The 2014 Tour de France starts in Yorkshire! The race starts with 2 stages around the Pennines before a third English stage from Cambridge to London. Then to France for the continuation. The Yorkshire stages will be on Saturday 5 July (Leeds to Harrogate) and Sunday 6 July (York to Sheffield) 2014.


On the moor above Swaledale, the TdF route in view

It happens that the race route coincides with three of Alpine Exploratory's treks: the Pennine Way, the Dales Way and the Coast to Coast. While the route itself is likely to be packed with spectators, the hills will offer quiet and the chance of wider views of the action. We've had a preliminary think about how trekkers could combine the TdF with their treks, as follows:

Pennine Way
Stage 1 of the Tour will pass through Hawes and Thwaite; long views will be possible of the Buttertubs ascent, from Great Shunner Fell which carries our Pennine Way stage from Hawes to Keld. Then Tour stage 2 will climb from Haworth to Hebden Bridge, the opposite of the Pennine Way's moorland stage from Hebden Bridge to Haworth. However, the Pennine Way's stage to Hebden Bridge gives perhaps the best chance to see the route, by breaking off from the moors to join the action on the steady Cragg Vale climb.

Pennine Way

Dales Way
Of all the treks, the Dales Way coincides the most with the Tour. Much of Wharfedale is covered by the cyclists, between Grassington and Buckden, after an earlier visit to Ilkley. It's all go! On the second day of racing the Tour crosses the Dales Way near Bolton Abbey.

Dales Way

Coast to Coast
Stage 1 of the Tour follows Swaledale, close to the Coast to Coast's Swaledale alternative route to Reeth. This will be one of the most scenic helicopter shots beamed to the world. Vantage points close to the road, yet set apart from the fray, should be easy to find. The second stage runs too far South to visit the Coast to Coast route.

Coast to Coast

Please email us to plan your trek during the Tour; we can advise on exact dates, timings and places to stay. Thank you.