I did it in May last year, took three days over it. Took my time to stop at the views and take photos, pop in to the attractions along the way and have a natter with folks along the way. It’s very easy to follow, well signposted. I did mine Morecambe to Pateley Bridge day one, then York, then finish. I stayed in the Travelodge in Morecambe the night before starting, a B&B in Patelely and the YHA in York. At the Brid end there’s a direct train home for me.
It’s a fantastic route, the first section coming away from the coast brings you through Lancaster, then up the river to the Crook o’ Lune and up onto the higher ground. Up and along the tops and into Yorkshire before dropping into Settle. Big hill out of Settle if it’s a hot day, you’re carrying way too much kit and you’ve had a big lunch in the Old Naked Man (not JohnDoh, it’s the name of a cafe) and it’s up and down along the dales heading for Nidderdale. From Pateley it’s a big pull out of town, then up past Brimham Rocks and on to Fountains Abbey/Studley Royal(good loos and big tea room). Then into and through Ripon and you’re into the vale of York. Through Boroughbridge and the villages and the last few miles into York are on cyclepaths by the river. From York there’s a couple of miles of fiddling on cyclepaths through the suburbs before hitting the lanes again, and the only non-tarmac bit, about a mile and a half of field edge track. On through the villages to Pocklington and you meet the Wolds and gain height again. From here the route loses focus a bit and sends you off on long detours to avoid the main roads, but those roads are grim so just accept it, into and around Driffield and eventually onto the moor above Brid for a nice roll in to the finish.
Anyway, I’m rambling, here’s some pics.
http://s11.photobucket.com/user/midlifecrashes/WayOfTheRoses/story