Way of the Roses
The Way of the Roses is a coast-to-coast, long-distance cycle route across Great Britain, crossing Lancashire and Yorkshire, based on minor roads, disused railway lines and specially constructed cycle paths. It crosses the Yorkshire Dales and the Yorkshire Wolds, passing through such historic towns and cities as Lancaster and York and scenic towns and villages including Settle, Pateley Bridge and Ripon.
At 170 miles long,[1] the route is designed for the whole range of cyclists, from families to cycling club riders. Although a challenge with some hard climbs, the highest point being over 1 312 feet, the route has increased in popularity.
The route is named after the traditional badges of Yorkshire and Lancashire, the White Rose and the Red Rose, the name 'Way of the Roses' taken from the Wars of the Roses; the 15th-century civil war between the House of Lancaster and the House of York.[2]
Development
The route was developed by Sustrans and part of the National Cycle Network (NCN Route 69) in partnership with various local authorities, the Cyclists Touring Club, and various tax-funded bodies amongst others. The route was opened in 2010 running from Morecambe on the west coast of Lancashire to the east coast at Bridlington.[3] A second diversion between Pateley Bridge and York that goes via Harrogate and Knaresborough was opened in 2011.[4] Additionally, there is a section that links Kingston upon Hull to the cycle route that joins/leaves near Pocklington rather than going to/from Bridlington.[5]
Route
- Trailheads
- West: Morecambe, Lancashire; 54°4’16"N, 2°52’34"W
- East: Bridlington, Yorkshire; 54°5’33"N, 0°10’38"W
The route is well signposted with signs carrying the name of the route or marked with the red and white heraldic roses from which the name of the route is derived.
The route starts in the resort town of Morecambe, Lancashire loosely following the River Lune and the River Wenning into the Pennines at Settle and entering the Yorkshire Dales National Park.[6] From there it makes its steepest climb (eastwards) across the edge of Rye Loaf Hill before descending to Airton. Thence it heads northeast to Grassington before following the River Wharfe for several miles and then turning towards the high point of the route at Greenhow and descending to Pateley Bridge on the River Nidd. Beyond Pateley Bridge the hills are significantly lower and after Ripon (with a short exception of the Yorkshire Wolds) the route is more or less flat, passing through York before finally reaching Bridlington and the North Sea. The route is made up primarily of:
- minor roads – quiet, country roads (90%)
- main roads – mainly short sections through urban areas (5%)
- cyclepaths/off road – disused railway lines, etc. (5%)
The Way Of The Roses is said to be best ridden from west to east to take advantage of the prevailing winds from the West[7] and the more favourable gradients. Tradition dictates that you start the ride by dipping your back wheel in the Irish Sea and only ends when your front wheel gets a dip in the North Sea at the finish. It is typically completed in 3–5 days.[8]
Related NCN Routes
The Way of the Roses makes use of 8 National Cycle Network routes. Starting in Morecambe on Route 69. It transfers to Route 68 at Clapham 54°7’2"N, 2°23’30"W; on to Route 688 at Winterburn 54°1’21"N, 2°6’9"W; and Route 65 at Linton-on-Ouse 54°2’19"N, 1°14’6"W. Through central York 53°57’41"N, 1°5’33"W it follows the short Route 658 before joining Route 66 53°57’35"N, 1°3’4"W. At Pockington 53°55’51"N, 0°46’33"W it takes Route 164 over the Yorkshire Wolds before picking up Route 1 near Hutton Cranswick 53°57’14"N, 0°29’53"W; which it then uses to the finish in Bridlington.[9]
The route links to other parts of the NCN so can be used as part of a longer cycle tour. In addition to the above listed routes the way of the Roses has junctions with Route 700 at Morecambe 54°4’16"N, 2°52’34"W; Route 6 at Lancaster 54°3’8"N, 2°48’9"W; Route 67 near Fountains Abbey 54°5’29"N, 1°34’38"W and Route 167 at Huggate in the Yorkshire Wolds 53°59’2"N, 0°39’50"W.
Location
- Location map: 54°5’47"N, 1°28’49"W
Outside links
References
- ↑ "Way of the Roses". http://www.gps-routes.co.uk/routes/home.nsf/RoutesLinksCycle/way-of-the-roses-walking-and-cycle-route.
- ↑ McFarland, Rob (8 November 2015). "Coast to coast England cycling trip: The Way of the Roses". Newcastle Herald. http://www.theherald.com.au/story/3476732/coast-to-coast-england-cycling-trip-the-way-of-the-roses/?cs=34.
- ↑ "BBC – 'Way of the Roses' coast-to-coast cycle route launched". BBC News. 7 September 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/york/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8976000/8976459.stm.
- ↑ "On your bike coast to coast". The Yorkshire Post. 6 August 2010. http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/analysis/on-your-bike-coast-to-coast-1-2583714.
- ↑ "Way of the Roses". https://www.bridlingtonrenaissance.com/app/download/5788715214/Way+of+the+Roses+flyer.pdf.
- ↑ "The Way of the Roses coast to coast ride". The Guardian. 4 May 2012. https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2012/may/05/long-distance-rides-way-of-roses.
- ↑ "The Way of the Roses, cycle from Lancashire to East Yorkshire". 5 January 2012. http://www.countryfile.com/days-out/way-roses-lancashire-east-yorkshire.
- ↑ Wills, Dixe (23 July 2010). "Roller coaster: a cycle trip across northern England". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2010/jul/24/new-coast-to-coast-cycle.
- ↑ Way of the Roses Sustrans' Cycle Route Map.. Sustrans. 2010. ISBN 978-1901389838.
