Sea to Sea (C2C) Cycle Route

This tour is graded moderate. Within the tour individual days may vary in difficulty, with some sections tougher or easier than the overall rating suggests.

The terrain covers a mix of quiet country roads and traffic-free cycling paths, with some short sections on main roads near towns. The route crosses the Pennines, so expect some climbing around the midpoint, and e-bikes are available for hire if you're concerned about the hills.

Accommodation along the Coast to Coast route is a mix of B&Bs, guesthouses and small hotels, hand-picked to give cyclists a warm welcome, traditional hospitality and good local food.

Unfortunately, this tour is not available to solo travelers, due to the nature of the terrain and potential weather hazards along the route. We can, however, offer single rooms if you are traveling with others. These are available for a supplement, though please note that singles may not be the same size as a twin or double room.

A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner aren't included, so you're free to choose from the available options. Most accommodations are happy to provide a packed lunch on request, which can be booked on arrival, and dinner is available at your accommodation or at nearby pubs. Some rural pubs have more limited serving hours on Sundays, so it's worth checking ahead and planning your day's ride accordingly.

The Coast to Coast is available from April through to September, and any time within that window is a good time to ride. Spring is a beautiful time to go, and September tends to be quieter than July and August. Wet or wintry conditions, including fog, are possible near the start or end of the season. You can start on any date that suits your travel plans, though as this is a popular route, we recommend booking as far in advance as you can.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

The C2C cycling trail is part of the National Cycle Network and is well signposted throughout.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

Your tour starts in Newcastle, with an included transfer to the West Coast, and finishes in Tynemouth at the end of the C2C.

Newcastle International Airport is the closest airport, around a 15-minute taxi ride or 20 minutes by metro from the city centre, and is served by many airlines both internationally and domestically within the UK. Newcastle is also a major transport hub in the Northeast of England, with excellent rail links from both Scotland and the South of England (note that train tickets are usually only available within 12 weeks of travel). If you're driving to Newcastle, you may be able to park your car at your accommodation with advance notice, secure parking is also available at Newcastle Airport, with the Metro running into the city centre.

From Tynemouth, an included transfer brings you back to Newcastle (around a 30-minute journey).

You'll need your standard cycling gear. Bike hire comes with a pannier rack and bag, a pump, lock, a basic repair kit, and handlebar phone. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

Since you'll have your bike with you, shortening or skipping sections may not be easy. For the best local advice on transport options for cyclists, please consult your accommodation provider or reach out to our local bike partner, where applicable.

We hire bikes suited to the terrain, including e-bikes for a bit of extra assist, in a range of sizes - just let us know your height when booking so we can get your frame right. If you would like to bring your own bike then, in the majority of cases, this is not a problem – please contact us to talk it through. We encourage all cyclists to wear a helmet, and it is law in many countries across Europe. We recommend bringing your own helmet for hygiene and safety reasons, however on most tours you can hire one.

The following bikes are available for hire:

Hybrid Bike: flat bar, Giant Escape, Merida Crossway or Merida Speeder.

E-bike: Scott Sub, Cube Kathmandu or Merida Espresso.

Gravel bike: drop bar, Merida Silex or Giant Revolt.

We don't recommend tandem bikes for this route, due to sharp bends and gates, or road bikes, due to short sections of unsurfaced terrain. Brand and model may vary depending on availability, and the minimum age for e-bike hire is 16.

When you book, please let us know your height for bike sizing, your head circumference if you'd like to hire a helmet, your preferred frame style (crossbar, full step-through or trapeze) and your preferred pedal type (flat is standard, with cage, SPD MTB, combined, SPD SL or Look Keo also available).

Bike hire includes a spare inner tube, a repair kit and pump, a pannier bag (except on gravel bikes), one lock and a water bottle holder.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation