Coast to Coast Cycle

About the event

Departing from the coast of West Cumbria at Whitehaven, this challenging itinerary stretches for 225km (140 miles) until reaching the North Sea at Whitley Bay. The picturesque route crosses the northern edge of the Lake District, then climbs into the dramatic landscapes of the northern Pennines. Following the ancient fringes of Hadrian’s Wall, it then heads down to the coastline of Whitley Bay.

You’ll need all your pedal power to tackle big ascents and descents in the Eden Valley and Northumberland National Park. The aches and pains will be long forgotten, however, while the memory of this remarkable journey past former mining towns and Roman forts will endure for years to come.

Itinerary Guide

We normally run this trip over a weekend, Friday to Sunday. A typical itinerary looks like this:

Day 1: Cycle from Whitehaven, over Whinlatter pass and on to Keswick.  After Keswick, continue along cycle paths on the old railway towards Greystoke.

Day 2: A day of cycling through Penrith and the  Eden Valley, then up Hartside summit up to the crest of the Pennines. Then a long descent into Alston, before another ascent to the  the top of Allendale; drop down into Allenheads.

Day 3 - Sunday: Starts with the final push over the top and into Weardale, and then on towards Consett along old Durham railway routes. The final leg takes you on to Sunderland.