The C2C Guide - the definitive resource centre for the Sea to Sea cycle route

about the C2C route
The Sea to Sea (C2C) cycle route was developed by Sustrans in partnership with various Local Authorities, Groundwork West Cumbria, North Pennines Tourism Partnership, Forest Enterprise and the Lake District National Park amongst others. The route was opened in 1994 running from Whitehaven on the west coast of Cumbria to the North East coast at Sunderland and has an average of between 12,000 and 15,000 cyclists completing the route every year.

The C2C starts in the former coal mining and industrial lands of West Cumbria, travels through the stunning scenery of the northern Lake District and heading into Keswick before passing through Penrith and the Eden Valley with its lush valleys and sandstone villages. It then starts the climb up to Hartside and onto the unspoilt Northern Pennines - the roof of England. There then follows an undulating ride as the C2C meanders through old lead mining villages, such as Nenthead and Rookhope, and down into the Durham Dales before entering the old steel town of Consett. From here it's an easy ride through one of Britain's old industrial heartlands to the North Sea and Sunderland. There is also the option of starting at Workington and/or finishing at Tynemouth.

The route is made up of approximately....

Main Roads - mainly short sections thru urban areas - 4%

Minor Roads - quiet, country roads - 50%

Cyclepaths/Off Road - disused railway lines etc - 46%

The route is best ridden from West to East to take advantage of the prevailing winds (supposedly!) from the West as well as having the gradients in your favour i.e. short uphills and long downhills! Tradition dictates that you start the ride by dipping your back wheel in the Irish Sea and only ends when your front wheel gets a dip in the North Sea at the finish.

At 140 miles long the C2C, which is part of the much larger National Cycle Network of over 5000 miles, is Britain's most popular long distance cycle route and is based on minor roads, disused railway lines, off-road tracks and specially constructed cycle paths. The route (especially the purpose built cycle paths) is designed for the whole range of cyclists from families to club riders and doesn't favour either 'roadies' or 'off-roaders'. Along the route where there are off-road sections you have the option of taking the surfaced alternative. Although still a challenge with some seriously hard climbs - the highest point being over 2000 feet - the C2C is still completed every year by thousands of recreational cyclists as well as the more committed bikers. For the more ambitious cyclist, the C2C can easily be combined with the Reivers route to produce the stunning 310-mile Reivers/C2C round trip. Visit the Reivers Guide website for more info on the Reivers.

Sustrans operates an accreditation scheme for those who wish to record their journey, by completing a stamped card at points along the route you can apply for a commemorative t-shirt (details are with the official route map from Sustrans).

In 1995 Sustrans work with the route was recognised by the British Airways sponsored 'Tourism for Tomorrow' when they won the global award for the C2C cycle route. In 1998 the C2C became the first U.K. destination to win the Smithsonian Environment Award, this was awarded to honour a project that has made " a lasting contribution to protecting the environment". In 1999 the C2C won a Silver Medal in the Green Transport Category at the England for Excellence awards organised by the English Tourism Council. Sustrans in partnership with others have developed sculpture trails along the C2C, these have been recognised by winning the British Gas 'Working for Cities' and Independent/Gulbenkian 'Travelling Hopefully' awards. The sculptures also make an interesting diversion to the task in hand and make for some bizarre photographic opportunities!

For more information on the various weird and wonderful artworks along the C2C route visit the artworks page.