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This section of the C2C Guide will hopefully
offer you tips and advice on how not to get lost in the built
up area areas of the route. It is in response to the large amount
of people who tell me that they have trouble navigating these
urban areas, hopefully by mid summer I will have a full list
of route directions and maps to aid your navigation but if there
is something missing feel free to e-mail me and
let me know.
town centres
An awful lot of people find it difficult
navigating in and out of the various urban areas on the C2C and
so below is a list of the general trouble points and detailed
explanations on how not to get lost, or in some cases, alternative
routes to avoid the problem areas.
workington - map
of the start from workington
Starting from Workington is relatively straightforward, head
away from the sea and the car park over looking the harbour and
cycle alongside the harbour
for 0.5 miles, just before the road you are on reaches a T-junction turn left
along the edge of the harbour wall (try not to fall in!) and cross the narrow
railway bridge via a VERY narrow
footpath (fully laden panniers and wide handlebars may have a bit of trouble
crossing the bridge!) Cross over the railway and onto a grass track swinging
left alongside the River for 0.4 miles. This fetches you out on a road (mile
marker 1.1), from here turn right and head straight on, keeping right at the
first junction and go under the bridge ahead of you on the path on the right
hand side of the road. After a couple of hundred yards you will see another
bridge. Stay on the path as it climbs to the bridge and turn left onto the
cycle path (mile marker 1.6) over the bridge and follow to Camerton.
whitehaven - map
of the start from Whitehaven
After the obligatory dipping of wheel in the Irish Sea you leave the Harbour
area by cycling from the C2C artwork on the slipway towards the car park between
you and the Beacon visitor centre. Immediately before the car park turn left
and cycle for 50 yards until you meet the main road and the pedestrian crossing
near the Argos shop. At this point you have two choices -
a - the easiest option being to turn right at the Argos store and follow Preston
Street straight ahead, over the roundabout and then take the cycle path on
your left just after Focus superstore.
b - the more convoluted way is to cross over Preston Street via the pedestrian
crossing and straight ahead for 20 yards. Turn right at the Tourist Information
centre and follow the street straight ahead until you meet the YMCA building
where you turn right to the roundabout and then left before taking the cyclepath
on your left just after Focus superstore.
Take the cycle path just after Focus as it swings right and when you meet a
road cross straight over and follow the cycle path almost directly opposite.
Stick on this path past the Recreation Ground and just after going under the
railway bridge you take a right turn along Esk Avenue for 50/60 yards. Take
the right hand path as the road starts to swing left and cycle alongside the
railway track before turning right, go under the railway and follow the path
as it turns left and then enters Croasdale Avenue. After 40 yards turn left
and then take the next left under the railway. Turn right and follow the path
until you join the Whitehaven to Sheriffs Gate railway track. Congratulations
you have just exited Whitehaven.
cockermouth
You enter Cockermouth down a lovely sweeping
hill with stunning views of the town on your right hand side. When
you reach the T-junction with Gote Road
(mile marker 9.5) cross straight over and follow the walled path almost directly
opposite. After 150 yards the path ends, you then turn right and, keeping
the car park on your right hand side, enter the footpath to the left of the
car park and cross over the River Derwent on a footbridge. This brings you
out on to the main street, turn left and follow for 200 yards (beware of
traffic as this is a busy stretch of road) before turning right down Challoner
Street for 50 yards (mile marker 10). Turn left into Cocker Lane and then
almost immediately turn right and follow the riverside path. Just after passing
under the bridge (its a big one - you won't miss it!) swing a right and head
uphill, take the first right off the path to arrive on top of the bridge
you have just passed under and head right for 0.75 miles before joining up
with the road again leading to Wythop.
keswick -
a map will be online shortly
After leaving Portinscale you cross a pedestrian bridge (mile
marker 29.6) over the River Greta, follow the road (used as a
car park) for 100 yards where it meets the main road into Keswick.
From here you turn right and take the road. Upon entering the
built up area (mile marker 30) you cycle straight ahead on the
road (ignoring the left turn opposite the Esso garage) and cross
over the River Greta with Southey Hill Trading Estate on your
left. Keep cycling for another 100 yards, ignoring the right hand
turn opposite the Co-Op and 75 yards further on follow the road
as it takes a sharp left turn and then a sharp right, cycle up
the hill and turn left immediately after the pedestrian crossing
at the top of this hill keeping the war memorial on your right
hand side (mile marker 30.6). Cycle for 300 yards to Keswick Spa,
go through the grounds of the swimming pool and the Keswick Railway
Footpath is on your right hand side to take you to Threlkeld.
If you wish to stay a while in
Keswick, it's best to dismount just before the sharp left hand
turn opposite Blacks outdoor stores and with the pedestrianised
centre straight ahead of you (mile marker 30.5) and walk your bike
the 100 yards or so straight ahead and into the pedestrianised
centre with the Moot Hall (tourist information offices) facing
you. From here you can access all the cafes etc as well as the
lakeside frontage half a mile or so away. When it is time to leave,
have the Moot Hall on your right hand side and Ye Olde Friars confectioners
on your left and facing towards Birketts pie shop ahead of you,
leave the pedestrianised section by cycling 30 yards straight ahead,
turn sharp left onto the road and follow for 150 yards until you
reach a junction, go straight over (keeping the war memorial on
your right) and carry on to Keswick Spa and the Railway Footpath.
penrith - map
of the route through Penrith
If you are entering Penrith on the official route via Newton Rigg college and
the off-road cyclepath then the route into town is pretty straightforward.
You enter the town between the Grey Bull pub and a Shell garage (mile marker
52.6), cross straight over the road (following painted cycle lane across pavement
on left of phone box) into Drovers Lane. Keep on this road for 500 yards going
straight over the mini roundabout at the junction till you see a C2C sign pointing
right (mile marker 53.1). Head down here (Hunter Lane) past the Police Station
and take the last left turn fetching you out on the main street with Woolies
in front of you and the Tourist Information 150 yards on your right. From here
turn left, go straight ahead over the pedestrian crossing to find the Monument
clock straight ahead. Keep left for 30 yards and dismount, taking the path
on your left in between Nat West bank and Barclays bank, go straight down past
the churchyard, turn left at the very bottom then right, go up past the Chinese
takeaway, turn right at the mini roundabout ahead of you and first left up
Fell Lane and you have successfully left Penrith behind!
consett - click
here for a map of Consett
Lydgetts Junction - all the blue cycling signs are missing so refer to Millenium
Milepost direction fingers at the junction
Blackhill Park milemarker 110.3 The cycle route through the park has is now
open for use again now the work on the park has been finished.
sunderland
Wearside Rangers - the local volunteer rangers looking after the
route in and around Sunderland have built a dedicated website
complete with detailed maps to help prevent cyclists getting lost
- for more info visit www.cycle-routes.org/wearsiderangers
newcastle
Doug Ridgway's excellent
Hadrian's Way website has far more detail of the C2C in Newcastle
and Tynemouth than I could ever hope to match so instead click
here to
visit the relevant section of Doug's HCW site showing the entry
off the Derwent Way and over the Tyne. Details on the
rest of the route can also be found by following the various links
on Doug's site.
Below is a link leading to a map giving details how to get to Newcastle
Station from the finish at Tynemouth.
 back
to Newcastle Station
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