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© Contours Walking Holidays

Whitehaven / Tynemouth

141 miles (225 km)

28th March to 30th October

Holiday highlights

Triumphing over the route's highest point at Black Hill, surrounded by hard climbs and stunning descents.

Visiting a wide array of English towns, from seaside Whitehaven to the outdoorsy hub of Keswick and the friendly, remote settlement of Nenthead.

Picking up a pebble from Whitehaven beach to carry with you to the shoreline at Tynemouth, a journey across the breadth of England.

What's included?

• 3 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms (where available) in selected B&B’s, hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail.
• Breakfast each day.
• Door to door luggage transfer.
• Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook or route notes describing the trail.
• An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night and a kit list.
• Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.

Extra Nights & Rest Days

As this trail spans the width of England from coast to coast, it should come as no surprise that it passes through countless fantastic towns and villages that are worth exploring. By adding in a couple of extra nights into your holiday, you will have plenty of time to really make the most of these areas.

Dubbed the Georgian Gem of the North, Whitehaven is a fantastic base for the start of your cycling holiday, and well worth an extra night to give you plenty of time to explore. Not only is there a variety of eateries, health food shops, swimming pools and sports centres to ensure you are fully prepared for your adventure, but those interested in the local history will want to check out the various museums, as well as St Nicholas' Church, Whitehaven Castle and the old harbour, all found around the local area.

The market settlement of Alston, alternatively, is nestled in the heather-clad landscape with far-reaching views in all directions. With steep cobbled streets and ancient stone buildings dating as far back as the 17th century, Alston has a rich history specialising in lead mining that can be discovered at the nearby Nenthead Mines Heritage centre. If you choose to spend an extra night here, be sure to sample the village's many locally-produced specialities including Cumberland mustard and Alston Cheese, as well as enjoying the friendly atmosphere and a drink in The Angel Inn.

The village of Tynemouth is another great choice for an extra night, and would make a wonderful location in which to celebrate the end of your epic journey. Not only is there a great range of bars, restaurants and cafes to enjoy, but there is also a local physiotherapist and acupuncturist if you have some aches and strains in need of attention. For those looking for some gentle recovery exercise, there are plenty of options, from taking a dip in the local swimming pool, going for a gentle jog along the beautiful sandy beach, testing your skills at the golf course or simply enjoying a leisurely walk around the local area, making sure to visit the historical Tynemouth Priory and Collingwood Monument.

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

Elevation & Terrain

Route profile

Flat ground leads out of Whitehaven to gradual climbs and descents past Loweswater. Whinlatter poses the first steeper climb, awarding a pleasant descent to Keswick. The route rises up to Threlkeld and, on the off-road alternative, continues this climb along Old Coach Road all the way to Troutbeck. The on-road route rises and falls less taxingly, with a mild sloping descent through Greystoke all the way to Newton Reigny. The off-road route joins it partway.

The route hits two sharp, steep climbs toward Langwathby and two milder, longer ascents into Renwick, after which it's a long, hard climb to Hartside. The steep descent into Leadgate requires some care, and is followed by further climbs after Garigill and again between Nenthead and Allenheads, including the route's highest point at Black Hill.

All this hard work makes the descent into Allenheads itself exceptionally rewarding. A stop here might be wise: there’s a steep ascent ahead before the slope down to Rookhope, which continues down to Stanhope if you take this optional route. If avoiding Stanhope, the route rises rapidly through Rookhope before becoming one long, sloping descent all the way to Tynemouth itself.

Terrain

• Cycling lanes
• Minor roads
• Disused railway lines
• Off-road tracks
• Cycle paths

Good tarmac roads form the majority of the Sea to Sea, which favours quiet lanes and traffic-free streets, with a few busier sections. An off-road alternative stretches from Threlkeld along the Old Coach Road, but a road-based option is always available.

Travel Information

Useful information and travel links that will assist you in your plans to travel to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you with your full tour pack. A summary is given below:

By Air – The most convenient major cities and international airports are Manchester Airport and Newcastle Airport.

By Rail – There is a railway station at the start of the route (Whitehaven). The closest railway station to the end of the route (Tynemouth) is Newcastle Central (about 10 miles away).

From London – Trains run from London Euston station to Whitehaven.

Return to the Start – The easiest way to return to the start of the route is by taking a local taxi/transfer company from Tynemouth to Newcastle Central Station. Please get in touch via our 'Contact Us' page if you require further information. There is also the Metro, but there are a number of restrictions, and you cannot get to Newcastle Central with a non folding bicycle. Please check website for full cycle information: https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/useful-information/bikes-scooters-metro. You will then need to take the train to Whitehaven.

Please note:

Most train lines will allow for bikes to be taken on board. We advise that you check on https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/cyclists.aspx as you may need to book a space for your bike or there may be a limit as to how many bikes the train can store.

Most buses in the UK are unable to store bikes on board, so we would recommend avoiding this form of transport.

Weather Information

To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:

• MetCheck - This website allows you to look up detailed weather information for specific locations as far as six months in advance.
• Met Office - This website shows regional area forecasts a few days in advance, with a general UK forecast description of up to 30 days in advance.
• Mountain Forecast - This website shows what the forecast is like up on specific hills and fells, and offers forecasts a few days in advance.