Coast to Coast (UK): road bike route

feisty · November 2016

Hi

Am looking to do coast to coast on a road bike. Has anyone got a gpx file of a road bike friendly version that avoids the worst rough bits?

Thanks

andcp · November 2016

About 2 seconds on Google produced this:
http://www.opencycling.com/coast-to-coa ... /route.php
http://www.mapmyride.com/gb/whitehaven- ... te-2667756
http://www.gps-routes.co.uk/routes/home ... ycle-route
viewtopic.php?t=12799096

fenix · November 2016

Which coast are you after ?

feisty · November 2016

I, of course, Googled first. I was wondering if someone had done it and could vouch for a route they'd done that isn't on rough ground as i understand there are off road bits on the sustrans route. Those links are i think the standard sustrans one

Whitehaven to Sunderland is the route I am looking at

durhamwasp · November 2016

Shouldn't need to go anywhere near any off road bits.

Stick on the main road from Whitehaven to Keswick (including all the way up and down Whinlatter pass) then basically just follow the signs from there to **nderland.

Only tip I would give, you can save a fair bit of time by sticking to the A66 for a lot more of the bit between Keswick and Penrith, as the old road runs right alongside it on the other side of the hedge for much of it, and is therefore traffic free. There is the odd section (maybes 500m-1km at a time) where you need to go back on the A66 proper, but that's it.

Once at Penrith follow the main road all the way to Alston (up Hartside - again don't turn off) and then through to Nenthead and from there just follow signs.

feisty · November 2016

Thanks

bianchimoon · November 2016

Have you thought about going slightly further south, say from st bees to Saltburn, you could then have the pleasure of riding through the yorkshire dales and on some of the TdF roads? Let me know if you're interested and and I'll PM you a route I've done a couple of times, all fully tarmaced surfaces!

feisty · November 2016

That sounds fantastic. Will pm you. Thanks

durhamwasp · November 2016

We did Workington - Blackhall Rocks one day last year, 134 miles all on good roads.

Basically kept going once at the top of Nenthead, dropping down to Stanhope and on to Durham before heading directly for the coast through the likes of Bowburn, Cassop and Castle Eden.

ror3h · December 2016

I did it this summer, here's my route on strava:
https://www.strava.com/activities/677263752

Going along the cycle paths next to the river in Newcastle felt a bit slow going, but it was probably better than trying to navigate busy roads in the city.
Highly recommended, was a good day out!

Guanajuato · December 2016

durhamwasp wrote:

Stick on the main road from Whitehaven to Keswick...
...Only tip I would give, you can save a fair bit of time by sticking to the A66 for a lot more of the bit between Keswick and Penrith...

You'd have to be completely mental to use the A66 from Whitehaven to Penrith. Its a VERY fast road (sit at 60 in a car and you WILL be the slowest vehicle despite it being single carriageway), fairly busy. It would be one of the most stressful, scary rides you could do. Whinlatter pass is far from the 'main road' if that's what you're alluding to using. The old railway line out of Keswick is currently closed, but you can go up round past Castlerigg circle - a bit longer than the A66 but rather more relaxing.

There's a few alternative coast to coasts. One starts at Seascale, but then heads over Hardknott & Wrynose - wouldn't fancy them on a loaded touring bike! That's the route for the Coast to Coast in a day.
The Way of the Roses goes from Morecambe to Bridlington and is pretty flat, at least as far as Settle

durhamwasp · January 2017

Guanajuato wrote:

durhamwasp wrote:

Stick on the main road from Whitehaven to Keswick...
...Only tip I would give, you can save a fair bit of time by sticking to the A66 for a lot more of the bit between Keswick and Penrith...

You'd have to be completely mental to use the A66 from Whitehaven to Penrith. Its a VERY fast road (sit at 60 in a car and you WILL be the slowest vehicle despite it being single carriageway), fairly busy. It would be one of the most stressful, scary rides you could do. Whinlatter pass is far from the 'main road' if that's what you're alluding to using. The old railway line out of Keswick is currently closed, but you can go up round past Castlerigg circle - a bit longer than the A66 but rather more relaxing.

There's a few alternative coast to coasts. One starts at Seascale, but then heads over Hardknott & Wrynose - wouldn't fancy them on a loaded touring bike! That's the route for the Coast to Coast in a day.
The Way of the Roses goes from Morecambe to Bridlington and is pretty flat, at least as far as Settle

Yeah, as I wrote, theres barely any need to go on the A66. I am quite aware its a fast road.

"sticking to the A66 for a lot more of the bit between Keswick and Penrith, as the old road runs right alongside it on the other side of the hedge for much of it, and is therefore traffic free."

Ben6899 · January 2017

Hi OP,

We went this way (slightly altered around Consett). All on road bikes.

https://www.strava.com/routes/2926554

Andye1 · July 2018

We're doing St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay next month with organised accommodation through c2c packhorse. I have gpx files for the route (going via whinlatter) if you want them emailing to you.

mrb123 · July 2018

I did Workington to Seaham last month - came in at 117 miles and sub 7 hours for the crossing so a pretty efficient route I reckon.

Regarding the A66 - while I wouldn't want to ride along it in the middle of the day, if you're starting early (I started at 7am) then it will be quiet and you can blast along to Keswick in no time. Once you're past Threlkeld you can then think about getting off onto the roads that run parallel to it.

southdownswolf · July 2018

This is the Coast to Coast in a day route on Strava
https://www.strava.com/segments/1662044?filter=overall

Coast to Coast (UK): road bike route

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