We did a charity variation on the C2C earlier in the year. We wanted to do more off road but it was a very mixed group so nothing technical.
We made up our own version –
Day 1 – Normal Sustrans C2C from Workington, Cockermouth, Keswick, Old Coach Road, Pooley Bridge and then finished in Shap. The Old Coach road was pretty good as was the section from Pooley Bridge over towards Shap.
Day 2 – short day involving a stop for fish and chips in Kirkby Stephen and then the brutal climb up to Tanhill Inn for massages (a mate is a Sports Science lecturer and arranged for a couple of students to be there to help them complete some of their hours to qualify) and beer.
Day 3 – off road to Bowes and then mostly bridleway to Barningham and then a mix of country lanes, bridleway and cycles tracks to Hartlepool.
I with the exception of the middle day which was all on road I reckon it was something like 60% bridleway/cycles tracks and 40% quiet lanes with virtually no traffic.
Planning to do the Pennine Bridleway from Derbyshire to Kirkby Stephen next year again to raise funds for the local Hospice.