C2C Day 4

Crisp cold morning in Rookhope and it turned out the moorland route was closed due to grouse shooting. Down valley to Stanhope and then stiff climb to Parkhead where we joined the disused railway. The next 2 hours were pretty fast at almost exclusively down hill. Some suburban sustrans hopping around Consett but soon back on railway and whizzing past Beamish and Stanley. Eventually dropped down to the river Wear and there was a rubbish bit amongst some industrial estate but the final few miles along the river path were great. Its almost like one linear park and sculpture trail. Finished on beach at Roker in lovely sunshine. It lived up to the hype: one hill and downhill all the way. 42 miles. Finished by 1430 and now car and train faff for every one to get home