St Bees - Whitehaven
- Penrith
Following the Cumbria/Hadrian cycle route from St Bees to Whitehaven for the first 4 miles, you will then pick up the Sea to Sea cycle route from Whitehaven, a pleasant sea
port with an attractive town. For the next 10 miles
the route follows the Whitehaven to Ennerdale Railway Path,
a well surfaced traffic-free trail. The route then climbs
fellsides, follows lake shores and goes through Winlatter
Forest Park onto Keswick, passing
through some of Britain's
most
beautiful scenery.
On leaving Keswick we ride along the delightful
Keswick to Threlkeld rail trail, deep in the gorge of the
river Greta. From Threlkeld the route skirts the slopes
of Blencathra,
one of Cumbria's most distinctive mountains, en route for
the hamlet of Mungrisedale. From here it continues on cycle
paths and lanes through the fringes of the Lake District
to the market town of Penrith.
(There is an alternative off road route across the Old Coach
Road over
Threlkeld Common, but this is not suitable for heavily laden
bikes). Penrith - Allenheads
This section is the most mountainous of the entire route,
with a long climb up Hartside Pass into
the
North
Pennines known
as
England's
Last Wilderness. This
is a huge, wild, upland area characterised by open moorlands
with plenty of wildlife. After passing through Alston, England's
highest market town, the ride climbs up Black Hill,
the highest point on the C2C route, then onto the old
mining village
of Allenheads.
Allenheads - Tynemouth
This section marks the end of the rough, hilly terrain of
the Northern Pennines and the start of the industrial landscape
of the north east. Although most of the route between Allenheads
and Castleside is on lanes, the traffic is relatively light
allowing you to enjoy the wild grandeur of the moorlands.
Between Castleside and Newcastle the route travels mainly
on cycle paths alongside the river Tyne into Newcastle upon
Tyne and onto your final destination the north pier at Tynemouth, where this ride finishes. |
