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So after a decompress from last weekends West Highland Way trip which was 4 years in the making and 2 days in the doing, Im now thinking what next.
The couple of days I did the WHW over were two part . Day one was just hell on earth the Lomond path needs never to be spoken of again! Day two however was differnt gravey very enjoyable.
So my thoughts were towards the coast to coast, has anyone done it on here and how long did it take ? And ultimatly was it worth the effort ?
I think there's a few versions. Road or off-road?
Also interested!
Indeed - I did the Southern version. Ilfracombe to Plymouth. I took two days and had a very enjoyable ride.
We did coast to coast to coast, on road with occcasional forays off road - the "classic" C2C from Workington to Tynemouth, then returning via the Reivers Route. Four days each way, nice and leisurely, stopping in B&Bs. Each direction could fairly easily be done in 3, harder in 2, one day each way would be very challenging. The Reivers Route featured a trip through Kielder Forest which was interesting on a pannier-laden tandem...
As above, depends which one you mean. The original C2C is a bit vanilla if you're coming from the WHW but does take you out into some remote areas on road and old railway lines. Normal would be 2-3 days. There's lots of climbing in the middle.
Ullapool to Bonar bridge - all off road and coast to coast.
If Carlsberg did coast to coasts:
Ardnamurchan Point to either Montrose or Broughty Ferry castle.
We went along the north side of Ardnamurchan, then Acharacle, Salen and over the hill from Strontian to Polloch. Along Loch Shiel and then a right turn at Glenfinnan; south side of Loch Eil and then a boat from Camusnagaul to Ft Bill. Two easyish days, just to get to Ft Bill.
Popped in at Nevis to ride the Top Chief, then across to join the Great Glen Way at Gairlochy. Fort Augustus, Corrieyairick, Newtonmore. Then into lower Tromie, over to Feshie, up and across to the Geldie, Linn of Dee and Braemar.
From there, east to Invercauld, bypassing Gelder Shiel and over to Loch Muick. Up again and over the Capel Mounth for that superb descent..
Last day was from the Clova hotel to Prosen on the Minister's Path, up and over to Backwater, east again through a lovely wee trail into Glen Quharity, then tracks and trails to cross Strathmore to the Sidlaws and up through the old drove road in Denoon Glen; Dundee's green cycle route to Broughty Castle. Happy days..
Sorry looks like my original post was very vauge. Id be lookign at the Stbees to Whitby route and off road. If I was to head north of the border again it would be to do Breamar to Aviemore via Derry Cairngorm.
It would simply be a bike a backpack and a very B+BS
The last c2c trip I did was Whitehaven to Tynemouth cycle route. We did it over 3 days and I loved it, the weather was good, just the 2 of us.
I remember day 2 being the hardest, but doing it over 3 days for us was enjoyable. Looking back it could have been done over 2 days.
St bees to Whitby route and off road.
I've done the pedal north c2c a few times. Ravenglass to ravenscar then down the cinder track to Robins hood bay but it does go to whitby.
Lakes were great but done in a day. Dales were brutal, avoid the bridleway around dent and just ride up the road. Apart from that I love riding in the dales. Middle bit was flat and boring and wet muddy bridleways just for the sake of it. Gets better from Osmotherley. North Yorkshire moors don't disappoint and great sea views. If you go via behind the RAF base don't bother if its been very wet as its just a bog. There are better routes.
It would simply be a bike a backpack and a very B+BS
Some of the route might pass youth hostels so worth joining if your going to use them a couple of times.
Cheers Damascus Im open to any better routes Im just feeling motivated
Years ago we followed the Woodcock route which pretty closely matched the original Wainwright walking route. Did it in 6 days - 3 to get across the Lakes, 1 day across the Dales, a boring day from the Dales to the North York Moors, then a final day across the North York Moors. Stayed in pubs with rooms. A good ride while not as big country as a Scottish equivalent.
@stevedoc are you after a coast to coast ride or just a multi day ride?
There's so many routes popping up these days you can probably ride from your door and ride a 3/4/5 day circuit and cover areas you've never ridden before.
Ardgay to Ullapool and return can be done in a day.
Isn't Evanston/Allness a better eastern end? Almost all off-road that way AND less driving if you're coming from the south 😎
@damascus Truth be told I looked at the c+c as a similar kind of must do ride to the HWH as a sense of achievement and somthing differnt. Ive ridden a lot in the Lakes and Dales so a multiday ride would suit there. But a Scottish loop or good multiday ride there would also suit.
Welsh C2C, S>N? There's a few variants, 3-6 days sort of thing.
A mate and I did the Welsh C2C S-N in 2019. In 4 1/2 days. Last day was quite short as we had a train to catch. It's mostly road tho - a few old railway tracks as well and the roads are 90% quiet/mostly traffic free. Really enjoyed it, it was tough in parts but we were still in the pub at 330pm most days having a beer 🙂
Good weather helped. Last day was very wet tho and that kind of spoiled the end (went to lighthouse at Holyhead and couldn't see it, never mind a view!)
Weston Super Mare to Beachy Head, about 250miles istr and 4/5 days, done it staying in B&B and bike pack style too
Another vote for the Tim Woodcock route. Blacksail Pass will be indelibly marked on your conscience for ever more. We did a made up/mostly off road Skye to Montrose a few years ago as well. Details on request 🙃