Cycling UK Forum

What are peoples experience of the ride between Penrith and Stanhope? Rough going?

Looks undulating and barren (I.e. crosswinds) so I'm guessing its slow going, especially fully laden with camping stuff. Would probably make a good day 2.

Thinking of hosteling this instead of camping anyway to be honest.

Two of us rode Workington to N Shields last week, and with loaded panniers in terrible weather we took 12 hours to get to Allenheads (82 miles, 8000 feet of ascent) on the first day. The Inn there is wonderful. As stated above, the Hartside climb is merely the first of several big ones, but not the highest, and the whole C2C is a serious challenge. Great fun too. There are far more tracks and paths than I'd realised, and it means you are slower than on roads alone.
We returned by the Reivers, staying on road after Keilder (to Newcastleton), and perhaps liked it even better. Remote Northumbria is fine for cycling, and then the section from Hesket Newmarket back to Cockermouth is really lovely.
Our route took us:
Workington - Allenheads (82 miles)
Allenheads - N Shields - Stamfordham (76)
Stamfordham - Newcastleton (60)
Newcastleton - Hesket Newmarket (about 62)
H Newmarket - Workington (30)

uppadine wrote:Two of us rode Workington to N Shields last week, and with loaded panniers in terrible weather we took 12 hours to get to Allenheads (82 miles, 8000 feet of ascent) on the first day. The Inn there is wonderful. As stated above, the Hartside climb is merely the first of several big ones, but not the highest, and the whole C2C is a serious challenge. Great fun too. There are far more tracks and paths than I'd realised, and it means you are slower than on roads alone.
We returned by the Reivers, staying on road after Keilder (to Newcastleton), and perhaps liked it even better. Remote Northumbria is fine for cycling, and then the section from Hesket Newmarket back to Cockermouth is really lovely.
Our route took us:
Workington - Allenheads (82 miles)
Allenheads - N Shields - Stamfordham (76)
Stamfordham - Newcastleton (60)
Newcastleton - Hesket Newmarket (about 62)
H Newmarket - Workington (30)

Your first day sounds like a real challenge! I've been thinking of stopping off first night just east of Penrith. I've no need to rush and I think too much climbing on the first day will seriously tire me out.

My only worry at the moment is how to get me and the bike to and from Whitehaven. That's a whole different challenge in itself.

Lancaster area is a bit more accessible for me which is why I've been thinking of doing the way of the roses west to east, and my own devised route east to west.

Doubt it's as challenging as the main c2c but there you go...

uppadine wrote:Two of us rode Workington to N Shields last week, and with loaded panniers in terrible weather we took 12 hours to get to Allenheads (82 miles, 8000 feet of ascent) on the first day. The Inn there is wonderful. As stated above, the Hartside climb is merely the first of several big ones, but not the highest, and the whole C2C is a serious challenge. Great fun too. There are far more tracks and paths than I'd realised, and it means you are slower than on roads alone.
We returned by the Reivers, staying on road after Keilder (to Newcastleton), and perhaps liked it even better. Remote Northumbria is fine for cycling, and then the section from Hesket Newmarket back to Cockermouth is really lovely.
Our route took us:
Workington - Allenheads (82 miles)
Allenheads - N Shields - Stamfordham (76)
Stamfordham - Newcastleton (60)
Newcastleton - Hesket Newmarket (about 62)
H Newmarket - Workington (30)

Sounds like a good route. I took the off road route from Kielder over to Newcastleton; I still can't decide if it was loads of fun or a stupid idea.

I really liked the Reivers and loved the offroad route through the forest. Not something to do on your best carbon bike though!

Given Chris mentions Lancaster area as a starting point I'd suggest a route based on WoR W-E then up the coast to Whitby before following the Walney to Wear route E-W to kendal or wherever close to start. Walney to Wear has dropped off the radar on forums but is a a lot of fun. As with all described routes I'd avoid following every last twist and turn.

geocycle wrote:I really liked the Reivers and loved the offroad route through the forest. Not something to do on your best carbon bike though!

A good tester for the Disc Trucker that's for sure. Flying down the fire road from here for a few km was brilliant though.

Anyone recommend a good lightweight tent for c2c?

Oh and a sleeping bag I wont freeze tom death in for October!

I use a Luxe Mini Peak II and a Rab Ascent 700 for colder weather.

There's thousands of tents and bags out there, all majorly compromised in some way, it's personal preference as to what you want to compromise on.

I may play on the WOTR route a little and finish up at Scarborough or even Whitby itself - before heading west again on the Walney to Wear route, dropping back into the dales at some point

This seems like it would be a good mix of challenging and good scenery

A friend of mine rode the Whitehaven to Tynemouth option of the C2C last weekend in 10 hours.

I took a more leisurely ride over 3 days in 2007, Day 1 being Whitehaven to Penrith (60 miles), Day 2 Penrith to Rookhope (40 miles) and Day 3 Rookhope to Tynemouth (49 miles). Can't advise on campsites as we were staying B&B's but I found Day 2 the hardest in terms of climbs with the ascents out of Garrigill and Nenthead being particularly hard. As someone else has said here, the climb up to Hartside was a long slog. I found it enjoyable as it wasn't too steep and I could manage it without stopping. The Hartside Cafe was very nice too! Garrigill on the other hand I had to get off and push for a bit.

Day 3 was a breeze after we had got the Rookhope incline out of the way, the Waskerley Way being very enjoyable. We were on cheap mountain bikes with 37mm tyres. Have fun, we had a great 3 days

The C2C from Whitehaven to Sunderland is a classic and I've done it seven times. Yes, can be tough going, especially the North Pennines section. Two days is pushing it, but three days would be my best bet.

rapidfire72 wrote:The C2C from Whitehaven to Sunderland is a classic and I've done it seven times. Yes, can be tough going, especially the North Pennines section. Two days is pushing it, but three days would be my best bet.

Yes, I'd say 2 days is an endurance challenge, 3 days is a tour. I did it over 2 moderate and 1 shortish days. Whitehaven to Penrith to allenheads to Sunderland.

My wife and I did it in two 2 days this is a our short story

Day 1
My Wife and I drove to Carlisle but didn't locate the long stay carpark (which is right outside the front door) in time and missed the first train to Whitehaven which meant we didn't start cycling untill 10 o'clock. The weather was nice as we set off to Alston, the half way(ish) point where we had pre-positioned our caravan.
We passed 2 red squirels on our way to the first major climb up the Whinlater Pass and once in the forest trail centre missed a way marker and got lost before retracing our steps and finding our way out and on to Keswick.
The leg to Penrith was very pleasant with a few climbs but nothing too bad.
Penrith to Alston = Two sharp climbs out of Penrith to Langwathby which after 50+ miles hurt a bit but then the suffering started. From Renwik to the summit of Hartside Fell (at 70 miles) was really hard work and we reached the top in the dark. The long descent to Alston was pleasant (but a bit chilly).

Day 2 - The route to Allenheads was lovely with fresh(ish) legs, beautiful scenery in sunshine with two nice climbs including the highest point on the Sustrans network. The ascent out of Rookhope took us off road and over the moors to Parkhead and a welcome cup of tea. The descent down into Consett was pleasant but in Consett we got lost and went round in a big circle before finding our way out. From Consett to Tynemouth was a bit of a drag to be honest, after the beatiful Penine scenery, the last 37 miles followed, in the main old rail routes and the Hadrians Way Cycle route. But we made it to the North Sea, turned our bikes round and rode the 10 miles back to Newcastle and train station, where both the Newcastle and Sunderland supporters made the wait quite erm... interesting.
We got back to the car, drove back to Caravan for a Lamb shank dinner and LOTS of wine.

Our Kit
Wifes Bike :- Specialised RockHopper hard tail with Fox 100mm front forks.
My Bike :- Giant Anthem Full sus 100mm of travel.
each day we carried our Cammel back Mule 3 litre bladders filled with SIS Go isotonic drink.
each day we carried and eat 2 Gells. and 2 small packets of trail mix (nuts and raisons) some flap jack and a snickers bar.
front and rear Lights and a lightweight wet weather jacket.
Between us we had a tool kit and 4 innertubes (2 each, but nothing was used)
Cash, Card, a mobile phone each and a video camera
the sustrans Map and Guide book
we had helmets, gloves and we were wearing sunglasses, hit it.

Glad I found this thread as I was wondering if it was possible over 2 days. How easy a route is it to follow or did you use garmins rather than maps?