Pictures From My Cycle Tour To North Wales From Harrogate Via The Trans Pennine Trail

Welcome to this page featuring pictures from one of my longest distance cycle tours in history, starting from my home town of Harrogate to The North Wales Coast via the Trans Pennine Trail and The Cheshire and North Wales section of The National Cycle Network route 5. The Trans Pennine Trail was designed in 1986 as the first multi user long distance footpath and has since been extended and improved over the last 20 years of its life into a bridleway. It takes in mainly old railway paths, miner roads and old farm tracks. It runs coast to coast 215 miles from the seaside resort of Southport in Lancashire to the East coast holiday resort of Hornsea in Yorkshire. It also has spurs that link the major City's of Leeds, York, Manchester and Liverpool, Plus a spur to Chesterfield in Derbyshire making it a total of 350 miles. I have cycled about say 75% of it which excludes the spur to Liverpool, Southport and Chesterfield. I would like to give the following tips if anyone reading this page wants to try a long distance cycle tour over the trail. Although it involves mainly miner roads and traffic free paths there are a few sections that uses short sections of A roads that need considerable care. A mountain bike with low gears is preferable then the normal racing bike as some of the sections are quit rough. You need at least a couple of spare inner tubes and a puncture repair kit is a must. Don't expect to ride at the same speed as you would on road as you need to consider other users such as dog walkers, Hikers and young children that are unpredictable and may suddenly step into your path. For the same reason I would consider fitting a bell for warning of approach. If you are thinking of doing the section from coast to coast, You need at least four days to a week. It is possible for strong experienced riders to complete the trail in 3 days but take the advice I have previously mentioned. Most sections are mainly quit level with the exception of a few steep rises. Woodhead Pass located on the Derbyshire section into Longdendale is a very long steep climb and the most difficult. It is also impassable in blizzard and wintry weather conditions so make sure you have spare warm clothing and waterproofs as weather can change even on a nice summers day. I started this cycle tour from Harrogate to Leeds, Were I joined the Trans Pennine Trail. I Spent the first night at Hadfield near Glossop in Derbyshire. The second Day I then rode on to Chester leaving the trail at Widnes. The third day I then rode over to Conwy in Wales, Where I spent 2 Days. The distance from Harrogate was about 241.01 miles and the time recorded was about 28 hours and 30 minutes. I almost went the same route back, but by the Doncaster and York section of the Trans Pennine Trail. If I next do a long tour of The Trail I hope to have at least 2 weeks, Allowing plenty of time to site see and take more pictures. The 25 pictures in this gallery as it stands now are from this original tour but this may change if I attempt this same tour again.