What is the C2C?

The C2C is an abbreviation for the Sea to Sea cycle route devised by the Sustrans organisation, a British charity which promotes sustainable transport methods.

The route is approximately 150 miles in length and runs across northern England, joining the Irish Sea in the west with the North Sea in the east. The route is signposted along roads and farm tracks and passes through the dramatic and beautiful countryside of the Lake District and North Pennine mountains. It is a challenging journey with some long hill climbs but is attempted by all age groups. The time taken to complete the route varies from a leisurely 5 days to 2 days for the extremely fit.

So as to have the prevailing westerly winds blowing against your back, the route is usually undertaken in a west to east direction. The start point in the west is either from St. Bees head or 5 miles north at the small port of Whitehaven. The central part of the route passes by Keswick, Penrith, Hartside. The eastern end of the route finishes in either Sunderland or Tynemouth.

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Melmerby is ideal for the second night's stopover or first if you are doing the route in 3 days. The village is about 3 miles south of the designated route. The advantage of stopping over in the village is that the route's most arduous climb, the climb to Hartside at 1900 feet above mean sea level is attempted immediately after a nights rest and breakfast rather than in the middle or end of a day.

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Greenholme is listed on the Melmerby page in The Independent C2C & Reivers Routes B & B Cycling Guide which is produced by Curlew Press. This comprehensive guidebook to both of these routes is small and light enough to be carried enroute. It lists accomodation details at many villages along the route. It is available from:

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Cycling net

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