Jeremy Evans - The C2C Cycle Route: The Coast to Coast bike ride

Terris Novalis is among the most impressive sculptures on the C2C route

The NCN was created and developed by Sustrans as part of its work to promote walking and cycling, both for local everyday journeys, and for longerdistance leisure rides. From the 17-mile Bristol and Bath Railway Path where it all began, to the latest new flagship route the 170-mile Way of the Roses through Lancashire and Yorkshire the Network scales mountains, crosses divides, races through cities and takes leisurely ambles through the countryside.

The Sea-to-Sea (C2C) route is perhaps the best known and most iconic of all Sustrans routes, and when you look through the pages of this book, its easy to see why. It was originally created by Sustrans as the first long-distance cycle route in the country, as well as the first fully coast-to-coast route. It came about after Sustrans built local routes at either end of the ride, and then decided to develop a route linking them together, using substantial sections of traffic-free paths, It is now the UKs most popular challenge cycle route, passing through the northern Lake District before climbing the Pennines, the roof of England, and then descending to the railway paths of County Durham.

Whether on-road or traffic-free, the NCN has grown to become an integral part of the UKs transport network and carrying over one million journeys every day, it has exceeded all expectations. There are now more miles of Network than there are of motorways with over 50,000 signs, 10,000 seats and thousands of bridges, viaducts and tunnels along its fascinating routes.

So whether its for business or pleasure, commuting or just for fun, travelling on the network has something for everyone as well as being a fundamental part of how people in the UK get around everyday.

The start of the off-road route across Stanhope Common, just opposite the Rookhope Inn (Stage 4)

INTRODUCTION

Downhill past Grove Rake Mine along Redburn Edge the finest downhill section on the westeast C2C (Stage 4)

Do you like beautiful scenery, excercise and plenty of fresh air? Are you interested in Britains remarkable industrial heritage? Do you enjoy visiting village pubs and cafs? Are you up for cycling up and down a few hills? If the answer is yes, you will love riding the C2C.