The C2C Cycle Route. Jeremy Evans

      

      THE C2C CYCLE ROUTE

      by Jeremy Evans

      JUNIPER HOUSE, MURLEY MOSS,

      OXENHOLME ROAD, KENDAL, CUMBRIA LA9 7RL

      www.cicerone.co.uk

      About the Author

      Jeremy Evans has produced books on all of his favourite outdoor activities, with titles covering sailing, windsurfing, trekking, camping, power-kiting and inline skating, as well as cycling on road and trail. In the early days of mountain biking, Jeremy pioneered 300 cycle routes across the UK, then discovered the delights of riding Audax marathons up to 400km. When family life intervened, Jeremy encouraged his wife and three daughters to enjoy extensive cycling tours in France, Switzerland and the UK. Needless to say, his family all helped to ride and research the magnificent C2C route, cycling across England’s finest landscape from coast to coast.

      © Jeremy Evans 2011

      First edition 2011

      ISBN: 978 1 85284 649 7

      Reprinted 2014 (with updates), 2018 (with updates)

      Printed by KHL Printing, Singapore

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

      All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.

      

This product includes mapping data licensed from Ordnance Survey® with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown copyright 2014. All rights reserved. Licence number PU100012932.

      Updates to this Guide

      While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/649/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, Juniper House, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal, LA9 7RL.

      Register your book: To sign up to receive free updates, special offers and GPX files where available, register your book at www.cicerone.co.uk.

      Front cover: Looking west, a superb downhill from Whinlatter Pass to High Lorton with wonderful views towards the Irish Sea and Solway Firth

      CONTENTS

       Map Key

       Overview Map

       Overall profile (main route)

       INTRODUCTION

       Why do it?

       Choosing your route

       When to go

       Getting there and getting back

       Planning your itinerary

       Specialist C2C companies

       Where to stay

       Choosing your bike

       What to take

       Food and drink

       What to wear

       Fitness

       Navigation and waymarking

       Stamp collecting

       Using this guide

       THE ROUTE

       Stage 1a Whitehaven to Keswick

       Link route St Bees to the C2C

       Stage 1b Workington to Keswick

       Link route Whitehaven to Workington

       Stage 2 Keswick to Langwathby

       Stage 3 Langwathby to Nenthead

       Stage 4 Nenthead to Consett

       Stage 5a Consett to Sunderland

       Stage 5b Consett to Tynemouth

       TASTER ROUTES

       Route 1 Lakeland Loop

       Route 2 West Coast Loop

       Route 3 Western C2C Loop

       Route 4 The Old Coach Road

       Route 5 Penrith to Carlisle

       APPENDICES

       APPENDIX A Route summary table

       APPENDIX B Suggested itineraries (4, 3 and 2 days)

       APPENDIX C Useful contacts

       APPENDIX D Riding the C2C from east to west

       APPENDIX E Pre-ride bike medical

       APPENDIX F Mending a puncture