Below is a old post from my Wheelwrights thread, I've pasted on for you.
The W2W is all road and finishs either Sunderland or Whitby.
If you want to be on an off-road trip, then Wheelwright's is the one!
I did it some years ago on a old steel mtb and some what harder than the C2C, it is however the jewel in the crown for mtbing. I did it youth hostelling and b&b. If you are fit and able, then 7 days would be no problem at all. The highlight of the ride is going over Black Sail Pass (hand-bagging)n and descenting into Wasdale Head. Then again the Lakes section is a mountain biker's dream. I think after a while, the C2C gets a bit boring and this is why I did the Wheelwright's.
It's simply a super duper hell of a ride and one I would love to do again. Not next year, may be doing Land's End to John O Groats ride
See below for more information.
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The link is
http://mbruk.co.uk/ You can order the guide thru a good bookshop with ISBN 1 902891 00 7
The route starts St.Bees, Ennerdale, Black Sail Pass, Wasdale Head, Burnmoor Tarn, Eskdale.
Duddon Valley, Walna Scar Road, Coniston, Elterwater, Ambleside. Trout Beck Valley, Garburn Pass, Longsleddale, Mosedale, Swindale, Shap.
Crosby Ravensworth, Bank Moor, Maisongill, Whygill Head, Soulby, Kirkby Stephen.
Rookby, Tan Hill, Keld, Ivelet, Reeth.
Grindon, Marrick, Marske, Richmond, Brompton on Swale, Danby Wiske, Brompton, Osmotherley.
Scugdale Hall, Chop Gate, Urra Moor, Burton Howe, Baysdale Moor, Westerdale, Rosedale Head, Trough House, Great Fryup Dale, Glaisdale.
Egton Bridge, Grosmont, York Cross, Louven Howe, Fylingdales Moor, Robin Hood's Bay.
There is however a detour which avoids the Cumbrian Mountains. Instead of heading to Ennerdale from St. Bees, you stay on the C2C path to Threlkeld, then over the Old Coach Road, Dockray, Matterdale End, Pooley Bridge, Askham Fell, Bampton, Shap.
This section is prefered for a swiftness rather than handbagging over the Black Sail Pass bit. But on the another hand, the latter is the exciting bit and rewards for the awesome views are to be had.
I must stress this route is not to be taken lightly and it is a tough cookie. Good mountain bike skills and navigation skills are a must, that is with a OS map and compass. The GPS is a good back-up and handy for grid reference on a misty featureless moor.
The satisfaction of reaching the bar in the Bay Hotel, Robin Hood's Bay is out of this world. also mingling with the Coast to Coast walkers. The day-trippers look at you, as if you are from another planet.
The C2C is a good training run for this one. If anyone does the Eskdale section, best of luck, you will need it. I did it in really bad weather back in June 1998. Pure grit is needed. I was in Ennerdale last May and the sun shone for me, great stuff. See my photo here.
