Way of the Roses

A signposted, do-able coast-to-coast tour across Lancashire and Yorkshire with one tough hilly middle.

Time to Ride: Typically 3-5 days, with shorter days if you want time for detours and city sightseeing.

Best Time to Go: Apr-Oct for the broadest weather window, with longer daylight and more services open.

Getting there: Start at Morecambe (rail via Lancaster), finish at Bridlington (rail connections across Yorkshire). Most riders go west to east.

Costs: No specific entry fee for the route is documented. Budget mainly for accommodation, food, and any bike transport or hire.

Difficulty: Moderate overall but with some hard climbs crossing the Yorkshire Dales National Park; the high point is over 400 m.

Developed by Sustrans and opened in 2010, the Way of the Roses is part of the National Cycle Network (NCN Route 69) and is fully open and signed with red and white rose waymarkers. Its name references the 15th-century Wars of the Roses between the dynastic houses of Lancaster and York.

From the promenade at Morecambe the route threads inland through Lancaster, then follows river valleys and lanes towards Settle and into the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The toughest riding comes on the eastbound crossing near Rye Loaf Hill, followed by a long run via Grassington to the high point at Greenhow, then a fast descent to Pateley Bridge on the River Nidd.

After Ripon the profile generally eases, with only a short exception over the Yorkshire Wolds before the final run through York and on to Bridlington and the North Sea. Expect a surface mix dominated by minor roads (about 90%), with small portions on main roads (about 5%) and traffic-free paths such as disused railway lines (about 5%).

• Stage 1: Morecambe to Lancaster (via the coast and estuary lanes) - Easy warm-up riding to get rolling, then into the first major town on the line.
• Stage 2: Lancaster to Settle (following the River Lune and River Wenning) - Gradual valley riding on quiet roads and occasional path sections as the hills begin to close in.
• Stage 3: Settle to Airton (across the edge of Rye Loaf Hill) - The steepest climb (eastbound) and the most demanding day for many riders, rewarded with a good descent.
• Stage 4: Airton to Grassington (into the Yorkshire Dales National Park) - Classic Dales scenery on lanes and short off-road links, with steady rolling terrain.
• Stage 5: Grassington to Pateley Bridge (via the River Wharfe and Greenhow) - Scenic river miles, then the push to the route high point before dropping to the River Nidd.
• Stage 6: Pateley Bridge to Ripon - Noticeably lower hills and quicker progress, with a more relaxed feel after the Dales.
• Stage 7: Ripon to York (via flatter country lanes) - Mostly easy riding towards one of England’s most historic cities, with short busier sections around settlements.
• Stage 8: York to Bridlington (over the Yorkshire Wolds to the sea) - A final rise and fall across the Wolds, then a rolling approach to the coast for the traditional wheel dip in the North Sea.

The main riding season is Apr-Oct, when you have the best chance of longer daylight and milder conditions for crossing the higher, more exposed middle section through the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Even in summer, expect fast-changing weather on the Dales climbs and cooler, windier conditions near the coasts. In peak holiday periods, accommodation in popular towns and the cities of York and Lancaster can be harder to secure at short notice.

Most riders go west to east to take advantage of the prevailing westerly winds and more favourable gradients. The traditional start is at Morecambe with a back-wheel dip in the Irish Sea, finishing with a front-wheel dip in the North Sea at Bridlington.

For rail access, Morecambe is served via Lancaster, which sits on the West Coast Main Line. Bridlington has rail connections within Yorkshire (often via larger hubs depending on your itinerary), making it practical to return by train with a bike, subject to operator rules and capacity.

The route is open and fully signed; check local access restrictions or land-owner notices if using off-road sections. Navigation is straightforward for tourers because the route is fully signed, using dedicated name signs or the red and white rose symbols.

The riding surface is primarily on quiet minor roads with small portions on traffic-free cycle paths and disused railway lines. Bike hire, e-bikes, and any luggage transfer services are arranged privately through local providers, and availability varies by town and season.

Overnights are easiest in the larger places the route passes through or near, including Lancaster, Settle, Grassington, Pateley Bridge, Ripon, York and Bridlington, where you’ll generally find a mix of guesthouses, inns and hotels used to hosting cyclists.

In the Dales and Wolds sections, options can be more spaced out in villages, so it helps to plan your daily endpoints around where beds actually are. In busier months and on weekends, booking ahead is sensible, especially around York and in the most popular Dales stops.