Evening STW,
Quite fancy doing some touring with my kids and have this idea...
Thinking about doing the Cinder track this Oct with wife and 3 kids (8,5 and 3) and have a few questions and thoughts I would appreciate your help with. Planning on going from Scarbrough to Whitby.
1. Approach is to split it over 2 days with a stop in Ravenscar at the b&b - would we be better to push on to robin hood's bay, better options for evening meal and more to day?
2. We all have MTBs and was planning on putting the youngest in a trailer with our kit - is it too rough for a bike trailer with a child in it?
3. Logistics wise think I will drop the bikes off at a mates house in Scarbrough or lock them up somewhere safe then drive to Whitby, dump the car and get a taxi back to the bikes and set off. Is there a better option?
4. Is this a stupid idea? The 2 older kids will be fine with the distance the youngest is still on a balance bike so no chance of riding. Should I just wait until they are older and they can ride it all in one day?
Thanks.
We did it over 2 days with the kids. Eldest, then 8 on his bike, youngest was her 3rd or 4th go on the back of the tandem age 4 and 9 months. Carried kit in panniers on my wife's (solo) bike and in trailer behind the tandem.
A few places would probably be a bit rough for a kiddy in the trailer (one part near Hayburn Wyke is narrow so the trailer bounces along the verges and the descent from Ravenscar is a bit rough in parts) It's possible, but you need to go quite slowly to avoid bouncing them out! I may be too cautious as the eldest had no real problems on a 20 inch wheeled frog bike.
Ravenscar to Robin Hoods bay is downhill so not too much extra effort if kids are fueled with cake and ice cream at Ravenscar.
We camped at the site just off the path before Robin Hoods bay. We finished by leaving the path just before Whitby and dropped down to Ruswarp, lunch in the cafe and I cycled back on wife's bike for the van. Plan was to amuse the kids on the miniature railway at Ruswarp but due to rain they did the soft play centre opposite instead. Soft play maybe not such a good option at present!
We just left the van on the roadside at Scalby, a mile from Scarborough overnight with no problems.
There are regular express busses from Whitby to Scarborough for the return journey.
Hope this info helps. Any more info please ask.
PS path would be Ok with child in rear seat in terms of roughness as they get less bounced than the trailer IMO and the narrow bit is no problem. Luggage in the trailer was fine, just well strapped in and it got well rattled even with the big 20 inch wheels on our trailer.
One other possible accommodation option is the YHA at Boggle Hole only just off the track before Robin Hoods bay. We stayed once and it was great but I don't know how Covid arrangements work there. It is also a steep push back up the hill in the morning but the novelty of a place that you can only reach across the beach at low tide or a narrow footbridge at high tide makes an even better adventure.
There was a section between RHB and Whitby closed when I did a C2C in July. Hopefully open again now but worth checking.
There was a section between RHB and Whitby closed when I did a C2C in July. Hopefully open again now but worth checking.
My parents in law static caravan is in hawsker. I'm there at the moment and it's all clear again.
The trail between rhb and whitby is the most travelled part and therefore it is in very good condition.
From Ravenscar to rhb is mainly down hill but in parts its fairly bumpy. I came down it once on a road bike with 25mm tyres, it's possible but I was very slow.
The section from Ravenscar towards Scarborough are least used and go through the woods. It's muddy in parts and in others deep gravel. All rideable but just not as good.
There's a lovely pub on the way before Ravenscar at Cloughton that does food and accommodation. It's very remote and has lots of ground so will probably have somewhere for you to secure the bikes.
https://www.hayburnwykeinn.co.uk/
Although Ravenscar looks halfway its all uphill. From RS to rhb is mostly downhill. There's a small climb from rhb to hawsker then it's flat. You go past a few places in hawsker that do food, coast cafe, hare and hounds and the windmill.
Best place to eat in rhb is the fishbox, just at the top of the hill and also near the public toilets (if they are open) means you don't have to push back up the hill. I think they do the best f&c around. The post office just off the cinder track also does sandwiches and ice creams. If you do go down into rhb there are lots of metal railings to secure your bike to at the bottom car park at the top of the hill, it's very steep coming back up!
The only problem is whitby has had a spike of covid19 cases.
https://www.hull****/whats-on/food-drink/whitby-businesses-close-coronavirus-fears-4490167
Thanks for the feedback.
Loving all the food stop suggestions.
Sounds like a bike seat is a better option than a trailer. Have a hamex which has a nice bit of bounce to absorb the rough stuff.
Think RHB would be a good stop then although the hayburnwyke Inn sounds good too. Didn't think about the uphill nature of the trail and would be great to finish on a descent. Also nice to have a shorter last day too.
Thanks folks.
Stopped at Ravenscar on the way home with the lad today after a trip out. Cafe at Ravenscar is currently open for takeaway only, there are loads of outside tables and the curd cake was delicious.
Curd cake sounds like the sort of fuel that would power my kids down into RHB after a stop in that cafe:)
The Viaduct was closed yesterday for surface work for 3 days, monday being the first day 🙂 .. we had to divert around and cross the road bridge just outside Whitby
