HC2C Itinerary Title
The Cycling - Introduction
The Hadrian's Wall Cycle Route spans an impressive 151 miles from Whitehaven on the Cumbrian coast to Tynemouth in the northeast. It’s a longer route than the classic coast-to-coast ride but features less elevation, making it a more manageable. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or hold moderate fitness, this route offers an exceptional mix of adventure and scenic beauty.
Highlights
• Ideal for road bikes
• Housesteads Vercovicivm (Roman Fort)
• Quiet backroads and traffic-free cycleways
• Luggage transfers to keep your ride light
• All logistics taken care of, so you can focus on the cycling
• Mechanical breakdown support available in emergencies
Distance and elevation - Hadrian's Wall Cycle Route
Total distance
Total height gain
151 miles or 243km
6416ft or 1955m
Terrain:
The terrain along the Hadrian's Wall Cycleway is a combination of tarmac roads and well-graded cycle tracks, making it ideal for road bikes. The route is clearly signed and for added convenience, we provide you with a GPX file for easy navigation, and you also have the option to purchase the official Sustrans Hadrian's Wall Cycle Route map.
Cycling the Hadrian's Wall Cycleway is not just about the journey; it’s about immersing yourself in the rich history of the region.
View route
Ride Description
Your trip begins upon arrival in the Cumbrian market town of Penrith. After checking in and receiving your rider water bottle and luggage tags, you're free to explore the many bars, cafes, and restaurants in this lively town. With guesthouses just a few minutes' walk from the town center and the North West mainline train station only a 10-minute walk away, it's the perfect starting point. If you’re driving, you can park your car in the long-stay car park, as you won’t need it until your return.
After enjoying breakfast, you and your bike will be transferred to the beginning of the Hadrian’s Wall C2C, in Whitehaven’s tranquil harbour, on the West Coast.
This first day of the route takes you north up the very impressive and flat coastline of Cumbria and into the Solway estuary, an area designated for its outstanding natural beauty.
You'll pedal through numerous traditional Cumbrian villages, including Silloth, with its charming cobbled main street, where you can stock up on supplies before continuing to the cathedral city of Carlisle.
With the coast to your back, you are now heading into Northumberland’s National Park and from the offset, following the course of Hadrian’s once impressive Wall. The Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site was inscribed by UNESCO as the most complex and best-preserved of the frontiers of the Roman Empire and today you can fully appreciate these attributes on your ride through Hadrian’s Wall Country.
The scenery takes a dramatic change, with the landscape becoming hillier you ride through the Roman fort of Vindolanda, scribed into the history books with many a bloody battle and directly on the route. The North Pennine small towns of Newbrough and Haydon Bridge offer us great cycle friendly accommodation to rest tired legs.
The final leg of the journey takes you through the last of the Northumberland National Park and onwards to the North Sea. You wind down through the quiet villages towards the outskirts of Newcastle, where a network of carefully planned cycleways ensures that you stay away from any major roads as you follow the Tyne River into the city.
This is a superb ride in itself – passing along the bustling waterfront where the famous Millennium Bridge, Baltic Gallery and The Sage are all located.
The final 20km of flat terrain pass quickly, with the impressive Castle and Priory in Tynemouth marking the end of your ride—perfect timing for a well-deserved celebratory ice cream or portion of chips.
If you're continuing your journey from the finish, you can collect your bags from the CycleActive van. Otherwise, we will begin loading the bikes for the 2-hour return transfer back to Penrith.
