The Walney to Wear or Whitby Cycle Route

Inspired by the original Sea to Sea Cycle Route (C2C), the W2W route passes through a variety of wonderful countryside to its south, stretching between Walney Island - just outside Barrow-in-Furness on Cumbria’s Irish Sea coast, and Wearmouth in Sunderland (152 miles) and Whitby (179 miles) both on the North Sea coast.

It's a classic ‘coast to coast’ cycling touring adventure done as short break or longer holiday, challenging in both distance and terrain, but really quite achievable with some preparation. Thanks to the distinctive blue National Cycle Network signs and the official maps it’s easy to follow in either direction.

Mostly on country lanes, back roads and cycle paths, it does have a few off road bits but nothing that a well-shod touring, trekking or hybrid bike can’t cope with.

If you do meet the W2W challenge, please email any photos for the Gallery to:  enquiries@cyclingw2w.info

Read about Cass Gilbert’s Walney to Wear ride featured in Cycling Plus back in May 2007.