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.

(Danby Wiske to Robin Hood's Bay)

(Anna-Maria and Chris write:) The last part of the Coast to Coast walk crossing the North York Moors is perhaps one of the most beautiful parts of the route, especially in September when the heather is still in flower. While the Lake District section is filled with some of the more rugged parts of the Lakeland hills and parts of the Lake District that are not always seen by the casual visitor this final section of the route leaves the tired walker with some beautiful final memories.

Our review of the Danby Wiske to Robin Hood’s Bay stretch began ominously with the tail end of the hurricane passing over the UK. We experienced strong winds even while we were still on the flat plain before Osmotherley and Anna was often struggling to keep her feet on the ground once we made it up onto the more exposed moor tops! Evidence of the damage caused by the high winds could be seen in many of the woods and villages across the route. The hurricane marked a clear start to autumn too, with a noticeable drop in temperature over the course of the week and reports from the transfer company that they were having to scrape morning ice off the windscreens by the end of the week.

There was plenty of wildlife around. Sightings included a grass snake, squirrels in the woods and a few butterflies that were somehow managing to brave the winds. There was also plenty of elusive wildlife heard but not seen. A buzzard was marking his ownership of the East Arnecliff Wood and, in the early evening, we could hear both barn and tawny owls.

Despite the lateness in the year there were still plenty of walkers traversing the country on the Coast to Coast route. A few were taking it in long stages to cover the distance in only 10-12 days but most were taking a more manageable and leisurely approach of about 15 days. While the route does offer opportunities to get through it in fewer days the resultant big stages are best spaced out as they can take their toll on the soles of a walker’s feet. Having reviewed the route in longer stages last winter with several of those long stages consecutive for the 2011 walking season we would certainly recommend spacing them out more!

Coast to Coast - join us!

Here is Herbie the dog, enjoying the obstacles on the Coast to Coast trek along with his team members Kate and Peter, this early August.


At the top of Kidsty Pike in the Lake District


Leaving Orton on the way to the Dales

Please join us on the Coast to Coast, and bring the dog!

Update!

Herbie's adventures continue, fording streams in Swaledale:


In Swaledale, the Yorkshire Dales

Coast to Coast - our full trek from St Bees to Robin Hood's Bay

(Simon writes) In warm February sunshine I spent Wednesday afternoon in Robin Hood's Bay, visiting accommodation and seeing how the land lies before our 2011 Coast to Coast season. Robin Hood's Bay is of course the pretty village at the end of the Coast to Coast trek.


Houses jostle for position in Robin Hood's Bay


From the coastal path continuing South, the village is set against the cliffs on which the Coast to Coast enters town


Close-up of the froth in the sea below


One of many snickets in the old village above the bay. To explore these alleys is a pleasure, following one's nose


The scene in the bay on this quiet winter day


Higgledy-piggledy rooftops


Coast to Coasters can approach the old village down this path

Meeting our hosts in their B&Bs and hotels is always a reminder of how many different experiences come packed into a two-week holiday. For example, we love to book classic guest houses, and village inns or and restaurants-with-rooms, run by enthusiastic owners. Part of the charm is that no two places are alike. A manor house in its gardens is a treat and adds further to the great mix.

It's fair to say that you don't take on a guest house if you don't like to chat, so on our recces we hear a few tales. Hosts are rarely short of banter for guests!

Coast to Coast - the full trek in two splendid weeks
Coast to Coast East - our week-long half

Simon writes: Our rolling visits to our hotels, B&Bs and inns continued this week in the Lakes and the Pennines. Saying hello to our accommodations is one of the most satisfying and enjoyable parts of what we do. This applies whether we're catching up with our regular hosts or meeting people for the first time. It is also enormously instructive as we adjust our normal itineraries for the next year.


A Land Rover in Stonethwaite, Borrowdale

Borrowdale in the Lake District is a valley with several hamlets, perhaps the largest being Rosthwaite. Rosthwaite and nearby Seatoller, Stonethwaite and Longthwaite all have options for our Coast to Coast, North Lakes Circuit and Lake District Traverse trips.


Down the road in Rosthwaite, Borrowdale, a typical scene

It's especially pleasing when we unearth a hidden gem... those hotels or B&Bs where things are just right. The welcome is warm and we know our clients will be looked after. On the other hand, while it's not pleasing it's just as instructive to hit upon those places where things are not right. Of the good people who set themselves up to welcome guests into their home or hotel, a big majority are delightful and welcoming. You wouldn't do it if you weren't. Only a small number are stand-offish or snooty.

Our way of working is to mix turning up on the spot with calling ahead, and to mix staying as guests with shorter visits to look around. Sometimes incognito and sometimes 'cognito', we try to keep in mind what our clients themselves will experience.

After saying hello to selected B&Bs in Lakeland (in Coniston, Ambleside, Buttermere, Borrowdale, Keswick and Threlkeld) I set off for Hadrian's Wall and ultimately Bellingham... Pennine Way country.


The quiet morning scene in Bellingham on the Pennine Way

Here are some places that we're excited about booking for our clients:

+ On the Pennine Way, a small B&B run by a smashing retired couple. There is genuine warmth here and huge attention to detail. A true find.
+ Also on the Pennine Way, a caring couple running with great hospitality a finely-tuned B&B in a small village.
+ In a Lakeland village a central, characterful hotel with open and friendly staff and owners.
+ A hotel in the Lakes taken over by new owners not too long ago and obviously going on to great things. A wonderful welcome.

Driving back to Settle I followed the river South Tyne via Slaggyford and Alston.


Doves nest in Slaggyford, lower down the Pennine Way

For more info on any of our places or if you have preferences for particular types of accommodation on your trek, please just contact us.

Next destination the Highlands!

Pennine Way
Coast to Coast
Lake District Traverse
North Lakes Circuit

Here are photos from a short recce on the Coast to Coast in the North York Moors. Simon writes:

In October when things are quieter it's a pleasure to take more time to catch up with our B&B owners and hoteliers. In order to link up the CTC route with the various accommodation off-route at Clay Bank Top (where no accommodation is to be had right on the route) I walked a loop that took in the hamlet of Chop Gate to the South. The day was a bright one in early October... surprisingly hot.

As at so many of our stops, much of the charm comes from the hosts themselves. All have stories to tell:

+ The ex-marine and policeman running a superb homely B&B in an interesting old house.
+ The relatively new owners of a village inn, further down the CTC, that serves excellent foot.
+ The charming couple who've offered B&B on the Coast to Coast and Cleveland Way for many years and have seen it all. It was lovely to pop in for a chat again, to digest the season that's about to finish, and to discuss improvements to make for next year.

More than ever when chatting to our B&Bs I realise it's a joint effort amongst Alpine Exploratory, the accommodation and the clients to make the holiday superb.


Belted Galloways in Raisdale, just South of the route


The local building tradition in this part of Yorkshire is to groove diagonally the stone's outer face, to channel rainwater. It's pretty and is seen all over the area.


Above Bilsdale. The Coast to Coast crosses the gap in the middle distance, Clay Bank Top.

Coast to Coast - our full trek

Here are photos from a day's recces and saying hello to our hoteliers and B&B owners, in Orton and Sedbergh.


The Howgill Fells from below Orton


Orton's village shop, handy for our Coast to Coasters


An alley in Sedbergh, which is on the Dales Way

Coast to Coast - our self-guided trek

Life on the Coast to Coast is not all fun in the sun. Here's the section along Ennerdale Water yesterday, a wet and windy day in late August 2009.



Coast to Coasters in the Lakes yesterday will have met it all: rain from all angles, tricky navigation in mist and wet paths underfoot. All part of the experience!

Coast to Coast

We've been busy during the autumn, making forays to the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales. In addition to our Coast to Coast West route between St Bees and Kirkby Stephen, for 2008 we shall be offering the whole route as far as Robin Hood's Bay. This is our new Coast to Coast self-guided holiday.

We'll also be offering an East route from Kirkby Stephen to complement the West, so that people can complete the route over two separate weeks off work. This is similar to our North and South options on the Tour du Mont Blanc. Hence we now offer:

Coast to Coast
13 stages plus 1 rest day - 15 nights
This is the whole trek and one that will stick in the memory for a long time. So much of England is on display on this very clever route as devised by Arthur Wainwright in the 1970s.

Coast to Coast West
6 stages - 7 nights
Check out the Lake District stages on a hilly week.

Coast to Coast East
7 stages - 8 nights
The Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors complete the trek.

As always, we're fully geared up to offering tailor-made treks along the Coast to Coast route. We anticipate that some people will fancy longer trips to further break up the stages, while others will prefer quick dashes. We'll tweak the trips to suit, so just contact us to discuss how you'd like to approach this superb route.