CycleActive

Crossing the country by bike is a fabulous trip to do, and gives riders a great sense of achievement as they pedal those last miles with the North Sea insight. Along the way on the Coast 2 Coast, you take in The Lake District, Eden Valley, Pennines and Northumbria - altogether some of the most beautiful parts of Great Britain.

Our trips complete this Coast to Coast cycle route in 3 days of cycling - that's enough to be a challenge, but still do-able by any moderately fit person. We also make the best use of the weekends, so you arrive with us on a Thursday evening and complete the ride on Sunday afternoon. Bike options for the sea to sea

A road bike, hybrid bike or mountain bike is suited for this Sustrans C2C bike ride route, as the route has small variants for each type of rider. For mountain bikers we also offer something a little different - extra C2C bike ride route options with great off-road riding. With CycleActive being based on the Coast to Coast cycle route itself, it's not surprising that we know a few great detours, not shown on any "Coast 2 Coast route - official maps". These are all legal (on rights of way), and really spice up the ride for those people who want to try them.

If your UK mountain biking never gets much beyond trail centres, this trip will show you a whole other world: a world of high summits with jaw-dropping views, massive, gnarly, rocky descents that last for miles yet have not one other rider on them (except the rest of your group, of course), where you come off the trail and almost directly into the garden of a local pub, serving fresh Cumbrian food and locally brewed beers to help you through the afternoon…

If this sounds appetising, then maybe it’s time for a change from UK trail centres or foreign holidays? Maybe it’s time for an epic, all-mountain adventure through the most awe-inspiring, technique challenging, physically demanding, big and beautiful trails that The Lake District, the UK, maybe even the World has to offer.

Over the years we have made many adaptations and reacted to developments along the way to keep things flowing. This is THE trip for anyone who wants to sample UK all mountain biking at its absolute best.

This is a British mountain bike experience to top them all. Our unique route gives you five days of unparalleled riding, high mountain adventure, thrilling singletrack and wild, rocky descents around England’s largest National Park.

Highlights:

• Superb terrain in real mountains
• Expert local guide/instructor
• Comfortable guesthouse accommodation
• Bags moved on so you just ride with a day-pack
• A route planned by local experts

Experience the feeling of achievement as you cycle right across the UK on this superb alternative to the main Coast to Coast bike ride. The C2C Hadrian’s cycleway is a classic, taking a lower level but longer C2C route from Whitehaven to Tynemouth. The total ride length is 151 miles.

The Hadrian's Wall Coast to Coast bike route is a fantastic way to cross Britain on a 3-day, fully signed and waymarked bike ride. The hills are more rolling and slightly less demanding than the main C2C route, but the scenery is just as impressive, the historic interest is there too, and fit riders do have extra ride options open to them.

As with all C2C bike rides we make the best use of the weekends, so you arrive with us in Penrith on a Thursday evening and complete the ride on Sunday afternoon (except some Bank Holiday weekends). On the first day of biking we transfer you to the start point at Whitehaven, then you pedal north up the Solway coast to join the first section of wall as it brings you inland past Carlisle Castle and onwards across the country, following the wall all the way, over the three days.

Cycle from the craggy cliffs of Ilfracombe to the port of Plymouth on this beautiful journey through rural Devon. The route from north to south coast follows traffic free cycle paths, backroads and cycle lanes as it winds through rolling countryside, over historic railway viaducts, through tunnels and skirts the boundary of the stunning Dartmoor National Park. A mountain bike / hybrid bike is best suited for this route. When ridden over 2 days the 102 miles is a fabulous weekend challenge, but one that can be achieved with a bit of training and preparation. The three day journey is a great option for newcomers to cycling or families as it allows either a steadier pace of riding or plenty of time to rest, explore on foot and take pictures. Each departure date has both options available.

• 2 bike day version Daily distances of over 50 miles and short sharp ascents in places, this is a challenging but achievable undertaking in 2 days for any reasonably fit cyclist.
• 3 bike day version Daily distances of 35 miles. The terrain and route stay the same but the pace can be slower. Ideal for the leisure cyclist.

This superb Sustrans C2C cycle route passes through the counties of Lancashire (the red rose) and Yorkshire (the white rose), on a journey of 170 miles from west to east. Small market towns, high moorland roads, and grand walled cities are all in store on this great C2C cycle route.

The Way of the Roses cycle route is fully signposted and takes you along stunning river valleys, high into the Yorkshire Dales, through towns steeped in history dating back to the Neolithic era and across ancient Viking battlefields. If you’ve already challenged yourself on the Classic C2C and want another fantastic 3 or 4 days on the bike, then this tour will not disappoint.

170 miles of carefully selected traffic-free cycleways and quiet rural roads enable you to cross from the town of Morecambe on the west coast, to Bridlington’s promenade in the east.

• 3 bike day version Daily distances of over 60 miles and short sharp ascents in places, this is a challenging but achievable undertaking in 3 days for any reasonably fit road cyclist.
• 4 bike day version Daily distances of 45 miles. The terrain and route stay the same but the pace can be slower. Ideal for the leisure cyclist.

The Wales End to End cycle ride is a fabulous coast to coast cycle route taking you across wild, beautiful, green, and rolling landscapes. Rural Wales, from the Black Mountains to the peaks of Snowdonia, line this winding welsh cycle route. This is a cycling holiday UK cyclists should not miss – a trip that makes use of our 25-years of expertise in rider support, route planning, and client service.

he Welsh Coast to Coast begins at the River Severn, as you cycle in the shadow of Chepstow Castle and journey northwards over a 3 or 4 day cycle holiday. The ride has many fast, flowing sections, gradual climbs, and a few well-graded challenges along the way. You will enjoy the quiet backroads, cycle paths, and protected cycle lanes, giving you the freedom to explore in quiet safety.

The destination for this ride is Caernarfon a historic coastal town, 200 miles from your start. To make your Wales End to End cycle ride an enjoyable long-weekend break, we organise all luggage transport, accommodation, and return transfers. So when you spin along the final metres to the Irish Sea, you can relax, drink a beer, and celebrate a tremendous cycling achievement.

UK Cycling holidays in England do not get any better than this. A cycle route that loops around our most beautiful national parks, skirting the foothills of our mightiest mountains, meandering along the Eden Valley with its picture-perfect stone-built villages: It is no wonder that The Telegraph newspaper described this journey as “Britain's most beautiful bike route.”

This fabulous cycle ride was designed collaboratively by local and national groups, intent on showcasing the very best cycling, most welcoming towns and villages, and stunning natural scenery that abound in The Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. At CycleActive we know this region, and this route, inside out – it’s been our home for over 27 years and our HQ is in Penrith, the official start point for this cycle tour. Lakes and Dales Loop Text 2

Our organised tours of the Lakes and Dales loop can be enjoyed over 3 or 4 days of riding. With a combination of backroad cycling and a great experiences of Lakes and Dales life, culture, food and scenery along the way.

This is a self-guided tour, so you do need to be fairly self-sufficient during the daily rides. The route is signed on the road, we provide you with a fully marked up map, and can give you digital downloads of the route for your phone or GPS device to make things run smoothly. We organise great accommodation in hand-picked hotels and guesthouses, vehicle support for emergencies (so breaking down doesn’t mean the end of the ride), and move your bags from point to point so you can cycle with just what you need during the day.

The quiet roads make this ride perfect for road bikes as its 100% tarmac. Hybrid bikes, e-bikes and mountain bikes are also welcome. You can also choose to hire a bike and helmet from CycleActive, which gives you greater flexibility if arriving by train. The Lake District is only three and a half hours from London Euston train station.

A cycling holiday in Cuba gives you a unique, fresh and exciting view of the Cuban landscape, Cuban culture and the incredibly welcoming Cuban people. To cycle tour on holiday is about more than just cycling along backroads enjoying the views – a cycling holiday in Cuba puts you closer to the sights, smells, sounds and vibrancy of this beautiful Caribbean island. Cycle Cuba - 15 days Our cycle holiday in Cuba has many unique features that should enhance your cycling experience, and give you more chances to enjoy Cuba at its finest.

Highlights:

• Cycle and discover Trinidad, Viñales, Havana and much more
• Tour unusual destinations and meet the locals
• Cycling back up vehicle throughout your holiday
• Real off the beaten track cycling options with our dedicated guides
• Cuban cycle guide and a UK cycle guide gives real on-tour flexibility

The Cuban countryside we cycle through on this holiday is incredibly varied – cycling amongst the famous limestone karsts or “mogotes” of the Viñales Valley; touring the farming villages, and fruit selling co-operatives of the west; taking a relaxed cycle through fields of tobacco crops that make Cuba's world-famous cigars; cycling high into the pristine rainforests of the Escambray Mountains; simply kicking back and enjoying a beachside mohito and an afternoon swim after cycling to the golden sands of Cuba’s Ancon peninsula.

We also cycle through some landmark towns – cycling along the cobbled streets of Trinidad past terracotta tiled homes; winding through the ornate but crumbling Spanish houses in seldom cycled areas of Havana’s old town, or spinning through Vinales, the cultural and musical centre in the west where sounds of salsa pour from every door!

Cappadocia is Turkey’s mountain bike paradise. Its dramatic volcanic landscape offers challenging and rewarding slick rock trails, lush green singletrack and a world of caves, canyons and secret paths to explore. The Cappadocia region has what many believe is Turkey’s most stunning and varied landscapes, including areas designated as World Heritage sites by UNESCO – one look at our photo gallery will give you a taste of this, but the reality is a whole lot more breath-taking.

Highlights:

• Explore the canyons and ridge rides of Cappadocia
• DiscoverDerinkuyu - the vast and magnificent underground city
• Stay in traditional cave-hotels carved into the mountain landscape
• Ride through the Fairy Chimneys

In demanding mountain bike terrain it’s important to have experts leading a tour, and for this trip, you will be looked after by two highly experienced mountain bike guides – one local and one UK MBLA qualified guide (Mountain Bike Leader Award). Their aim is to give you the best mountain biking experience on these seldom-visited trails while keeping things flowing smoothly and safely throughout the holiday.

A vehicle will transport luggage and meet the group periodically each day for water replenishments and any equipment checks or changes. The nature of the trails means that ) vehicles cannot follow.

The whole tour is made up of fast flowing singletrack that criss-crosses the mountains of the Cappadocia region, which sits right in the centre of Turkey. These trails have a wonderful flow, sometimes smooth and fast, sometimes peppered with rocks for some technical challenges, or slimming down to a pencil line, slicing deep into the slopes of a canyon. The nature of the landscape means steep climbs and descents are common on this trip, so good fitness and ability level are required.

Located only two and a half hours away from Oslo, Nesbyen is fast becoming the mecca for Norwegian Singletrack riding. With the town surrounded by 1100m high mountain plateaus, which lead into perfectly graded wooded valley sides all the way down to 150m, you can see why the Norwegian government and local are investing in making this place a Mountain bikers paradise.

Highlights:

• Kilometres of amazing, fully guided, hand build singletrack
• Daily uplift shuttles included in the tour cost
• Home cooked Breakfasts and dinners included
• Airport transfers to and from Oslo

This MTB holiday is aimed at the rider who enjoys fast and flowy singletrack, mixed in with tight and technical wooded trails. With a shuttle bus to hand, most height can be gained onboard, but for most of the rides you will need to pedal further, so this tour suits mid-travel, trail bikes which thrive when pointed up and downhill.

With the valley offering a great mix of natural mountain top trails, along with fast, machine cut flow trails, no two days feeling the same and epic views around each corner.

This tour has been created by CycleActive in partnership with our friend and local partner, who lives in the valley so knows it inside out.