Irish Sea to the North Sea cycling vacation

Planet

England’s northern counties are blessed with outstanding natural beauty, from the rolling ridges and rocky outcrops of the Lake District fells to the windswept moorlands of the Pennines or the sand expanses of the Northumberland coast. Traveling by bicycle often gives us more time to ask questions and understand the forces at play in these rural landscapes – how do the sheep interact with fells, what is the function of peat bogs, how are dry stone walls maintained? In the process of these reveries from the lofty perch of our saddle, or perhaps the more familiar post-climb roadside slump, we begin to learn and understand more – what might be the impact of different human activities and land uses, and how are these conflicts and balances addressed? What happens if we don’t manage our landscapes properly? Here on the Coast to Coast to Route - riding through the managed forests of the Lake District, through the industrial heartlands and engineering marvels of Tyneside, through rural farms and on repurposed railways lines - we see all this in action, and may even forget about the pain in our legs...

We always encourage our customers to use re-usable water, non-plastic bottles on all of our trips and the same goes for the coast to coast. These can be bought from us in advance for use during the journey. As it is a short and challenging trip the cyclists do not carry much equipment and waste is minimal. By providing a support vehicle throughout the trip and waste can be easily disposed of by the driver and guide.

As a company we support Cool Earth. Protecting rainforest is one of the most effective actions to tackle climate breakdown. Cool Earth work with indigenous communities empowering them to conserve their forest; keeping CO2 locked in.

People

Along the Coast to Coast route, we stay in small locally run hotels and guesthouses, and frequently stop off en route to enjoy a cup of coffee or some home-made cake in a local café. As well as providing the best fuel for the legs and the heart, this helps us learn more about the small settlements we pass through, and provides important economic support for these communities. We’ll also pass through local market towns such as Whitehaven, Keswick and Penrith, where you can purchase local delicacies and crafts, and when you hang up your wheels in the evenings, you may even be tempted by a well-earned pint of local real ale.

In addition to the above, we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key and so all staff, Tour leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage. As well as this, we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.