Virtual Coast to Coast C2C Challenge

Cross England from coast to coast from your own roads and trails. The Coast to Coast C2C runs roughly 225 km (about 140 miles) from Whitehaven on the Cumbrian coast east through the Lake District, over the high Pennines and through the Tyne Valley to Sunderland on the North Sea. Route Rally turns every synced ride, run or walk into progress along one of England's most popular cycling routes.

  • Route: Coast to Coast (C2C)
  • Distance: 224.8 km
  • Elevation gain: 3800 m
  • Classic cross-England cycling challenge
  • Best for: Medium rallies of your own for cyclists, runners and walkers, and coast-to-coast crossing goals

Planning your challenge

A cyclist averaging 150 km/week finishes in around a week and a half; a runner at 40 km/week takes about six weeks, and a walker at 30 km/week completes it in roughly eight weeks.

Medium by Route Rally distance bands, long enough to feel substantial and achievable in a focused month at a cycling pace.

Works well for cyclists who want a clear coast-to-coast goal, and for walkers and runners who want a cross-England route that is more accessible than the longer Pennine Way.

Create your own rally for your own C2C target, solo or with a club, workplace or group of friends.

Why this route

  • The Coast to Coast C2C is one of England's most popular cycling routes, covering about 225 km (140 miles) from Whitehaven on the Irish Sea to Sunderland on the North Sea.
  • As a virtual challenge you cover the distance in your own time, with rides, runs and walks from anywhere pushing you east across England towards the North Sea coast.
  • The route crosses two of England's most impressive landscapes: the Lake District in the west and the North Pennines in the middle, before descending through the Tyne Valley to the coast.
  • Its medium length makes it achievable in a focused four-to-eight week training block, long enough to feel like a genuine crossing without requiring months of commitment.
  • The clear coast-to-coast narrative gives it a strong motivation: every kilometre moves you from one sea to the other.

Highlights

  • Start at Whitehaven on the Cumbrian coast, dipping a wheel in the Irish Sea
  • Climb through the Lake District, passing Keswick, Derwentwater and the high fells
  • Cross the North Pennines on the high moorland roads above Stanhope and Rookhope
  • Finish at Sunderland on the North Sea coast of northeast England

Common questions

How does my activity actually count?

Connect your activity tracker to Route Rally and every kilometre you log adds up automatically. Your marker moves along the route as new activities sync, with nothing to upload and nothing to enter by hand.

Do I have to live near the route?

Not at all. Ride, run or walk wherever you usually train. The route is a virtual target, so your local roads, trails and weekend rides all push you closer to the North Sea.

How far is the C2C?

The Route Rally route covers about 225 km, or roughly 140 miles, from Whitehaven to Sunderland across northern England.

How long does it take to cycle?

At a steady 150 km a week you finish in around a week and a half. The real-world C2C is traditionally ridden over three to five days, but as a virtual challenge the pace is entirely yours: you set the end date when you create the rally.

Can I run or walk the C2C?

Yes. Route Rally counts any discipline towards your virtual distance. Runners at 40 km a week finish in about six weeks, while walkers at 30 km a week complete it in around eight weeks.