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Dip your toes into both the Irish and North seas as you cycle from the west coast to the east coast in this iconic cycle challenge!
Be inspired by some of the most dramatic scenery England has to offer on this classic bike ride from west to east. Departing from the coast of West Cumbria at Whitehaven, this challenging itinerary stretches for 200km until reaching the North Sea at Whitley Bay. The picturesque route crosses the northern edge of the Lake District, then climbs into the dramatic landscapes of the northern Pennines. Following the ancient fringes of Hadrian’s Wall, it then heads down to the coastline of Whitley Bay.
You’ll need all your pedal power to tackle big ascents and descents in the Eden Valley and Northumberland National Park. The aches and pains will be long forgotten, however, while the memory of this remarkable journey past former mining towns and Roman forts will endure for years to come.
Key Information
- Date
- Fri 29 Apr 2022 - Sun 1 May 2022
- Time
- 5:00 pm - 5:00 pm
- Registration Fee
- £95
- Minimum Sponsorship
- £960
DAY 1, FRI 29 APR 2022
DINNER AND BRIEFING
You will need to arrive in Whitehaven this evening for the all important team briefing. We will run through how the next few days are planned to run, and what to expect. You can meet the leadership team, and ask any questions. (D)
Accommodation: Hotel (twin share)
DAY 2, SAT 30 APR 2022
WHITEHAVEN TO ALSTON (APPROX 105 KM AND 1800M ASCENT)
And you're off! After an early morning safety briefing, you head towards the shore where you have the opportunity to dip your bikes wheel in the Irish Sea. It’s then time to get pedalling as you venture towards the village of Cleator Moor and into the stirring landscape of the Lake District National Park.
Home to England’s highest mountains and deepest lakes, the region has inspired writers, artists and poets for generations. But your main focus this morning are the challenging hill climbs that you need to cross in order to reach Loweswater and then Braithwaite and Keswick. You stop in Threkeld for a hard-earned lunch, before pushing on across Cumbria’s rolling hills and past Greystoke and the historic market town of Penrith. Finally you reach Alston: your home for the night. Dinner will be followed by another briefing and the chance to reflect on the day’s events. (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Youth Hostel (same sex dormitory rooms)
DAY 3, SUN 01 MAY 2022
ALSTON TO WHITLEY BAY (APPROX 120 KM)
Recharged and ready for action, you start the day by heading towards Northumberland National Park and the ancient ramparts of Hadrian’s Wall. The route ventures upwards through Halfwhistle and on to Homestead’s Fort, dramatically located on a high escarpment of the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site. The fort, which offers spectacular panoramas, once housed about 800 men and is supposedly the site of Britain’s oldest toilets!
It’s then time to head east towards your final destination. Bypassing Newcastle-upon-Tyne, we head for our final destination: St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay. Exhausted but triumphant, you complete the ride by dipping your wheels in the North Sea. There will be plenty of time for group photos and celebrations at the end of this spectacular ride. (B,L)
No accommodation this night.
We have two payment options for this amazing event:
SELF FUNDER
Pay a non-refundable registration fee of £95.00 when you book.
Then a balance of £470.00
(5 weeks before your challenge).
Raise as much as you can for MHA .
or
MINIMUM SPONSORSHIP
Pay a non-refundable registration fee of £95.00 when you book.
Raise a minimum of £960.00 for MHA .
How to take part...
Register today, and keep an eye out for our emails to complete sign-up!
Visit JustGiving.com/mha to set up your fundraising page and share, share, share. Together we will smash your target!
Check you have all you need, turn up, have fun and know you are helping support older people to live later life well.
Already have your own place?
Download our Sponsorship Pack to fundraise for MHA
How your sponsorship money could help
Every penny you raise helps MHA and its mission to help those in later life live well.
£25 could enable us to assess and match a volunteer befriender with a socially isolated older person, giving them access to weekly telephone calls and support
£30 could enable us to host a live virtual dance class for the most isolated in the community
£100 could allow us to create custom animations to enhance and train an older person with their digital skills
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