Coast to Coast - Tim Woodcock version

[ianfitz]

https://ridewithgps.com/trips/7961731

I've not ridden this but it on 'the list'

[FLV]

The woodcock route is really good. I was still using panniers off road when I rode that

[Mike]

Oh an option for my march trip?? The logistics of this start/finish could be a pain though

[ianfitz]

Oh an option for my march trip?? The logistics of this start/finish could be a pain though

You can get a train to the beginning and from Scarborough at the end.

[Sarah]

Hi there,

Has anyone got any more information or suggestions for this or other C2C routes, with 'significant' off road, or at least a lot of quiet lanes and some dirt !

Thanks

Sarah

[ianfitz]

Hi there,

Has anyone got any more information or suggestions for this or other C2C routes, with 'significant' off road, or at least a lot of quiet lanes and some dirt !

Thanks

Sarah

There's a guide in print for this route. Google will find you it. There are many c2c options around. I think Ray rode one further north that was a bit more gravely.

This one has some fairly steep sections in the lakes and requires a lot of pushing...

[JamesT]

I did what I think is the Tim Woodcock coast to coast route in 1997 - I think it had been in MBUK and some mates and I decided to have a go at it . With heavy kit (I knew no other) and the wonders of soft bike luggage still some years off this was a character building experience - went from Whitehaven to Sunderland over some very large hills - lots of off road in the lakes - the climb over black sail pass, great gable and descent to Dungeon Ghyl are particularly memorable - lots of walking both up and down ! We bivvied every night and had a great time - I'd love to do it again with modern bikes and kit !

[Sarah]

We are heading out tomorrow, a modified version as limited time (and fitness!) More roads, but not looking for a suffer fest, been over Garburn Pass already thankfully, not doing it again, with or without luggage. Route isnt fully planned, but should be fun. Wild camping is definitely the way to go.

Sarah

[Bearbonesnorm]

Wild camping is definitely the way to go.

You mean there are other options?

Good luck

[Sarah]

We made it, fabulous trip. Few variations on route, found a bothy on a rainy night, totally loved it, whats next [apart from cleaning up my bike !]

Sarah

[JamesT]

Glad it all went ok Sarah - it's a trip I'd like to do again at some point !

[Mike]

Sarah.. Did u leave a car at the start and get back to it? If so how did u get on with trains/buses etc??

[techno]

Anyone out there ridden the woodcock route or near enough?
& How long did it take & how hard were you riding?

I'm hoping to have a few days child free in August and this is one of my options.
I'll hopefully have 6 days to do the full thing including train out and ride home to hull ( might chicken out and get train back from Scarborough). Oh and I'll be wild camping of course!

[Karl]

We did Tim Woodcock's version a few years ago. We did it over 4 days but took a few diversions towards the end to save time.

It was ok but felt a bit broken up and lacked flow. At the moment it will probably be quite fast going as there is quite a bit of (usually) boggy moorland to cross. Expect to carry your bike a bit as well.

[techno]

We did Tim Woodcock's version a few years ago. We did it over 4 days but took a few diversions towards the end to save time.

It was ok but felt a bit broken up and lacked flow. At the moment it will probably be quite fast going as there is quite a bit of (usually) boggy moorland to cross. Expect to carry your bike a bit as well.

Thanks, the conditions have plenty of time to deteriorate between now and August!
I don't suppose you've ridden this one too: http://www.pedalnorth.com/content/mtb-c2c ? looks interesting also.

[lune ranger]

I've also done the route.
Three long days. I'm by no means the fasted or fittest but am fairly tenacious.
The Lakes section has some pretty hardcore passes. Blacksail Pass from Ennerdale to Wasdale for example is not to be underestimated. There is one particularly steep rocky step that is not easy to haul a laden bike over and slipping wouldn't be fun.
From Garburn Pass all the way to near Richmond the off road sections are boggy.
The route is very much old school UK MTBing so expect to push both up, down and along at times.
It is very rewarding though and when you get to the North York Moors you'll come across walkers well into the second week of their C2C and feel pretty smug.
I did the whole thing with panniers on my 26er Orange Clockwork rocking a FlexStem

[whitestone]

From Garburn Pass all the way to near Richmond the off road sections are boggy.

I don't think that's true any more. The section past Mosedale Cottage to Wet Sleddale is boggy. Not sure of the little bit between Kirkby Stephen and Tan Hill but from then on it's on decent tracks. The bit along the bottom of Swaledale between Keld and the climb up to Harker Moor and Apedale is being or has been sanitised as part of The Swale Trail http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/__data ... il-map.pdf

[lune ranger]

As you might be able to tell by the kit I used it was more than a little while ago since I did the ride...

[techno]

As you might be able to tell by the kit I used it was more than a little while ago since I did the ride...

Come on! Flexstems are cutting edge tech
Cheers for the info all, will update if I end up doing either one of the C2C routes mentioned.
As time and funds are limited I might end up doing a circular from home heading out to the NYM or summat.

[flyingmonkeycorps]

We did Tim Woodcock's version a few years ago. We did it over 4 days but took a few diversions towards the end to save time.

It was ok but felt a bit broken up and lacked flow. At the moment it will probably be quite fast going as there is quite a bit of (usually) boggy moorland to cross. Expect to carry your bike a bit as well.

Thanks, the conditions have plenty of time to deteriorate between now and August!
I don't suppose you've ridden this one too: http://www.pedalnorth.com/content/mtb-c2c ? looks interesting also.

Not done it yet, but I'll be riding this at the end of August. Probably in a monsoon, given how good the weather is at the moment.

[techno]

We did Tim Woodcock's version a few years ago. We did it over 4 days but took a few diversions towards the end to save time.

It was ok but felt a bit broken up and lacked flow. At the moment it will probably be quite fast going as there is quite a bit of (usually) boggy moorland to cross. Expect to carry your bike a bit as well.

Thanks, the conditions have plenty of time to deteriorate between now and August!
I don't suppose you've ridden this one too: http://www.pedalnorth.com/content/mtb-c2c ? looks interesting also.

Not done it yet, but I'll be riding this at the end of August. Probably in a monsoon, given how good the weather is at the moment.

It will have been raining since the 10th of august, as that's when I'm able to go.
Don't forget your waders.