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Im looking to do the C2C St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay in early October. I can see multiple routes online so that’s all good. I am struggling with logistics of getting there and back from the West Highlands though. I also want to travel really light using b and bs, are there any companies you can pay to move a bag on each day?
Cheers!
Ts
yes
There’s a few on the c2c website.
I did C2C a few years back, albeit the Whitehaven to Tynemouth. We drove up to Newcastle and parked the car. Got bikes and people in the train over to Whitehaven and cycled back. Carried everything we needed with us, which wasn't loads (shorts, tshirtt and flip flops for evening wear, us a spare set of bibs/ cycling shorts) and stayed in a YHA place on the first night and a B&B on the second night.
Cheers folks. I'm looking to do it off-road rather than on road or any of the sustrans routes. C2c website appears to be mainly on road?
You could get the train to St Bees (from Carlisle on the West Coast mainline) and RHB is a short (but undulating) cycle from Whitby where you can get the train to somewhere on the East Coast mainline. There aren't many trains from Whitby each day though so you'd need to be pretty confident of timings if you prebook your return train.
As you've found there are variants of the off-road route. Tim Woodcock did a route and that's what I followed when I did it last year unsupported. There is a route plotted on GPSies https://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=ccnsuzselpzfqoyn . Takes you through some decent sized places to stop at B&Bs.
If using B&Bs you could avoid taking much other than some spare clothes in a small pack plus some provisions for the day. If you really need bags moved you might need to enlist a company that does organised trips - or could see if the B&Bs will allow you to send a parcel ahead of your arrival!
The first section (before Coniston) I found to be the hardest.
Most of the transport providers should be able to sort you a bespoke schedule. Be prepared for some spendiness though as you'll be off-plan. As long as the luggage pick up and destination have somewhere safe to leave the bag(s) or someone in to handover/receive it the companies don't need to see you at all
Thanks E-G and Sandwich. I run an accommodation business myself so am used to dealing with baggage transfers on the West Highland Way. The offroad C2C is obviously nowhere near as popular as I can't find anyone supporting it!
Best plan I can come up with so far is:
Day 1
Drive Glencoe-Carlisle in 1 car. Leave car.
Train to St Bees
Day 2/3/4/5 Ride, ride, ride to St Bees.
Day 6
Taxi to Newcastle from Robin Hoods Bay (£140/3).
Train Newcastle to Carlisle and pick up car.
We'd travel light, we shouldn't need much extra as we'll be riding most of the time anyway!
I'll plot the Tim Woodcock route and look at stops etc.
Thanks again
TS
Oh. Big taxi, Robin Hood Bay to Newcastle.....3 blokes, 3 bikes?