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 Way of the Roses Coast to Coast Full Itinerary

The Cycling - Introduction

This route crosses the country between the bay of Morecambe on the west coast and the promenade at Bridlington to the east, passing through the counties of Lancashire (red rose) and Yorkshire (white rose). This tour takes you along stunning river valleys, high into the Yorkshire dales, through towns steeped in history dating back to the Neolithic era and across ancient Viking battlefields. Our trips complete this route in three full days of cycling - that's enough to be a challenge, but still do-able by any moderately fit person used to consecutive days in the saddle. We also make best use of the weekend, so you arrive with us on a Thursday evening and complete the ride on Sunday afternoon, arriving back at your car in Morecambe for 20:30 - 21:00. For those travelling by rail, we can instead drop you / your bags at the Bridlington station near the finish, so you can head home directly from there.

Usual daily distances: 50-60miles
Days of cycling: 3
Terrain: Quiet backroads and traffic free cycleways. The majority of the ride travels through rolling countryside, although there are some short but steep climbs. A moderate level of fitness is recommended.
Support vehicle: A vehicle will be used to move bags from place to place but will not follow you directly. We provide a telephone number for the driver if you require assistance.
Tour staff: will meet you at the beginning of the tour to answer any question you may have. This member of staff will be moving the luggage and over seeing the tour.

The following information gives you more details on the cycling and the way this tour operates. If you want to find out more about the journey, the package or anything else about out C2C tours – please just give us a call. Our office team is always ready to help with enquiries.

Day 1 – Arrival in Morecambe

The trip begins on Thursday evening (except on bank holiday weekends) when you arrive at our chosen guesthouse in the west coast Lancashire town of Morecambe. Once you’ve checked in your free to try any of the numerous bars, cafes and restaurants along the sea front. With the guesthouses just a few minutes walk from the centre and from the train station, you're perfectly located to enjoy your stay here. If you travel by car, we'll show you where to park for the whole weekend.

• Cycling: 0 miles
• Accommodation: B&B Guest House
• Meals Included: None

Day 2 – the Lune Valley and Yorkshire Dales

After a hearty breakfast, you will ride the very short distance to the start on the sea front. With the benefit of newly placed signing and advice from our guide, you should be fully equipped for the day on the bike. This first day of the route starts by taking you up the River Lune valley, avoiding the busy Morecambe and Lancaster city centre traffic as you stick to quite cycleways all the way into the hills. Soon you join the quiet backroads heading towards the Yorkshire Dales and their many bustling market towns. Your main challenge for the day is the climb out of Settle, starting on the cobbles and ending high on the beautiful moors. Today's ride is around 50 miles, finishing on the eastern border of the Yorkshire moors in one of the small towns, where great accommodation and food will set you up for the further 2 days in the saddle.

• Cycling: 50 miles
• Accommodation: B&B Guest House
• Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 – Ride to York

Today sees you back on the road right from your door with another full day on the bike ahead of you. Starting with the hills of the Nidderdale moorland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you have a few tough climbs to tackle before dropping into the River Ouse valley, which leads you on to the outskirts of the City of York. Approximately 60miles is the total for this 2nd day, with a large proportion being along quiet, relatively flat, backroads. York with its ancient city walls and four main gatehouses (bars) is a great place to explore, with an amazing selection of places to eat and rest, allowing you to absorb the history which flows throughout the streets.

Accommodation is in high demand in the city of York due to the increasing level of tourism. CycleActive uses a mix of accommodation in and around the outskirts of York.

Please note York city centre is a taxi journey and not within sensible walking distance after a day out on the bike.

• Cycling: 60 miles
• Accommodation: B&B Guest House
• Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 – York to Bridlington

Today sees the majority of the hills behind you with only the climb onto the Yorkshire Wolds to tackle before heading to the east coast town of Bridlington and it’s promenade finish. Approximately 60 miles is covered, but with the going considerably easier than the previous days along quiet lanes and occasional traffic free cycleways. If you’re a fish and chips fan the day’s finest catch can be sampled in one of the many restaurants situated on the harbour front before we transfer you back to Morecambe. We aim to be back in Morecambe for 8pm. Please note we can arrange for an extra night if required (extra cost applies) so you can rest fully before your onward journey the following day.

If you are travelling by train to Morecambe then we can arrange for your bags to meet you at the finish in Bridlington where you can simply hop on a train to Doncaster, which then enables you to connect to most mainline destinations. Combining train travel with one of our current model rental bikes makes this tour completely transfer and hassle free. You can simply collect you bike at the start, ride it for the 3 days and then leave it with the transfer bus at the end.

• Cycling: 60 miles
• Meals Included: Breakfast

FURTHER TRAVEL 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 route follows backroads so you do not need experience at off-road riding to be able to enjoy it.

Tour Guidebook and Packing Advice
A full recommended kit list will be provided when you book. An official Sustrans map is available from us (extra cost – please order when you reserve your space) which, combined with the official signage, should ensure a smooth crossing of the country. On arrival at the guest house in Morecambe you will be told where the best place to park for the weekend is. There may be parking charges, dependant on availability of free on-road parking.

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 keep an eye on weather forecasts prior to the trip and travel with a good variety of cycle clothing to allow for the range of temperatures, and for rain or showers.

Cycling Support
This trip is unsupported (A van doesn't follow you at all time) 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. A CycleActive member of staff is transporting luggage and can be telephoned if you have a problem out on the bike. The route is well signed and there is a detailed map produced by Sustrans (available from us) specifically for the route, so finding your way should not be a problem.

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 accommodation has been carefully selected by us and offers a high level of service to all of our clients.

Cycle Rental
If you want to use your own bike we recommend either a road bike, mountain bike with fast rolling road going tyres, 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 bit rough 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.

Trains
The Way of the Roses cycle tour fits in very well with the UK’s train network. Morecambe is an 11min journey off the mainline at Lancaster, which in turn is only 2hours 40 from the centre of London. Once on the promenade at the finish on the east coast, Bridlington’s train station is a stones throw away.

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 and space is limited.