and bicycle trailers are not carried unless otherwise stated.
Unaccompanied cycles cannot be carried on any services.
Cycles must be carried in the designated area on trains and must not obstruct doors or aisles.
Cycles are carried at owner’s risk.
Getting home
It is important to plan what happens when you reach the end of the C2C. There are five likely options
ask someone to collect you from the finish
pre-book a train ticket for you and your bike
pre-book a minibus/baggage-transport service to return you to the start and collect your car arrange to have your car delivered to the finish
ride your bike back to collect your car from the start.
Motorised support team picks up the bikes at Nenthead, an interesting place to visit (Stage 3)
The train is relaxing after such a long ride and environmentally friendly, but for those with time, the last of these options is also highly recommended. The C2C links directly to the 300km (187 mile) Reivers Route (NCN Route 10) from Tynemouth to Whitehaven and into the 280km (174 mile) Hadrian’s Wall Cycleway (NCN Route 72) from Tynemouth to Ravenglass on the west coast, passing through Workington and Whitehaven. Cyclists who have reached the end of the C2C should be fit enough to take on either of these interesting routes. The Reivers provides a more hilly challenge through remote border country, while the Hadrian’s Wall route follows the famous Roman wall and forts of the Cumbria coast.
Other link routes
In addition to the Reivers Route and Hadrian’s Wall Cycleway, the C2C links to three other National Cycle Network routes.
Three Rivers – 264km (164 miles) connecting Middlesborough, Stockton, Hartlepool, Durham, Consett, Newcastle and South Shields
Coast & Castles South – 355km (221 miles) connecting Newcastle to Edinburgh via Berwick and Melrose
Lochs & Glens South – 425km (264 miles) connecting Glasgow to Carlisle (C2C link to Penrith) via Dumfries and Glenn Trool
The Penrith to Carlisle route also links with the Reivers Route (NCN10), both on-road and off-road (‘Taster routes’, Ride 5)
Planning your itinerary
Some people like to cycle the C2C in a day. A popular target for hot-riders is to complete the almost 225km (140 mile) route in under 12hrs, which requires an average speed close to 12mph. That may not sound fast, particularly compared to travelling by car, but anyone reading Dylan Noble’s report in ‘Planning your itinerary’, below, will appreciate the very serious challenge that a non-stop C2C represents.
Stretching the C2C over several days makes the riding a lot easier, and the main part of this guide describes a five-day itinerary, aimed at leisure cyclists. Although overall cost increases with each night’s accommodation, the advantage is that extra time allows more enjoyment of all that the route has to offer.
Plan carefully and set a sensible target for each day. Do not be over optimistic. It’s better to arrive too early than too late. Allow for delays due to bad weather and give yourself plenty of time to explore the most interesting places along the route, which are likely to include Cockermouth, Keswick, Alston, Beamish Museum and Newcastle.
A hard rider may be able to average 12–15mph on the C2C, but cyclists taking it easy, enjoying the views, stopping for snacks and riding on some of the alternative off-road sections are likely to have an average speed of 7mph or less. It sounds slow, but is not when you consider that the C2C is above all a dramatic route. And what’s the hurry? You are there to enjoy it.
Five days
Excellent timescale for leisure cyclists and families who like to take it easy, and a great choice for those who feel a little unsure about being able to complete the route.
Average distance of about 48km (30 miles) a day, allowing time to enjoy each stop-over or postpone cycling due to rain.
Four nights’ accommodation required, with the option of one or two extra nights if staying at one or both ends of the route.
Parkhead Station serves food, provides accommodation and welcomes cyclists in a delightful isolated location at the west end of the Waskerley Way (Stage 4)
In the five-stage route described in this guide, the fourth stage ends at Consett for ease of description because this is the point where the route splits before continuing to either Sunderland or Tynemouth. However, in practice, a good place to stay on the fourth night is The Old Station at Parkhead, about 8km (5 miles) short of Consett. It’s a pleasant place, and you can rest in the knowledge that your final day is all downhill. Cyclists taking this option may also choose to stop earlier on the third night, at the lively Pennine village of Alston, rather than at Nenthead, 8km (5 miles) further on.
Four days
Sensible timescale for regular cyclists and people with a good level of fitness who want to enjoy all the route has to offer.
Average distance of about 64km (40 miles) a day – quite a bit more demanding than the five-day itinerary.
Minimum of three nights’ accommodation, plus extra nights at either end.
Three days
Good choice for sporty, fit cyclists who enjoy a challenge.
Approximate average distance of 80km (50 miles) a day is demanding, with less time to enjoy stop-overs; cyclists likely to feel pretty tired at the end of each day.
Minimum of two nights’ accommodation plus extra nights at either end.
Two days
Only recommended for serious hard riders who enjoy a major challenge.
Average of more than 112km (70 miles) a day is very demanding, with little time to enjoy the attractions of the C2C. Except for very keen mountain bikers, cyclists will have to restrict themselves to riding fast on tarmac and miss out the optional off-road sections.
Minimum of one night’s accommodation, for some serious rest, plus extra nights at either end.
One day
Very high level of fitness and preparation required. This is purely a challenge ride.
No time to enjoy the views or any delights that the C2C has to offer slower cyclists.
But you’ll save on accommodation!
No
