WOR Itinerary Title
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 or four 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.
Highlights
• Road bike friendly
• Quiet backroads and traffic-free cycleways
• Bag transfers so you can cycle light
• Logistics planned for you, so you can focus on the cycling
• Cycle through the beautiful Yorkshire Dales
• Emergency mechanical breakdown support
Terrain:
Quiet backroads and traffic-free cycleways. The majority of the ride travels through rolling countryside, although there are a few prolonged, steep climbs to contend with. A moderate level of fitness is recommended.
If you want to find out more about the cycling, the route or anything else about the Way of the Roses, then please contact us and one of our team will get back to you.
Place names have been highlighted throughout the description, to help you match up where you’ll be staying, depending on how many days and nights you wish to take for the journey.
Morecambe is the start location for this bike adventure, with its impressive promenade and views across the bay into the Lake District. The evening before your first day of riding is your own to explore the many works of art along the sea front, park your car in the nearby long stay car park for the tour duration and sample some of the days catch for you evening meal.
A CycleActive member of staff will come and set you off the following morning, collecting your bags, answering any questions and most importantly taking the obligatory start photo with Eric Morecambe.
The route starts by taking you up the River Lune valley, avoiding the busy morning Morecambe and Lancaster city centre traffic, as you stick to quite riverside cycleways, all the way into the hills. After 35km you say goodbye to Lancashire’s red rose, heading towards the Yorkshire Dales, with its many bustling market towns and challenging climbs.
The thriving market town of Settle with its award winning cakes, makes for a great rest point before the infamous cobbled climb up onto the moors, with its stunning south facing panoramic views.
With legs thoroughly warmed up, the climb to Stump Cross Cavern is the next challenge, instantly rewarding riders with its long, rolling descent into Pateley Bridge.
Passing by Brimham Rocks, with its natural stone formations and site of special scientific interest classification, signals the start of the descent into the city of York basin.
With the majority of the hills now behind you the ride passes through the grand Fountains Abbey, the thriving market towns of Ripon and Boroughbridge, on the way to the Cathedral city of York.
Once within the city walls, you pass the Minster gates, through the old town, on your way to the Yorkshire Wolds. The thriving commuter town of Pocklington, starts the final day, leading into the fertile farmland of the Wolds.
With Bridlington's grand promenade in your sights the last day of cycling is relatively easy, setting yourself up to enjoy a celebratory plate of fish and chips, before meeting the transfer bus, which will whisk you back over to Morecambe.
If you intend to hop onto a train at Bridlington, transiting via Doncaster, to start your homeward journey, then your bags will be waiting for you at the finish in Bridlington. Combining train travel with one of our current model rental bikes, makes this tour completely transfer and hassle-free. You can simply collect your bike at the start, ride it for the stunning 170miles and then leave it with us at the end.
A coach transfer is included in the tour and we aim to arrive back at your car in Morecambe for 19:00 - 19:30
3 Day Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival day into Morecambe , park your car into the nearby long stay car park and relax.
Cycling: 0 miles, 0 km
Day 2
Morecambe – Pateley Bridge
Cycling: 62 miles, 100km
Ascent: 4908ft, 1496m
Day 3
Pateley Bridge – Pocklington
Cycling: 65 miles, 104km
Ascent: 2048ft, 624m
Day 4
Pocklington – Bridlington
Cycling: 44 miles, 70km
Ascent: 1591ft, 485m
4 Day Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival day into Morecambe , park your car into the nearby long stay car park and relax.
Cycling: 0 miles, 0 km
Day 2
Morecambe – Settle
Cycling: 35 miles, 57km
Ascent: 2128ft, 649m
Day 3
Settle – Ripon
Cycling: 42 miles, 68km
Ascent: 3897ft, 1188m
Day 4
Ripon – Pocklington
Cycling: 49 miles, 79km
Ascent: 933ft, 284m
Day 5
Pocklington– Bridlington
Cycling: 44 miles, 70km
Ascent: 1591ft, 485m