The Pennine Cycleway has just left the C2C, hurried past lower Alston, and found a four mile section of woodland. The cycleway runs parallel to the South Tynedale Railway here and the whistles of the popular South Tynedale Railway's steam trains can be heard in the distance as you head alongside the river South Tyne and its quiet valley. 

Alston and Buxton both lay claim to be the highest market town in England but it's solely academic for cyclists on the Pennine Cycleway, as the route has now touched both towns along its way.

And this is still part of the North Pennines designated AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) which the route has pretty much stuck to since leaving Appleby. It's quiet road and former railway track from here all the way to Haltwhistle, 'Centre of Britain' - although this claim too has its rivals.

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