Solo Bikepacking the Trans Pennine Trail - 3 Days UK Coast to Coast Bike Ride
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- Despite a fairly mixed reputation as a UK C2C route, I've been keen to try the Trans Pennine Trail for a while, so a couple of recent dry days seemed the perfect opportunity. I adjusted my route (going east-to-west from Southport to Hull) to take advantage of staying at home on the first night, and then picked up the official route on Day 2 with a light bikepacking setup.
Lots of varied cycling over the 3 days - some good, some bad and some quite ugly - and I've tried to include a little bit of it all in the video. I don't think I quite captured the relentlessly brutal headwind on days 2 & 3 though - if you're planning the route please do check the wind speed and direction before you decide to set off! ;)
I hope you find something of interest in these clips I've stitched together and let me know if you have any questions about the TPT or bike setup for this trip.
Happy cycling, folks!
Hi Martin. Enjoyed the video and, having ridden the TPT in its entirety earlier this year, thought I’d pass on my thoughts. I rode it in 3 days using a gravel bike so didn’t have some of the issues you did with the surfaces. Day 1 Southport to Glossop-I enjoyed the first half along the Mersey etc but once I got into the urban sprawl around southern Manchester it was less enjoyable and could be difficult to navigate. Maybe not a problem if you know the area but I certainly wasn’t. After Stockport it was a lot more enjoyable again all the way to Glossop with a few cheeky off road climbs blurring the lines between gravel and mountain bike suitability. Day 2-Glossop to Doncaster was, as you say, the highlight of the route. Glorious views and fabulous trails. Day 3-Doncaster to Hornsea. First part is good but after Selby until you get to the Humber can be a bit boring as you described. The section along the Humber until the bridge is lovely though. Once into Hull it’s similar to Manchester in that it’s very urban and quite difficult to navigate. Once through Hull though the trail to Hornsea is lovely with great views. Overall I guess I enjoyed at least 75% of the route and with a few tweaks to avoid urban parts it could form the basis of a great bikepacking trip. Happy riding
Thanks for sharing your route and congrats on your TPT ride, Sean. Good bike choice too, especially as you'll have done the roughest sections on the official route. As I finished in Hull I wondered what the last little stretch out to Hornsea would have been like - sounds like a nice section to cover if I'm ever out that way again. Happy cycling!
Some good information bud 🚴.. not sure on cycling with no helmet 🤷♂️.. I guess we all appreciate the risks ..no lectures from me just each to their own.. safe cycling out there 👊
Thank you, and I really appreciate this comment. You've raised the issue of helmet wearing but not in a shouty or finger-wagging way, which feels like a bit of a rarity sometimes 🙂. I actually made a video last year attempting to 'think through' why I do (and sometimes don't) wear a helmet. I actually find the whole topic fascinating! Thanks for checking out the video and happy cycling!
Hi just watched you’re summary.
I really think that it an over critical and misunderstanding of the development of the TPT and how it happened some 20 odd years ago.
Firstly it was a route setter…nothing like it had been envisaged before in the UK a multi functional sustainable transport route for equestrians cyclists and walkers.
It linked in to route E88 which had the link to European mainland at Hull and Ireland at Southport/ Liverpool.
The main funding source was from the EU so it had to hit the main deprivation areas at the the time in the north of England to get the ERDF monies to contribute to the infrastructure costs that’s why it passes through the areas it does.
I can’t agree with you’re criticism about the west side compared to the east side as there is a lot of similarities between Liverpool and Manchester and the Hull conurbations.
The villages on the fringes of the Wolds are stunning and you’ve made no reference to those.
The whole ethos of the TPT was never an head up arse down cycle venture as you’ve made it. It was always supposed to be springboard to escape and invest in the surrounding areas off of the route. I respect your ultra tourist ideals off bagging it off but that’s never been the intention.
In regards to your comments about the way of the roses.
Well in 2000 there wasn’t a National cycle route the TPT set the gauge for all to follow and maybe routes have surpassed the TPT in quality topography adventure scenes since but the TPT was the benchmark and set the standards and as is an old pack horse route is…set in stone.
Aye…no fallout here and I suppose I’m defending what I and local govt colleagues set out to do and achieve. And yes I’m critical too in my own patch but I still believe it was a fantastic groundbreaking achievement for cyclists and passive recreationalalists at the time.
Keep on cycling and fighting. Best wishes R
Hi Ron
Firstly thanks for taking the time to reply in detail to my criticisms of the route and sharing some of the TPT's interesting 'backstory', particularly why it passes through the areas it does and why it was a ground-breaking project. It sounds like you are still involved with sections of the trail? It will be good for anyone who stumbles on my video to read your comments as well. Even better if they get out there themselves and make up their own mind about the trail!
My view is because it's presented as a 'national coast to coast route' I think it's going to attract 'point-to-point' cyclists who are on a schedule to complete (often, unfortunately, dictated by time-off from work etc.) and who may get frustrated at some of the features of parts of the trail - poor surfaces, relatively uninspiring sections, anti motorbike bars (presumably) along parts of the route but which also catch MTB handlebars, sections which lend themselves to very different kinds of bikes etc. People may not have expectations aligned to what you've laid out around what the route can really be about/for. Before I set off I came across quite a few completers with similar criticisms to mine, even though I wouldn't put them (or myself) in the head down mile-crunching cyclist category. It didn't stop me wanting to go and try the route myself though, particularly as I was born, grew up and still live in the Pennines.
I mention in the video description and on the ride how I took a different route from Southport to Dunsford Bridge (initially using the Pier to Pier cycle way etc.) before picking up the official route for the rest of the ride. The Pier to Pier section is still being worked on in places but for me, together with the section from Dunsford Bridge to Penistone, this really showed the best of what a cycleway experience should be like - brilliant smooth surface for 6-12mph riding, lots of things to see and places to stop off on the way, lots of people out (cycling, walking, running, horse riders), opportunities to exchange a few words and a real sense that you're spending time in the 'outdoor community'.
I'll definitely be going back to these sections, and some others I enjoyed, in the future. Happy cycling!
Great video and insight of the route. Love how steady and clear your video and audio was. What was your camera setup?
Thanks for the nice feedback, Ben. I use an old GoPro Hero Black 8 and with a £10 wind stopper from Amazon (generally does a great job improving the audio). I probably should invest in a proper 'TH-camr' camera/set up but it's just a bit of fun whilst out on the bike and the GoPro seems to do the job fine for what i need. Happy cycling!
Brilliant Video.
Cheers, Matt! Thanks for watching.
Thanks mate.
I live almost exactly half way near the RSBP Wetlands. i.e. call in at my house next time. Great achievement man
Thanks, Paul. I really like these C2C type rides as they're not too long and you can pack a lot of cycling and different landscapes/areas into a short trip.
Hi martin! Loved the video, planning to this route too 🎉. Out interest, where did you position the camera when you made the timelapse effect in the descent?
Hi Andrea. Hope you have a great trip! If I remember right I was using my 'Pro Standard Grill Mount' which is like a mouth guard with a GoPro attachment. It's a bit of a strange thing to get used to but I like the convenience it provides on the bike. Happy cycling!
Really liked your route on day two, never fancied doing the trans-pennine for the reasons you mention on day 3 but your version is making me rethink. Perhaps an alternate day 3 could be devised. To Cleethorpes perhaps?
Thanks for the comment, Jon. I know some of the Cheshire/south Manchester bits quite well and the extent to which they link up (or not), so was going into Day 3 with fairly low expectations for the route (thankfully). The short Humber section was nice though. Hull makes sense to aim for but Hornsea seems an odd place to fully end the official route, especially as it isn't served by a train line - so your idea of Cleethorpes might make more sense. Not sure if crossing the river Trent would be an issue that way though. I think there's a really great 'quiet Pennine lanes' route to be had at this 'latitude' in the UK, using bits of the TPT and other cycleways that make sense, and ditching the bits that don't etc. I enjoyed my route overall but would say the Way of the Roses, slightly further north, was a better C2C experience 'under wheel'. Happy cycling!
@@onemorecyclist I suppose there’s plenty of lanes to have at in the vicinity you are right. Even moving slightly north into wolds are would probably improve the route.
I was thinking Cleethorpes as Lincolnshire is lovely and flat for the final stretch, but so is a lot of east Yorks. 👍
Great advice thank you
Glad the video was helpful. Thanks for the comment and happy cycling!
I was disappointed that you did not do the last part of the trail from Hull to Hornsea it would have been interesting to hear your opinion of the old railway track but keep up the good work. Have you thought of getting an e-bike stay safe
Thanks, Stephen. I've read few comments about that being quite a nice section and I'd like to go back and check it out at some point. I'm sure at some point I'll get an eBike. I quite like the cargo bikes at the moment (although not the price tags!). Appreciate the comment and happy cycling!
These mini-tours are always interesting with the route-finding and commitment of linear riding.
I recognised most of Day Two and the descent from Silkstone Common is surprisingly rough and loose in places - you did well on the Marathon+.
The official route from Crowden to Dunford Br is another surprisingly rough stretch - MTB or heavy duty gravel bike terrain.
Did the hotel let you take the bike into the room?
I didn't recognise any of Day Three but finishing with a close pass of the suspension bridge looked good.
Good trip, shame about the block headwinds but it looked fairly dry overall.
Btw : I've always known the Greenfield-Holmfirth Dovestones road as 'The Skye Road', taking its name from the old coaching inn near Wessenden Head
Ah, thanks Gordon for the correction on the A635 as The Skye Rd (and why the name)! For some reason I have it in my head and know the Huddersfield Rd as the 'Sky' Road - and always think the name fits perfectly when I go up there. I'll have to be more careful using this locally :). My adapted route stripped out some of the gnarly stuff on the official route and I just about got away with the rest on the 32mm Schwalbes. There were a few bits where I really needed to have the gravel tyres back on though but I figured on balance I wanted the added puncture protection and slightly faster rolling for the trip. Yes, never had a problem taking bikes into Premier Inn rooms and I got such a friendly welcome from the receptionists in Doncaster too on this trip - which doesn't always happen when you roll up to non PI hotels and B&Bs on a bike (at least here in the UK).
That first day didn't look to attractive? A lot of built up large towns
I really enjoyed the Pier to Pier cycle route from Southport across to Wigan. Some busy road riding after than in places but less than I was expecting to be honest. Day 2 was the real prize of the trip for sure.
@@onemorecyclist yes Hull area looked no fun!!