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United Kingdom

C2C - Coast to Coast (4 Days Cycling)

Self-Guided Leisure Bike Tour

Grade

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5

Duration

5 days

Prices from

$825 P.P.
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This ‘must-do’ cycling holiday is a wonderful way to see the varied and beautiful landscapes of northern England, following the well signed National Cycle Network route from the Irish Sea in the West to the North Sea in the East, cycling along quiet country lanes, cycleways and paths.
Leaving the Irish Sea behind, you head into the solitude and space of the Lake District, Cumbria and the North Pennines. This popular route and firm Skedaddle favourite, is not without its challenges, taking in Hartside Pass, where at a respectable 580m above sea level you can stop and, on a clear day, admire spectacular views across the Lake District, the Solway Firth and into Southern Scotland. The long descent into Alston which follows has to be one of the many highlights of the ride!
You can choose to spend the first night in either Newcastle or Penrith before we transfer you early the next morning to Whitehaven and the start of your ride which ends approximately 150 miles later in Tynemouth. Time for those all important celebratory photos! We will meet you in Tynemouth then transfer you back to Newcastle or Penrith for your onward journey home. 
Please make sure that you let us know whether you prefer to arrive into Newcastle or Penrith at the time of booking!
This self-guided trip is for a minimum of 2 people and accommodation, transfers, luggage transfers and emergency back up are all included. With access to the Skedaddle app you'll be able to navigate the route with ease. Nothing could be simpler! 
You can also do this route over three or five days of cycling, or if you are looking for an even more challenging trip with longer daily distances, talk to us about our two day version.
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Highlights

  • UK’s favourite long distance cycle route
  • Dramatic English landscapes
  • Cycle friendly route
  • Stress-free cycling complimented with an abundance of pubs and cafes en route
  • Bike friendly B&Bs offering mouthwatering breakfasts
  • Flexibility to choose your own start date or one of our great value scheduled departure dates
  • Suitable for adults and older children

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The approach and clarity is what makes Saddle Skedaddle an excellent organisation. For my wife and I, this coast to coast was our first organised ride. The whole experience was outstanding, with such attention to detail.

Peter, UK

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival into Newcastle or Penrith
Non Cycling Day
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Getting to Newcastle or Penrith is easy. If you are planning to arrive by air, there is an airport at Newcastle with direct services to Newcastle Central train station. For those arriving by car, you will be able to leave your vehicle at your accommodation (supplement payable), or if the train is your preferred transport mode, you can either take a taxi from the station to your accommodation or it is just a short 10-15 minute walk away.

Please make sure that you let us know whether you prefer to arrive into Newcastle or Penrith at the time of booking.

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Day 2
Whitehaven to Threlkeld
37 Miles / 60 Kms Approx.
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  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Ascent: 1100 Metres Approx.

After an early breakfast, you will be met by our Skedaddle representative at your accommodation in either Newcastle or Penrith and they’ll provide you with your rental bikes (if renting) and your map and chat you through how to use the Skedaddle App. They will then transfer you to Whitehaven to begin your journey.

Whitehaven Harbour marks the start of your ride and it’s only a few pedals before you leave the somewhat industrial Cumbrian coast and reach some of the prettiest countryside in the UK. Initially following the Cumbrian Cycle Network, you will follow the route of a disused mineral railway to Kirkland. From here you follow quiet country lanes along an undulating route via Loweswater and Low Lorton to Whinlatter Pass. From here an excellent descent takes you through Braithwaite and Portinscale on the banks of the River Derwent to Keswick. Leaving Keswick you follow another railway line, this time alongside the River Greta. You will quickly pass near the sacred Castlerigg Stone Circle; a Bronze Age meeting place, followed by Threlkeld and your accommodation for the evening.

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Day 3
Threlkeld to Alston
42 Miles / 67 Kms Approx.
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  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Ascent: 1300 Metres Approx.

Leaving Threlkeld the route is now one of quiet traffic free country lanes through hillsides dotted with small farms. Next place of interest is Greystoke Castle, former home of Lord Greystoke, on which the legend of Tarzan is based.

The next stop will be at Penrith before you continue on to Edenhall and Langwathby. From here the route gets a little harder as you reach Hartside Pass (580 metres). If you know anyone who has done the C2C, this is ‘THE’ climb! Take a moment to stop and admire the spectacular views before we set off to our night’s rest in Alston.

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Day 4
Alston to Edmundbyers
35 Miles / 56 Kms Approx.
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  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Ascent: 1200 Metres Approx.

Today you will encounter the hilliest and highest points of our trip. From Alston it’s a short, but tough climb up and over into the old lead mining village of Nenthead. Climbing again you will reach the highest point on the route, Black Hill (609 metres). After crossing Killhope top, you reach Allenheads. Not only boasting it’s the highest village in England, it’s also home to one of the quirkiest pubs – The Allenheads Inn. Containing rooms full of bric-a-brac and nic-naks it’s a challenge to negotiate your way to the bar…never mind from it! Just a few more miles before we get to Rookhope.

From Rookhope we skirt the contours of Stanhope Common on quiet lanes and continue along to Stanhope, where we climb the steep Crawleyside Bank before descending to our accommodation in Edmundbyers.

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Day 5
Edmundbyers to Tynemouth
43 Miles / 69 Kms Approx.
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  • Meals: Breakfast
  • Ascent: 700 Metres Approx.

This morning you will have the last big climb of the trip up to Parkhead where you join the Waskerley Way, which is a traffic free trail that takes in the rugged, expansive scenery of the North Pennines, and contours thankfully, pre-dominantly downhill towards the once thriving steel town of Consett.

With the hardest cycling behind, you head towards your goal of Tynemouth. The route then follows a pleasant green route leading over numerous bridges and old railway viaducts and affording great views of the countryside. On reaching Gateshead and the impressive Baltic Arts Centre you cross the Blinking Eye Millennium Bridge over the River Tyne into Newcastle. The Cycle Hub is situated on your right just after this and the perfect place for a well earned cuppa and a slice of delicious homemade cake. It’s dedicated to the cyclist and also the home of Saddle Skedaddle so why not come and say hello? Waving goodbye, you complete your final few miles of the coast to coast alongside the River Tyne to Tynemouth.

Congratulations – you’ve just Skedaddled the Coast to Coast!

We’ll meet you in Tynemouth and load your bikes up for the return trip to either Newcastle or Penrith.

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The Cycling

Terrain

This holiday uses part of the National Cycle Network operated by Sustrans, a charity devoted to promoting the use of sustainable transport. The route follows quiet country lanes, cycleways and paths including sections on old railway lines with gravel or cinder surface.

With a mix of tarmac and some hardpacked gravel surfaces, the ride can be completed on almost any type of bike. The first few miles leaving Whitehaven has some unavoidable hardpacked gravel sections along an old railway line. This section is suitable for road bikes when ridden with a little extra care. The majority of the route between Stanhope and Newcastle also has gravel surfaces, which can be ridden on a road bike with touring tyres fitted, however there is a tarmac alternative to the standard route if preferred. Most roadies tackling the route in 2 or 3 days prefer this option.

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Leisure Cycling Grade

1
2
3
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5
Grade 3 : Moderate

Distances generally between 20-45 miles / 32-72 kms per day

For the leisure cyclist with a good level of physical fitness

May include some steeper, cheeky climbs

Possibly sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc).

Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!

For more information about our grading system click here.

Is this suitable for you?

Although you may not cycle everyday, you do keep yourself relatively fit and maybe enjoy an afternoon out on your bike at the weekend. Your preference is perhaps for flatter terrain but you don’t mind tackling some hills, and the occasional steep climb if you can take it at your own pace. For those happy to tackle some ups and downs, and possibly some sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc) we’d recommend our grade 3 trips. We’d generally expect those on a Grade 3 trip to have a decent level of physical fitness and be comfortable with some longer days in the saddle.

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Super trip! We all really enjoyed it and thought the route was perfect with a great combination of quiet roads, cycle paths and forest trails.

Lawrence, Nottinghamshire

Dates & Prices

Daily departures available from April to end of September, call us about October. Choose your own dates from:

2023 $990 per person

Just give us a call to check availability.

Alternatively for a great value holiday select one of our scheduled weekend departures below:

2023

Penrith Arrival only 19 May, 07 Jul, 04 Aug and 08 Sep

Newcastle Arrival only 09 Jun, 14 Jul, 18 Aug and 25 Aug

Start Date
End Date
Duration
Price p.p.
Start Date
19/05/2023 (Penrith)
Return Date
23/05/2023
Duration
5 days
Price
$825.00
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Start Date
16/06/2023 (Newcastle)
Guaranteed
Return Date
20/06/2023
Duration
5 days
Price
$825.00
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Start Date
07/07/2023 (Penrith)
Guaranteed
Return Date
11/07/2023
Duration
5 days
Price
$825.00
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Start Date
15/07/2023 (Newcastle)
Guaranteed
Return Date
19/07/2023
Duration
5 days
Price
$825.00
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Start Date
04/08/2023 (Penrith)
Return Date
08/08/2023
Duration
5 days
Price
$825.00
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Start Date
18/08/2023 (Newcastle)
Return Date
22/08/2023
Duration
5 days
Price
$825.00
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Start Date
25/08/2023 (Newcastle)
Guaranteed
Return Date
29/08/2023
Duration
5 days
Price
$825.00
Close Select
Start Date
08/09/2023 (Penrith)
Guaranteed
Return Date
12/09/2023
Duration
5 days
Price
$825.00
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Choose your date
Start Date
End Date
Duration
Price p.p.
Start Date
Return Date
--/--/----
Duration
5 days
Price
$990.00
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Whats Included Tick

A) Accommodation (shared twin rooms)

B) Meals as per the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)

C) Access to the Skedaddle App for holiday information and navigation

D) A printed map

E) GPX files available upon request

F) Luggage transfer service

G) Local Skedaddle representative

H) Emergency tool kit, pump etc. (if renting your bike from Skedaddle)

What's not Included Cross

A) Personal clothing and equipment

B) Travel insurance

C) Bar bills, telephone calls, souvenirs, etc.

D) Bike & helmet rental (available if required)

E) Travel or flight costs and charges for travelling with your bike (if applicable)

F) Single room option (may be available if required)

G) Entrance fees to cultural or historical sites and visitor centres

H) Other optional activities

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The Essentials

Travel Options

Your destination is either Newcastle or Penrith and there are a few travel options.

If travelling by train and Penrith is your destination, we would recommend that you arrive into Penrith station and depart from Newcastle, which will avoid long transfers. For Newcastle you need to arrive and depart from Newcastle Central. At the end of the trip we will meet you and transfer you to your car or Newcastle train station as appropriate. Please do not book any return trains prior to 17.30.

The closest airport to Penrith is Manchester, from where you can catch a direct train. Newcastle has an airport, although transatlantic options are limited and most routes will come via London.

Please contact us for more detailed information on the specific schedules that we recommend for your holiday and please check with us before booking your travel so that we can ensure it fits with the trip schedule.

Accommodation

In the UK we use good quality 3 or 4 star hotels, B&Bs, inns and family-run guesthouses that are cycle friendly, located close to the cycling route and showcase the style and hospitality of the area you are visiting.

Where possible we prioritise locally owned businesses and those offering locally sourced food, drink and speciality products. This all promotes sustainability in-line with our responsible travel policy.

All our UK trips are operated on a double/twin-share basis. Single occupancy rooms can be provided for a supplement and are subject to availability at the time of booking.

Bike Hire

If you would like to rent a bike we have both hybrid and electric bikes available.

The hybrid bikes are generally Giant Roam (male frame) or Liv Rove (female frame) with a wide gear range suitable for the route and terrain, semi-slick tyres, hydraulic disc brakes and a relaxed riding position.

Our electric bikes are generally Giant E+ pedal assist bikes with batteries suitable for the daily distances on this holiday and hydraulic disc brakes. E-bikes come with step through frames as standard but some cross bar frames may be available if preferred. Please let us know if you have a preference.

A rack and two panniers, a handlebar bag and one bottle cage are provided with all our rental bikes, along with an emergency repair kit in a seat-post bag containing a puncture repair kit, a multitool, a spare innertube and a bike pump. A bike lock will also be provided (one between two bikes).

We are also able to provide helmets. If you’d like one to be provided, please request this at the time of booking.

You are welcome to bring along your own saddle, or own pedals if renting a hybrid bike, but please let us know if advance if you plan to do so.

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News, Reviews & Stories

Cycling Coast to Coast

Strap in as we take a closer look at this classic journey by bike! Here's everything you need to know...

Meet the team: Brian James

We take a moment to get to know our fellow Northerner with the help of a little Q&A...

Customer Story: C2C, a long way up!

Juliet attempts the ride from Whitehaven to Tynemouth - the classic C2C route

Reviews

11

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