Duration - 3 Riding Days

Duration

3 Riding Days

Fitness Grade - 2 - 3

Fitness Grade

2 - 3

Suitable Bike - Road / Hybrid / MTB

Suitable Bike

Road / Hybrid / Mountain Bike

Skills Grade - A

Skills Grade

Navigation - Self Guided

Navigation

Self Guided

The Classic Coast to Coast Full Itinerary

The Cycling - Introduction

The Coast to Coast cycle ride is one of the most scenic, varied and popular bike rides in Britain. The sense of achievement from cycling right across the country in 3 days, passing through National Parks, remote valleys and lovely villages, is hard to beat.

Highlights

• 3-day journey makes a perfect long weekend
• Bag transfers so you can cycle light
• Lovely accommodation and good food
• Well planned – so you focus on cycling

Our C2C Credentials

CycleActive has been running C2C holidays since 2000 and with our office based almost exactly on the middle of the route we think we know it better than anyone else. Our strong connections with local guesthouses means you get the best places to stay, best service and great food throughout your holiday. Our experience as a tour operator means everything runs smoothly, from start to finish, so you can relax and enjoy the journey.

If you want to find out more about the cycling, the route or anything else about the C2C please just give us a call and speak to one of our team.

Day 1 - Arrival in Penrith

Your trip begins on Thursday evening when you arrive at our chosen guesthouse in Penrith. Once you’ve checked in and received our rider pack you're free to try any of the numerous bars, cafes and restaurants in this bustling market town. With the guesthouse just a 2 minute walk from the centre and 5 minutes from the station, you're perfectly located to enjoy your stay here. If you came by car, we'll show you where to park up for the whole weekend - you won't need it again until you head home.

Day 2 – The Lake District

After a huge breakfast of freshly cooked Cumbrian produce, you and your bike will be transported out to the start point of the C2C in Whitehaven, on the Irish Sea Coast. With detailed maps of the route, the benefit of good signing and advice from our expert local guide, you should be fully equipped for the first leg of the journey. This first day of the C2C takes you through the northern section of the Lake District National Park. This is Britain's largest park, and you'll be travelling past some of its most impressive peaks - Skiddaw, Blecathra and the northern reaches of the Helvelyn range. You'll also encounter a great number of traditional Lakeland villages, as well as the focal town for this area - Keswick - which has a great selection of cafes for lunchtime. Today's ride ends back at the guesthouse in Penrith, giving you the chance to sample more great Cumbrian pub food, or a restaurant meal at any of the English, French, Italian, Spanish, Indian or Chinese places in town. We'll be happy to recommend some of the best options for you.

Cycling: 50 miles, Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3 - The Pennines

Another big breakfast sees you on the road, this time direct from the guesthouse. By spending two nights here you've saved the hassle of moving on and packing up on day one, but this morning that's not possible, as you are heading for the Pennines. As you pedal your way into the Eden Valley, we'll transport your bags ahead to the next guesthouse, right in the heart of the Pennines. Today you'll encounter your biggest challenges, and as you coast down towards the river Eden from Penrith you'll see the first Pennine ridge rising up before you. The scenery takes a dramatic change now, as the sheer peaks of the Lakes become rolling valleys and open moors. We keep the distance a little lower today to account for the hills, but there’s no doubt that everyone gets a sense of achievement the first time they ride to the summit of Hartside Pass.

Cycling: 45 miles, Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Descent to Newcastle

The final leg of the journey brings you through the last of the Pennines, and soon the North Sea comes into view. You wind down through the quiet villages towards the outskirts of Newcastle, where a network of carefully planned tracks and trails ensure that you stay away from any major roads as you follow the Tyne into the city. This is a superb ride in itself – passing along the bustling waterfront where the famous Millenium Bridge, Baltic Gallery and The Sage are all located. The C2C route ends at Tynemouth castle and priory, looking out across the harbour and into the North Sea. Here you'll also find our driver, waiting to bring you and your bikes back to Penrith (meanwhile, we'll have collected your bags from your Pennines stop and brought them back ready for your arrival). Congratulations are now in order, as you celebrate the success of your journey across Britain and return to Penrith.

Cycling: 42 miles, Meals included: Breakfast

£325.00

Price (per person)

£100 deposit with the final balance due 2 months before the tour date

Trip Dates below - keep scrolling

Hybrid bike rental: £90

Electric bike rental: £135

(inc. Kit bag with pump, inner tubes and multi-tool.)

Helmet rental: is £5

Official Sustrans map: £9.99

Single room Guarantee: £90

Extra night at the end:

£95 Double / twin room (2 people)

£75 Single occupancy in a double / twin room
£55 Single room

GPX files for your GPS: (Free on request)

There is no supplement for single travellers who are willing to share

Duration:
4 days - Thursday evening to Sunday evening
Friday evening to Monday evening (May and August bank holidays)

The biking:

3 days, place-to-place
Self-guided
Tour group size 6 - 30
Fitness grade 2/3
(Trip grades explained)

What's included:

3 nights guesthouse accommodation
All breakfasts
Luggage transfers
Rider/bike transfers

Coast to coast water bottle

Torq Fitness complimentary item

What we provide is:

Carefully selected Coast to Coast accommodation for three nights
Luggage transfers each day, so you need only cycle with your daily snacks and toolkit
Pre-tour and on-tour advice and information about the C2C bike ride
Emergency breakdown support
Return transport from the finish, for riders and bikes, back to your transport

The way we’ve organised this Coast to Coast bike ride works perfectly, keeping bag packing times down and reducing your driving/travel times too. All in all the C2C bike ride makes for one of our great cycling weekend breaks.

All dates have availability (Unless stated)

2019

17 – 20 October		6+ places left



2020
02 – 05 April
10 – 13 April		Bank Holiday
16 – 19 April
23 – 26 April
30 April – 03 May
08 – 11 May		Bank Holiday
14 – 17 May
22 – 25 May		Bank Holiday
28 – 31 May
04 - 07 June (Now Full)		Private Group
11 – 14 June
18 – 21 June
25 – 28 June
02 – 05 July
09 – 12 July
16 – 19 July
23 – 26 July
30 July – 02 August
06 – 09 August
13 – 16 August
20 – 23 August
28 - 31 August		Bank Holiday
03 – 06 September
10 – 13 September
17 – 20 September
24 – 27 September
01 – 04 October
15 – 18 October

Open trip dates £325pp

(£100 deposit)

Individuals, friends, groups welcome

Private Groups

Bespoke dates can be added on request for group bookings

FURTHER INFORMATION

Choosing the Right Holiday
At CycleActive we carefully grade our trips according to both the level of fitness you need and, for mountain biking, the level of skill you need. We also offer personal advice to anyone who needs it, by email or on the phone, to ensure that you find a holiday suitable for your abilities and desires.

Fitness grade 2-3. This means you need to be a moderately fit cyclist as the C2C does involve three full days of cycling over hilly terrain. You can take your time as this tour is not guided, so you don’t have to stay at the pace of others, but you do need reasonable stamina. For those who want extra challenges we have additional off-road options planned too.

Skill grade A-B. The main C2C route follows backroads and well graded tracks so you do not need experience at off-road riding to be able to enjoy it. However, if you want to ride off-road then there are some excellent options – some marked on the official map and some known to us, which we’ll map out for you when you arrive.

Geography & Climate

This is a hilly ride through varied terrain and at different times of year it can be very warm or very cold. We recommend that you travel with a good variety of cycle clothing to allow for the range of temperatures. A full kit list will be sent to you on booking.

Accommodation & Food
We have made this tour as comfortable as possible so you can enjoy a good place to finish each night, with a hot shower and tasty food. All guesthouses have been carefully selected by us and offer a very high level of service to all of our clients.

Cycling Support
This trip is unsupported and unguided so once you head out on your cycling days you are responsible for your own safety and your own journey from point to point. The route is well signed and there is a detailed map produced by Sustrans specifically for the route, so finding your way should not be a problem. We do give you contact details for our staff and the guesthouses, which you can use in an emergency, but extra transfers to collect you or drop you off may incur additional costs.

Cycle Rental
If you want to use your own bike we recommend either a road bike, mountain bike, a hybrid bike or a sturdy touring road bike. You can complete the ride on regular road bikes but some of the traffic free sections are a bitrough for skinny tyres. You can divert round these section with ease. If you want to rent a bike please contact us to discuss your needs and we
will reserve a bike for you. We use current model Trek mountain bikes, in excellent condition and fitted with fast rolling on/off road suitable tyres.

Clothing and Equipment
On booking, a detailed list of useful and essential items will be sent to you. You must bring your own cycle helmet that must be worn for all cycle rides. All clothing and equipment must be packed in one small to medium sized bag, either a soft holdall or soft rucksack. This is the maximum luggage allowed as all bags are carried in a minivan across the Pennines and space is limited.

Pre-Travel Information
When you book a more detailed pre-travel pack will be sent to you with information on what to bring, where to go, which maps to buy and so on.

Testimonials

CycleActive doesn't edit the reviews

Published straight from clients feedback

We completed the Classic Coast to Coast and found it a great experience although we did find the constant climbing tough, it was great to meet all the other riders who were on the same mission as ourselves and we bonded as each day went by which was rewarding.
This was the first time we have done a cycle holiday and would definitely recommend Cycle Active for their attention to detail and assistance which we found invaluable, we also liked the fact we had support if ever needed.

Colin Fairhurst

I can't fault CycleActive, They plan beautiful rewarding routes, sort out great accommodation and give you plenty of good reasons to go again.

James Prestwich

The C2C was a challenge but so exhilerating!

Paul Fowler

Just bring some home made fruit cake and some grim determination and this is the trip for you!

Mary Aitchison

I really enjoyed this as my first ever cycling tour of this type.

Carol Quarrington

Fantastic cycling trip

Charlotte Craig

Looking for a cycling challenge that's going to stretch you? Cycleactive organises great trips with fantastic scenery and great organisation.

Robert Wright

Brilliant 3 days cruising across the most scenic part of the country.
Cycle Active making it a pleasure with first class logistical support.

Rob Lacy

A thoroughly enjoyable challenge.

Paul Rees

It's about the ride. It's about being alive. Riding this alone made it an almost spiritual experience, unforgettable.

Neville Hull

Thanks guys. A middle aged woman left her comfort zone never to return to being a scardy cat!

Dr Alison Blank

A Challenging but worthwhile adventure taking in some of the most spectacular scenery this country has to offer.

Jason Duffy

Great ride , beautiful scenery !! Great time

Mandy jones

We had a great tour with with Cycleactive on theC2C. It was very professionally organised and arranged. They go the extra mile to make suretheholiday works. I would not hesitate to travel with them again, or recommend them to anyone else.

Michael Scutt

Excellent weekend very well organised and very freindly staff

Mark Shipp

A fantastic experience for cyclists of any ability where you'll love the scenery, feel totally exhausted but so satisfied you'll want to do it again and again.

Mark Thornton

Well organised trip and friendly hosts.

Ajay Mistry

A very enjoyable cycling holiday, which was organised so well by cycle active, which took the stress away from the day to day things, which allowed me to concentrate 100% on cycling. Highly recommend this anyone wanting to take part (prepare for the incline though).

Kevin Mistry

Just had a great time riding C2C,weather was perfect,scenery outstanding,hard work in places but well worth the effort.
Will be doing anyother ride this year.

Vincent Munday

Hybrid Rental

Trek DS2 (or Similar)

Trek DS 2

E-Bike Rental

Trek POWERFLY 5 (or Similar) running semi slick tyres

Trek Powerfly 5

Contact us

+44 (0) 1768 840 400