Im planning a ride from St Bees or RavenGlass to Robin Hoods Bay in the summer (Mid June). Doing on a gravel bike hoping to use B&Bs so just carrying clothes, day ride food, and spares over about three days (~100km max per day). So am doing it for the enjoyment/experience rather than speed, looking for good backlane, offroad gravel routes rather than technical rocky bridleways and hike a bikes. Thinking to head further south through Yorkshire dales (Ribblehead Viaduct) and North Yorkshire Moors rather than the more traditional road route.
Any recommendations for bits of routes to use or avoid?
Is Lakes section better on north via Keswick, or south across Grizelade?
Any food and accommodation gems to look for?
Cheers.
Is Lakes section better on north via Keswick, or south across Grizelade?
If you go south towards Grizedale, you'll end up going over Hardknott & Wrynose which are Very Steep. The only way around that is to go further south still and go from Ulpha over Stephenson Ground and into the back of Coniston, there's some nice trails around that way. Then you can go around Coniston (either N or S) and over into and through Grizedale. Around the S side of Windermere and there's a steep up and over to drop you into the back of Kendal (good overnight stop town) and from there you're well placed to go through Yorkshire via Ribblehead and over Cam High Road, a long stretch of old Roman road (gravel, I've done it on a CX bike many times).
The Hadrian's cycleway to South Shields from Ravenglass uses nearly all small lanes and cycle paths. Probably less scenic than Dales and Moors but still a good ride. Added plus is that train from Newcastle to Cumbria is cheap. Las tsummer we bought advance tickets to St Bees the day before for about £12 and no problems with our 3 bikes plus a couple of others on the Newcastle to Carlisle leg.
Stayed at a very random Air B&B in Port Carlisle and The Sill Youth Hostel at Once Brewed. YHA is recommended.
Not sure if this helps but it's another possible route.
Depends on your appetite for road pedalling. Avoiding the worst climbs (or pushes) in the Lakes would possibly involve going North via Whinlatter (Maybe start St Bees?) then Keswick, Old Coach Road, Pooley Bridge, Askham, Lowther, then minor roads to Great Asby Scar, Ravenstonedale, then onto the Pennine Bridleway at Stennerskeugh. This is mostly reasonable gravel riding all the way to Cotter End and Hawes. Backroads to Bainbridge, Askrigg, then the traversing BW which meets a good shooting track above Carperby that takes you all the way over to Grinton and the Dales Bike Centre via Greenhaw Hut.
When I did it, I climbed out of Reeth towards Richmond, then crossed the Vale of York on backroads via Streetlam, Brompton, and Kirkby Sigston, then Osmotherley, avoiding the A19 using a byway heading north.
Other people can recommend the best gravel route from there, I went via Chop Gate, then the old railway over to the Lion Inn, and various tracks and minor roads to Whitby. There were a couple of short pushes on it.
Thanks all - some interesting options that I'll check out on OS maps.
The classic Tim Woodcock route has been around for decades now so pre-dates all the new-fangled mountain bikes.
I did it 20 years ago and although there's a few carry bits in the lakes I can't recall anything that would trouble a modern gravel bike.
I can't see the book is available anywhere but I still have a hi-res pdf scan I did of it at the time (85mb file). I'll try messaging you to grab your email if you want it.
If you come further south, Way of the Roses is very enjoyable. Morecambe to Bridlington. Less hilly and dramatic than the Lakes and the top of the moors, but fully signposted and practically no busy roads.
We did one a few years ago (Whitehaven to Sunderland), looking at this for this year.
Watching with interest for doing something similar in june / july
On re-ready the OP's post I think the Woodcock route would be hard work over 3 days unless you are very fit and like long days in the saddle!
We did it over 5 days.
Ive seen the Pedal North one, but this review of the route made me think its more MTB aligned - dont fancy hours of hike a bike.
Just found this on Komoot!...
https://www.komoot.com/tour/550621834
...the original book was written in 1994 and tries to follow Wainwrights walking Coast to Coast as closely as possible.
Look at the way of the roses overlaid in OS map. It's a (quiet) road route but should be easy to add bridleway diversions
Ive seen the Pedal North one, but this review of the route made me think its more MTB aligned - dont fancy hours of hike a bike.
Just downloaded the gpx for that one, and the latest version is different from what those poor bastards in the video were sent to do. The ridiculous and totally avoidable Duddon river crossing is gone, although the Walna Scar push is still there. The section over Claife (mudbath on the video) has been fixed on the way up, but they've chosen very rough, slippery cobbles for your descent.
Still a lot wrong with it though even past there. The sections they've chosen around Dentdale are the wrong ones, particularly the push out over the flank of Whernside. Why do that when you could have a short hard pull up the Coal Road then a lovely traversing track over to Newby Head? No idea if the bits east of the Dales are equally odd.
More enjoyable than the Woodcock Route though. That is like one of those holy pilgrimages where they self-flagellate and crawl on their knees.
It's perfectly possible to come up with a gravel friendly C2C which maximises steady pedalling sections without losing much of the scenery.
Just downloaded the gpx for that one, and the latest version is different from what those poor bastards in the video were sent to do. The ridiculous and totally avoidable Duddon river crossing is gone, although the Walna Scar push is still there. The section over Claife (mudbath on the video) has been fixed on the way up, but they've chosen very rough, slippery cobbles for your descent.
Still a lot wrong with it though even past there. The sections they've chosen around Dentdale are the wrong ones, particularly the push out over the flank of Whernside. Why do that when you could have a short hard pull up the Coal Road then a lovely traversing track over to Newby Head? No idea if the bits east of the Dales are equally odd.
More enjoyable than the Woodcock Route though. That is like one of those holy pilgrimages where they self-flagellate and crawl on their knees.
It's perfectly possible to come up with a gravel friendly C2C which maximises steady pedalling sections without losing much of the scenery
Thanks for this info - I'll bring the latest route into RidewithGPS and start looking at options for avoiding those trails. Im sure theres a good "mid point" version between a dull route and an extreme slog. As you say a short hike a bike to access a great track is ok, but having done Walna Scar Road on a MTB on a Lakeland loop 20 years ago and had to walk down alot, Im not sure its worth the push up in the first place - not sure if its improved, i need to find "Google Street view" for bridleways!
Descending Walna Scar is not what it was 20 years ago, it's a lot smoother. Still might be a few short sections you want to hop off for on a gravel bike, but nothing like you remember it.
If anyones interested heres the latest Pedal North sections
Part1 - Lakes - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49821396
Part2 - Yorkshire Dales - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49821402
Part3 - North York moors - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49821473
Descending Walna Scar is not what it was 20 years ago, it's a lot smoother. Still might be a few short sections you want to hop off for on a gravel bike, but nothing like you remember it.
Thanks - thats good to know.
Descending Walna Scar is not what it was 20 years ago, it's a lot smoother. Still might be a few short sections you want to hop off for on a gravel bike, but nothing like you remember it.
What's the descent from Black Sail like these days? My memory of the Woodcock route was lots of rock steps which were a challenge on a hardtail MTB. The Garburn Pass would make me think twice too, perhaps depending on how rugged a gravel bike you have.
Thanks for all the advice, have refined a route now that looks fun but challenging.
Day 1 - Ravenscar to Dent across Lakes (Wrynose and Hardnot to Skelwith bridge, down lakeside to Bowness ferry, across to Crook and Kendall. Then Old Sedburgh road east to Killington and then backroads to Dent.
MB Gravel Bike C2C part 1v2 Ravenglass to Dent v2B 2024 · Ride with GPS
Day 2 - Dent to Ribblehead viaduct (small diversion) then east over Cam High road to Bainbridge, backroads to Aysgarth falls, backlanes across to Brompton/Northallerton.
MB Gravel Bike C2C part 2 Yorkshire Dales_Opt2 · Ride with GPS
Day 3 - Brompton to Ingleby Greenhow, then up onto Ingleby Incline and follow old Farndale railway to Rosedale railway and onto Rosedale Abbey, up Heygate Bank and Smiths lane over moors to Egton Bridge and then backroads Whitby and old railway line to Robin Hoods Bay.
MB Gravel Bike C2C part 3 N Yorks Moors_Opt2 · Ride with GPS
About 100km each day and hopefully see lots of scenery and less traffic.
Any other advice and ideas on how to slightly tweak/improve this?
Depends on what mix of on/off road and how much climbing you're looking for. Looks sensible although mainly road-based. Hardknott+Wrynose is still a pretty brutal way to kick off the climbing.
Only one thing stuck out - start of day 3 includes a section of the A19 (albeit a very short one). I personally would move heaven and earth to avoid it (in fact, I rode an extra five miles to avoid this exact section on a mtb ride once). In this case, you can turn L onto Foxton Lane just after Kirkby Sigston, which takes you up to meet the Osmotherley road.
I'd second the comment above about the A19. At the very least make sure that you can still cross there (you'll probably want to push as you are basically crossing a motorway) as a lot of the crossings have been closed off.
I'd also consider whether on day 3 you really want to drop down chimney bank into Rosedale Abbey to climb all the way up again. 1 in 3 road descent is unpleasant and it's a very long slog along that lane to Egton, particularly after the slog of pushing up Ingleby incline to get onto the top (if you manage to start riding again after stopping at the half way gate then maybe you are too good at riding up hills and can ignore this).
I'd consider going left when you meet the road at Blakey ridge (the Lion Inn is good for food or coffee) and then taking the next right and then the bridleway West from Trough House at the head of Fryupdale across to Glaisdale Rigg then cut round the top of Glaisdale to catch the same lane on the moor top and descend to Egton Bridge.
I'd second the comment above about the A19. At the very least make sure that you can still cross there (you'll probably want to push as you are basically crossing a motorway) as a lot of the crossings have been closed off.
I'd also consider whether on day 3 you really want to drop down chimney bank into Rosedale Abbey to climb all the way up again. 1 in 3 road descent is unpleasant and it's a very long slog along that lane to Egton, particularly after the slog of pushing up Ingleby incline to get onto the top (if you manage to start riding again after stopping at the half way gate then maybe you are too good at riding up hills and can ignore this).
I'd consider going left when you meet the road at Blakey ridge (the Lion Inn is good for food or coffee) and then taking the next right and then the bridleway West from Trough House at the head of Fryupdale across to Glaisdale Rigg then cut round the top of Glaisdale to catch the same lane on the moor top and descend to Egton Bridge.
Thanks martinhutch and slowol for the A19 advice - from google street view it looked like we could ride down the slip road and then walk the 200m along the wide grass verge then cut across (there is a opening/turning lane in the central reservation for cars to wait to cross ). will review this again.
slowol - thanks for this advice I want sure how good the singletrack type bridleways would be on gravel bikes so kept looking at the wider track options. Is that bridleway ok to ride? I assume you meant this route Ive updated it to?
MB Gravel Bike C2C part 3 N Yorks Moors_Opt3 · Ride with GPS
That's the route. I've not ridden that bridleway for a few years but the OS map shows a track and it's visible on the satellite. Those type of tracks are made for shooting so 4wd tracks and are normally rideable.
That's the route. I've not ridden that bridleway for a few years but the OS map shows a track and it's visible on the satellite. Those type of tracks are made for shooting so 4wd tracks and are normally rideable.
Great - many thanks! Saves 150m of climbing which will be appreciated on the third day!
When you get to Grosmont from Egton Bridge along Bernard's Road you can follow a bridleway north of the River Esk through Newbiggin Hall Farm to cross the A169 at Sleights and go along Ruswarp Carrs. From Ruswarp you can follow ncn 165 up a steep road climb to the Cinder Track at Larpool Viaduct.
I'd second that advice about following the road around from the Lion Inn and crossing EDIT Glaisdale Moor Urra Moor. You don't want to lose that hard won height.
If you fancied avoiding the big passes and going for less travelled route to Kendal, the following gives variety and lots of options for more/less off road
Thanks martinhutch and slowol for the A19 advice - from google street view it looked like we could ride down the slip road and then walk the 200m along the wide grass verge then cut across (there is a opening/turning lane in the central reservation for cars to wait to cross ). will review this again.
I'm fairly certain I crossed that on a road ride once at that point. It was somewhere around Northallerton anyway.
What had initially (on Strava) looked like a bridge or underpass or, at worst, some kind of crossroads, was actually a lane that ended abruptly at a dual carriageway. Had to walk the bike 200m or so along the verge, then nip across in gaps in the traffic.
It was thoroughly unpleasant.
.
When you get to Grosmont from Egton Bridge along Bernard's Road you can follow a bridleway north of the River Esk through Newbiggin Hall Farm to cross the A169 at Sleights and go along Ruswarp Carrs. From Ruswarp you can follow ncn 165 up a steep road climb to the Cinder Track at Larpool Viaduct.
Thanks - looks like I could do a sneaky footpath ride from Ruswarp via Water Lane onto the Esk Valley Walk onto the cindertrack from there as well. Cheers.
If you fancied avoiding the big passes and going for less travelled route to Kendal, the following gives variety and lots of options for more/less off road
Thanks - there are surprisingly little East-West roads across the northern hills/moors - probably as the glacial valleys run North-South. Will have a look at those options.
I've walked that but I can't remember whether it is rideable after you leave Water Lane. There doesn't appear to be too much of a ĥeatmap on Strava. I'd be following the short road section. The hill is short but sheepish but you'll spin up it easily enough on a gravel bike.When you get to Grosmont from Egton Bridge along Bernard's Road you can follow a bridleway north of the River Esk through Newbiggin Hall Farm to cross the A169 at Sleights and go along Ruswarp Carrs. From Ruswarp you can follow ncn 165 up a steep road climb to the Cinder Track at Larpool Viaduct.
Thanks - looks like I could do a sneaky footpath ride from Ruswarp via Water Lane onto the Esk Valley Walk onto the cindertrack from there as well. Cheers.
Thanks - looks like I could do a sneaky footpath ride from Ruswarp via Water Lane onto the Esk Valley Walk onto the cindertrack from there as well. Cheers.
I think that path along water lane goes under the viaduct and brings you out on the main road bridge in Whitby. It also goes through the secondary school which is currently being redeveloped after the merger of the two Whitby schools (much local controversy) so you may find a green school fence in the way.
If you want to get to the South end of the viaduct just take the road marked as Larpool lane on Google maps. NB it is still marked as closed. It had some subsidence so it's not open to through traffic but is (or at least was) OK for bikes and the few houses on the hill making it almost a traffic free (if steep path).
If you want to go into Whitby to queue for chips then then trespass along the permissive path that goes between the railway and the river bringing you out at the harbour (not on all maps). It's flat and although I've only walked it would be rideable if you're polite to those walking.
Huge thanks for all the route advice - finally completed the trip at the weekend after an aborted attempt a few weeks ago.
Cam High road was great - though would have preferred to be on a MTB for the descent, Hardknott and Wrynose passes were tough , the Yorkshire Dales, and North York moors were amazing scenery and 100km a day for 3 days was enough of a challenge having never done that amount of distance before.
The A19 crossing was actually very easy at 9:30 on a saturday morning - got across in about 2 minutes.
Thanks all.
Well done. Character building in places I expect.
Are you able to share your route @blaggers
Ok, Trying an image of route first -
Ok that seemed to work - heres the three days rides on RidewithGPS
Had to reroute on day three due to torrential rain making the Ingleby Incline route a bit risky, but ended up doing more climbing taking the "low route" over the rolling moors.
https://ridewithgps.com/collections/5227845?privacy_code=FbkKstsKEqQrVytoOiqqTNw9MUn8vU9l
