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C2C Cycling
Holiday Information
For all keen cycle enthusiasts. The ‘C2C’ or ‘Sea to Sea’ cycle route stretches from the harbour at Whitehaven on the Irish Sea to the Abbey and castle at Tynemouth on the shores of the North Sea. This 142-miles cycling route is a great way to see northern England and how the landscape changes sometimes abruptly, and then more gently as you cycle along. There is so much to see, the Cumbrian Lakes and Fells, the bleak Pennines, beautiful Dales, English towns and villages of all sizes. Along the way you should find plenty of time to visit tea shops, pubs and interesting historical sites. There are some quite big hills as well, but nothing that could be classed as Alpine! You will generally be pedalling with the wind at your back and conveniently have your bikes delivered to your first hotel and picked up at the end of your tour.
The original C2C cycling route was developed by Sustrans, a charitable organisation aiming at the development of sustainable transport networks in the UK. The route takes minor roads and ride-able ‘off road’ bridleways that could be used to thread together small towns and country areas across Cumbria, the Pennines, through the Tyne and Wear watershed and onto the more urban parts of the North East. The route so created is called the “C2C,” literally “Sea to Sea,” to differentiate it from the “Coast to Coast” walk, which covers an altogether different route and embraces different scenery.
Price on Enquiry – The price is per person and based on double/twin sharing rooms.
Optional Extras
The below optional extras incur a supplement:
- Single occupancy rooms – single supplement of £55 per night
- Bike Hire – We have good relationship with Dales Cycle Centre and Pedal Power and can facilitate your hiring of a bike – electric, mountain-bike, hybrid or road.
- Additional rest days – Adding an extra night will change the price, please enquire.
We specialise in coast to coast tours, and that means we can deliver a deluxe experience.
High Quality Accommodation – Six nights on a bed and breakfast basis
Luggage moves – max. 20kg per bag
Maps & Guide Books
Assistance Pre & Post Trip
Detailed Information Pack
Support From Us
Our packages covers all of the things you will need, with just your lunch, bike hire, evening meal and travel insurance for you to choose and pay direct.
Cycle Hire
We have good relationship with Pedal Power who can facilitate your hiring of a bike – electric, mountain-bike, hybrid or road. These will be delivered to your accommodation and collected at the end of the trip
Evening Meals
Tasty options throughout the walk including country pubs, restaurants, bistros, and local takeaways.
Lunches
Your appetite may change along the route as you adapt to the challenges and you may have special requirements, which is why we avoid choosing your lunches for you. As with evening meals, there are often many great local options to choose from and in any case your accommodations can provide a packed lunch (which you simply order on arrival).
Travel Insurance
We have developed a partnership with the leading travel insurance company Citybond – part of the TIF plc group. They provide a comprehensive range of travel insurance offering high levels of cover for medical emergency, repatriation, personal baggage, cancellation and much more. This partnership grants you 10% discount on their policies when you give the unique referral code C2CP10. To see more please click here.
Planning your Arrival / Departure
Which airport is closest to route?
The closest ones to the start and finish (and hence easiest to travel to/from) are Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
How to get to Whitehaven from the Airport (applies whether London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow)
Train to Carlisle then local service to Whitehaven
The Start
- By Car
Whitehaven is located on the west coast of Cumbria, approximately 40 miles southwest of Carlisle. From the M6 motorway, leave at Junction 40 (Penrith) and follow the A66 west towards Cockermouth, before joining the A595 south to Whitehaven. Alternatively, from Carlisle, follow the A595 south via Wigton and Maryport. The town has several public car parks close to the harbour and town centre.
By Train
Whitehaven railway station is situated on the scenic Cumbrian Coast Line, with regular services connecting the town to Carlisle, Workington and Barrow-in-Furness. Travellers arriving from other parts of the UK can connect via Carlisle, which is served by the West Coast Main Line. The station is conveniently located within walking distance of the harbour and town centre.
The Finish
- By Train and Metro
Tynemouth is served by the Tyne and Wear Metro, with regular services connecting the town to Newcastle city centre, Newcastle Central Station and Newcastle International Airport. From Newcastle Central Station, mainline rail services provide onward connections to Edinburgh, York, London and other major UK destinations.
By Car
Tynemouth has good road connections via the A19 and A1058 Coast Road, providing access to Newcastle, the A1 and the wider motorway network. Newcastle city centre is approximately 20–30 minutes away by car, depending on traffic.
By Bus
Local bus services connect Tynemouth with North Shields, Whitley Bay, Newcastle and surrounding coastal communities. These provide a convenient alternative to the Metro, particularly for shorter journeys.
After an exhilarating day cycling along the Coast to Coast, the right accommodation is essential. Welcomed into a friendly, clean, comfortable and characterful accommodation to stay is an absolute must. We are very demanding in the standards we expect for our customers.
Our accommodation hosts are our trusted and valued partners in ensuring you have a special trip. From 400-year-old cottages and farmhouses, through family-owned country inns and colourful guesthouses, there are over 130 places we use and visit frequently.
We look at your overall trip and curate it so the places you stay give you a full flavour of the styles and characters to be found on the Way. No two consecutive nights may be the same as far as the physical surroundings go, though the warmth of the welcome, quality of the lodging & food and facilities to dry your kit are a constant.
With over 130 places, it’s a little hard to list without some key omissions! We take your nights and mornings seriously, and so do our accommodation choices.
The below optional extras incur a supplement:
- Single occupancy rooms – single supplement of £55 per night
- Bike Hire – We have good relationship with Pedal Power who can facilitate your hiring of a bike – electric, mountain-bike, hybrid or road. We shall collect and return the bike on your behalf.
- Additional rest days – Adding an extra night will change the price to that for the new total number of nights in the package. For example, from 14 to 15.
Coast to Coast Packhorse is part of PHSV Ltd. Your booking contract will therefore be with PHSV Ltd and your payment will be made to PHSV Ltd.
Itinerary for your
C2C Cycling Holiday
Dedicated to the Coast to Coast route devised by fell walker Alfred Wainwright, C2C Packhorse has served walkers and cyclists across this route for many years. Based at Kirkby Stephen, close to the trail’s halfway mark, the Packhorse provides a comprehensive range of services, thus creating a supportive backdrop to your self-guided trip.
Coast to Coast Packhorse is part of PHSV Ltd. Your booking contract will therefore be with PHSV Ltd and your payment will be made to PHSV Ltd.
Chat with our team
Are you dreaming of booking one of our amazing walking holidays along the coast to coast and have some questions for our team? We’d love to have a chat about our hiking staycations and help to plan a totally bespoke journey for you. Fill in the form below and our team will be in touch as soon as possible. Thank you.
C2C Contact Form
“Oh, how can I put into words the joys of a walk over country such as this; the scenes that delight the eyes, the blessed peace of mind, the sheer exuberance which fills your soul as you tread the firm turf? This is something to be lived, not read about…” Alfred Wainwright