Walney to Wear &
Whitby Cycle Route. Regional Route 20 of the National Cycle
Network.
Location
Continuous ‘coast-to-coast’ route between Cumbria’s Walney
Island near Barrow-in-Furness and either Wearmouth or (from summer
2006) Whitby on the North Sea Coast.
Distance / time
- Walney to Wear is 150 miles (241km) – 3-4 days approx
- Walney to Whitby is 176 miles (283km) – 4-5 days approx.
Route
Challenging cycling across hilly open country on mainly quiet
country lanes and some traffic-free sections. Easy to follow in
either direction thanks to signs and map.
Scenery
Wonderful Lake District, North Pennines and North York Moors
landscapes and north country heritage. Historic Durham city is a
highlight on Walney to Wear route.
Hospitality
Welcoming places to stay on or close to the route, and
tearooms, cafes, pubs and food shops, often serving locally
produced fare, especially in villages and market towns.
Getting there
Possible car-free holiday using trains serving Barrow,
Sunderland and Whitby, and several points in between (max 2 bikes
per train officially).
Support
Load lightening luggage transfer service and fully supported
holidays available. Repairs, spares and kit at various cycling
shops.
Comments from Cyclists
"Here's a couple of photos of LloydTsb Sunderland Contact
Centre team at Walney Island and Wearmouth following our ride last
weekend for Breast Cancer Awareness. The 16 cyclists raised over
£2000.
Our thoughts - A fantastic route, with some challenging
sections that rival the C2C ! As for accommodation - The George at
Walney Island, The George at Orton, Mostyn House at Orton and Barn
House at Orton - all clean, comfortable, good food and
pocket friendly."
More information
Download the Walney to Wear Leaflet as pdf,
672kb.
Full details are
on the www.cyclingw2w.info website. Buy
the waterproof route map (£4.95) from www.nationalcyclenetwork.org.uk or
from helpful Tourist Information Centres on the route.
Shorter rides
Day cycle and train trips between Barrow, Ulverston and
Grange-over-Sands; cycle up to the Tan Hill Inn for an overnight
stay at England’s highest inn; combine the northern and southern
braids of the route in Co. Durham for a mini-cycle touring break;
cycle on and around the toll-road through Hamsterley Forest (free
for cyclists) and on the traffic-free path by the River Wear in
Sunderland, past the National Glass Centre.
Longer ride
Combine W2W with the Sea to Sea Cycle Route (C2C), Hadrian’s
Cycleway or the Reivers Cycle Route for a circular ‘coast to coast’
tour.