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 mouth-watering breakfasts
- Suitable for adults and older children
Itinerary
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 at no additional cost, 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.

- 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. Keswick is in a picturesque setting between the dramatic peak of Skiddaw and the lovely Derwentwater. This is a bustling town and the main centre for the Northern Lake District. 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, to your overnight accommodation in Threlkeld. The views here are wonderful. To the northwest stands Blencathra (868 metres) and to the southeast Great Dodd (856 metres) towers above Deepdale.

- Meals: Breakfast
- Ascent: 600 Metres Approx.
The route is now one of quiet traffic free country lanes through hillsides dotted with small farms. Next place of interest is Greystoke Castle on which the legend of Tarzan is based. Shortly afterwards you will arrive at your accommodation in Edenhall.

- Meals: Breakfast
- Ascent: 650 Metres Approx.
From Edenhall you continue on to Langwathby. From here the route gets a little harder as you reach Hartside Pass (580 metres). Take a moment to enjoy the spectacular views before you set off again! The day ends with a long and exhilarating descent into Alston which will be home for the evening.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Ascent: 900 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 that 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 nick-nacks 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.

- 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 pre-dominantly downhill towards the once thriving steel town of Consett. The route 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 is 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 and we’d love you to come and say hello. Not far to the end now as you head into the heart of the shipbuilding area of the Tyne. On passing Wallsend, keep an eye out for Segedunum Roman Fort Museum – why not add a little Roman history to your C2C experience? Continuing along close to the river we soon reach the Fish Quays of North Shields, where you’ll find a bustling little harbour and the finest fish and chips in the North-East! We are now at the very mouth of the Tyne and a few more pedal turns lead to your final destination, 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 Newcastle or Penrith.
Gallery
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.

Leisure Cycling Grade
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.
Dates & Prices
Daily departures available from April to end of September, call us about October. Choose your own dates from:
2024 $1280 per person
You either can make a booking online or over the phone. Once we have your details, we’ll be able to check availability.
Alternatively for a great value trip select one of our scheduled weekend departures below:

Secure Your Holiday With A Deposit
Book your trip with a deposit of $250 per person until 60 days before departure.
Whats Included 
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)
I) Financial Protection through ABTOT
What's not Included 
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
The Essentials
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...
Customer Story: C2C, a long way up!
Juliet attempts the ride from Whitehaven to Tynemouth - the classic C2C route
12 hours in...Newcastle
Stopping off in Newcastle pre/post trip? Don't miss our ultimate guide to the city.
Reviews
Peter, AustraliaThank you Skedaddle...I really enjoyed every element of the C2C. The route was very good and the accommodation was all great, as was the beer! I loved the open countryside and cute little villages. Five days of warm summer weather and not a drop of rain topped the ride off.
Thanks again for everything you and your team did to assist us complete the C2C Ride.
Sara, Wokingham, UKA great experience...We found this a great experience and as this was linked to not only my 40th birthday but also raising money for a dear my heart charity, it was made all the more special. This was a couple adventure – we are not natural cyclists and found this a wonderful challenge to do together.
We found Saddle Skedaddle very responsive and patient when we needed them. Paul was lovely – he was very chatty and helpful. Dan and Andrew were on hand via text when needed Alison was a dream as I was organising this holiday. A great service all the way through.
In terms of our favourite day, we loved the North Pennines and hitting the border with Northumberland. We also got to experience both the mountain bikes and e-bikes. Both were excellent – great condition and comfortable.
Ronalda, UKIt was a wonderful holiday...We enjoyed every day as they covered some very different landscapes and towns or villages. Overall it was a wonderful holiday and one we would love to do again or find one just as good. It was extremely well planned by Saddle Skedaddle and we found it simple to follow the route with our own small group.
Every day different, all days excellent...Every day different, all days excellent. Very quiet roads/cycleways. Lovely villages and towns on the way. Very good route.
Lindsay, AustraliaBeautiful ride with tree-lined country roads and rail trailsOverall our ride was brilliant, challenging in parts (without an e-bike), but those were balanced out by beautiful tree lined country roads and rail trails. We had only one day of rain but it only added to the adventure really. Our bikes were great and pretty much everything went like clockwork. Overall a great experience and very happy we did it!