As part of my Grand Tour this May, I'll be in Carlisle and want to get across to Whitby, before making my way back south-west to Preston. I'm in the early stages of planning, all I have so far is getting on the train from down here in Plymouth to Edinburgh. All booked.

I'm a seasoned LEJOGer having done JOGLE and and LEJOG and BACK. I want to DO some of "other bits".

My Scottish route is laid out, but not set in concrete yet, but will come down through SW Scotland to Carlisle. I expect Carlisle to Whitby to take a couple of days. Also Whitby to Preston.

I'm on a road bike with a Carry Freedom trailer in tow, staying over in YHA/Hostels and B+Bs.

I want to explore, find challenging hills and the open road. No way am I camping!!! and I'm not interested in off-road.

Any ideas about route and places to see?

_________________
Mick F Cornwall

Hi Mick, Nice to see the Grand Tour in tow, looks a good trip. I'm planning a Carlisle to Scarborough and onto York Cycle Show in June, in my case I'm camping enroute. I've yet to set a route, but probably be doing part of the Walney to Whitby route. Cow Green Reservoir and High Force is worth a look, with Langdon Beck YH nearby. The route from Alston to Middleton in Teesdale which go's over Yad Moss is good. I'll probably be doing the same route to connect with the W2W at Barnard Castle.

If you can hold of a copy of a free map called YHA " North Pennines Cycle Web". This shows all the best routes in the North Pennines and places of interest. You may get the map from Middleton in Teesdale or Barnard Castle Information Centre or try the YH website.

Not sure of a route between Whitby and Preston, but I hear you want to tackle the Rosedale Bank (Chimney) From Rosedale Abbey you could head to Helmsley along the A170 (not bad) down the hairpin bend of Sutton Bank onto Masham, Lofthouse, Pateley Bridge, Gargrave (Dalesman Cafe worth a stop) with Earby Yh nearby and minor roads to Preston.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Agile!

Great info.
I'm going to get to grips with booking the accomm of the early stages this week. Edinburgh, Pitlochry, Inverness, Lochcarron for 2 days. Not sure about the rest yet!

_________________
Mick F Cornwall

Let me know of the final route between Carlisle to Whitby, I could join you somewhere enroute to Whitby. If you want, that is.

Hi again,

Was studying maps last evening, and a tentative, possible, likely, not-quite-final, probable route is as follows:
NE out of Carlisle on the A689 to Brampton and then down to Hallbankgate, and thence to Alston, Middleton in Teesdale to Barnard Castle. 60 miles.

Following day:
Barnard Castle on the A67 to the SW outskirts of Darlington, down the A167 to Entercomon and pick my way on minor roads via Hornby, Picton, Middleton upon Leven, Tanton and get to Great Ayton. Then out via the outskirts of Guisborough to the A173, then A174 to Whitby via Loftus. 69 miles.

As for dates?
Could be 26 and 27th May, possibly .... dunno ....

It would be great to receive comments on my route, and to have company!

Cheers, and Regards,
Mick.

_________________
Mick F Cornwall

Hi Mick

Looking at your draft and was surprised you did'nt go for the Eskdale option. Saying that it is slightly longer and more ascenting than the A173 and A174 section which maybe more busy with heavy traffic. Not forgetting the climb out of Skinningrove and Loftus. Then it's a bit hilly in Eskdale with the 3 in 1 climb out of Glaisdale (Limber Hill), but the scenery does make up for this.

Where is Entercomon, do you mean Eryholme.

Sorry, should be spelled: Entercommon.



The Eskdale route looked a bit difficult. To follow and to ride!
Directions please!

I'm an absolute beginner up in the NE, we holidayed in Staithes a couple of times, and Whitby once when I woz a kid. Did I mention I came from Wigan originally?

Any road up, everything is in the melting pot .....

_________________
Mick F Cornwall

Really the Eskdale route is easy to follow, fair enough there is hills on the route. But it is worth the extra effort just to see pictureous villages, don't forget this Heartbeat country. That people come from all the world just to see this marvellous scenery and would be a shame not pass through it.

I could email a section of the map which show part of the Walney to Whitby route.

The Cleveland Inn (Mucky Tom's) in Commondale is worth a drink in there.

Grosmont is the Northern end of the North Yorkshire Steam Railway.

From Great Ayton, head to Little Ayton. Then to Kildale, then follow road East to Commondale. Follow track or road to Castleton, follow on to Danby. Head to High Walls Farm and Stonegate, from Moor Side Farm head to Egton. Here, you pass East End, Bank House Farm to Aislaby and Sleights and onto Ruswarp for Whitby. This is 76 miles, if you follow the W2W route from Barnard Castle (Barny to us) to Whitby and is signposted with the regional route 52. The route also avoids Limber Hill and Grosmont.

_________________
Mick F Cornwall

No problem, Mick.

If it's in your interest, you may also want to know the route from Barnard Castle to Great Ayton.

Exit Barnard Castle from the SE, heading to Whorlton. Follow to Caldwell, Forcett, Manfield, Cleasby. From here head Southwards to Beck House to Croft on Tees, Hurworth on Tees, Neasham, Low Dinsdale. Again head Southwards to Girsby East Sockburn Farm, Hornby, Appleton Wiske. From here you head over the A19 (bridge) to Mounts Flatt Farm, Crathorne, Hutton Rudby, Rudby, Seamer, Stanley House Farm (A172(T) and on to Great Ayton for a cuppa in Suggitt's Cafe.

This is again part of the Walney to Whitby route and a lovely to cycle. I have cycled all these roads and can recommend them. Again will be signposted with RR52.


I've pasted a profile of the Barnard Castle to Whitby section, not bad as you think. http://www.cyclingw2w.info/downloads/whitby_route_profile.pdf