The C2C (Sea to Sea) is of course the classic coast to coast cycle route. Challenging hills, wonderful scenery. Thousands do it every year, with good reason.
But if you have already done it, what could be your next challenge? Here are my thoughts, some based on cycling the routes personally, some based on poring over maps at the Bike Ride Shop.
Let’s suppose you still want to wet your wheels in one sea, cross the country, and wet your wheels at the opposite shore. Also that you’d like signposts to help you on your way. Try these coast to coast routes:
Hadrian’s Cycleway
Probably the second most popular coast-to-coast route. Starts in Tynemouth along the same route as the C2C, but then keeps to the Tyne Valley to cross the Pennines. Fewer climbs than the C2C or the Reivers Route. A personal opinion: it’s a really good route, but it seems a shame that Hadrian’s Cycleway doesn’t run alongside Hadrian’s Wall. If it were me, I’d use the B-road close to the wall for at least part of the way. The B-road is shown on the same map.
Chesters Roman Fort, Hadrian's Wall
The Reivers Route
Originally known as “The Return C2C”, the Reivers Route starts at Tynemouth (the northern end of the C2C) and heads north west to the forests surrounding the Kielder Reservoir, then back south west via moorland roads and into Carlisle. It skirts the northern end of the Lake District at the back of Skiddaw, runs through Cockermouth to the coast at Workington, then down the coast to finish in Whitehaven. It’s wilder country than the C2C, and a longer route, but with fewer big climbs.
Reivers Route Map and Guide Book
Walney to Wear
Probably the least cycled of the routes linking the Cumbrian coast and the North East, but an extremely good route. Starts near Barrow-in-Furness in south Cumbria, skirts the Lake District and snakes through the Pennines to finish at Sunderland.
Walney to Wear route
Way of the Roses
A brand new route, starting on the Lancashire coast, and finishing on the Yorkshire coast, taking in Lancaster, the Dales and York along the way. I’ve not done it, but it looks very good.
Trans-Pennine Trail
Starting on the Lancashire coast at Southport, heading into Liverpool on marked cycleways, then east into Manchester and on into Yorkshire.
Devon Coast to Coast
From the north coast of Devon to the south coast of Devon, following wooded valleys and upland moors. Perhaps best as a gentle introduction to coast-to-coasting than the C2C or the other northern routes.
Devon Coast to Coast - into Lydford
Land’s End to John O’Groats
There is no single route for this. There are three guide books offering a variety of routes, from country lanes to fast A-roads – but no signposts along the way. It’s a big challenge, however fit you are and whatever type of route you want to follow. Good luck!
John O'Groats YHA
I’ll have a think about point to point routes rather than coast to coast routes for another blog. In the mean time, we have maps and/or guide books for all of the above at the Bike Ride Shop.
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