Generic Touring Thread

Answers on a postcard?

NCN routes can be pretty bad for signage some times, and even a little confusing.
A list of towns and basic route description will help.
I would study the route before you go as well. Sometimes they, in a effort to stay on quieter roads, can be so needlessly complicated and therefore very slow. This is mainly through towns and cities. I've found it easier to choose a direct route through and pick the NCN on the way out.

EDIT: I have not experience of NCN1 but I have ridden a number of others.

I did Edinburgh to Ashington earlier this year, before diverting inland and coming down the Pennines to Nottingham. I had tech, but found that section very well signed saving a small section near this Tesco https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.8822428,-3.087751,3a,75y,176.56h,80.28t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s2xcufAQaTGBSu0two_dxAA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D2xcufAQaTGBSu0two_dxAA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D23.076857%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656 which I think is new and has disrupted the signage, it took me some questing to pick it back up after losing it.

Not sure what bike you are on, but worth noting that I found the off road section from Berwick-Holy Island good value on my disc-braked cross bike (28mm slick tyres), fairly heavily rutted grass track.

The Drift Cafe near Cresswell was excellent.

I had route ~on my basic garmin (line only, no maps) but also cut up a cheap road map and highlighted the route which was a useful back up.