for horse-drawn carriages, the bridge has since been adapted for motorized traffic, yet retains its historic character. The bridge is situated in the picturesque river landscape of the Tyne.

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Tip by

52.3 km

Horsley Wood

Forest

54.8 km

George Stephenson's Birthplace

Highlight • Monument

George Stephenson's birthplace is a simple stone worker's cottage on the north bank of the River Tyne in Wylam, built circa 1760 to house mining families, and where the future railway pioneer was born in 1781. A Grade II* listed building owned by the National Trust, it is now a historic house museum with original furnishings and displays about Stephenson's childhood and early locomotives, and is opened to visitors by costume guides who wish to experience the living conditions of a Georgian mining family.

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58.5 km

The Big Lamp Brewery

Highlight • Pub

Brewery and pub next to Newburn Park and Hadrians Cycleway

Tip by

59.2 km

The Masons Arms

Highlight • Restaurant

The Boathouse in Newburn is a pub restaurant on Water Row along the River Tyne. Reopening as Branzino, it boasts high-quality, modern décor and a warm, friendly atmosphere. Serving British classics (Full English, Boathouse Bonanza) paired with popular burgers and brioche bap (e.g., beef patty with bacon, cheese, fried onions, and egg) sets it apart, with reviews praising the quality of the food and the hospitality.

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Tip by

64.0 km