doing The Way Of The Roses soon...

Thanks for that tip, defo dont want to be cycling through a muddy field.

I know what you mean about the signs, but none of us have GPS so we'll just how to see how it goes.

Did it this weekend just gone, cracking weather for it, though the clock change the weekend before told!

I would say this route is one of the best ive done in the UK so far, probably the best infact. Definitely better than Coast to Coast. We (5 of us) did it on road bikes and found the country lanes that the majority of the ride was on to be an absolute joy! The route is very well signposted and i really couldnt recommend it enough.

We did it over 2 days, and with a 8am start in Morecambe and a couple of stops we ended up riding 92 miles to arrive in Boroughbridge at 6.30pm. With the dark nights now upon us, the last 25 miles were done in the dark with lights but at a very slow pace. In daylight i think we would easily have averaged double, as once at the summit before Pateley Bridge its largely downhill to Boroughbridge.

Day 2 we completed the ride, with an 8.30 start, but were really frustrated and let down by the York section. We followed the signs which were confusing to say the least and ended up on a rough cycle path out of York. The terrain was so bad we were lucky to get away with just one puncture. 1 mile further up and we were greeted by a fence and building site, path closed. Another group of 4 older tourers on hybrids then joined us! We all turned round and the first point off the cycle path was a 7ft gate that was appropriately locked. The other 4 carried on back towards York, but we climbed it and got the bikes over. All this messing around cost us easily 1hr30 and ultimately meant once again riding the last 15 miles in pitch black at 10mph speed. I would say to anybody who doesnt have a good reason to go into York, to avoid it.

Saw quite a few other WOTR riders on the route, most looking like 3-4 day riders with panniers on, luckily we had our camper van with us again and a driver so we were able to use Spen House Campsite in Minskip as our half way point.

9/10 for me, York costing it from getting full marks.

Theres plenty of climbing in it - about 6,500ft i believe - and most of it is short and sharp. Easily the hardest climb is on the one out of Settle, 20% for about 1.5km ish i reckon. We found it tougher climbing wise than C2C to be honest.
It would be a great effort to do it in a day!

tim wand wrote:

As for the York Comments it can be a bit confusing , I d come off route , the way in to York down the river path is great. But once your at the bottom of the Botham or by the lendal bridge, I would then proceed out of York through Fulford/ Heslington following signs for the University then A166, fortget trying to find the Osbaldwick route out. As you say it really is Industrial estates and blocked access.

Once your clear of York at the roundabout of the 1079 (Hull) A64 (Leeds Scarborough) and A166 (Bridlington) about 1/4 mile down the A166 you ll see a T junction on the left for the Yorkshire Farm Museum, Adjacent to this on the right hand side of the road is the cycle way to Dunnigton, going back slightly on yourself it takes you back on route and its easy from there.

Perfect advice IMO.