Liverpool to Hull (Or Mersey to Humber)

[Graeme]

I'm playing with maps to find a reliable audaxing route from Liverpool to Hull (or from the Mersey to the Humber). It seems like a 200km directish route might be possible but I'm not sure what the cyclepaths along the route might be like. If I find something that works it would make a lovely wind-assisted ride in either direction as the stations along the route are joined by transpennine express - a service I've found to be well disposed to bicycles.

I'd love to hear recommendations for sections - anything which might help me to jigsaw together an overall route. I'm a bit of a novice with anything west of the A1.

[mcshroom]

Delph Cyclist's Kirtons 600 has a leg from south Manchester to the Humber bridge if that's helpful?
http://www.delphcyclist.info/KirtonsPerm.html

[Graeme]

Delph Cyclist's Kirtons 600 has a leg from south Manchester to the Humber bridge if that's helpful?
http://www.delphcyclist.info/KirtonsPerm.html

Uppermill to Howden looks ideal...

Actually - there is a RideWithGPS route (https://ridewithgps.com/routes/5375136) from Liverpool to Grimsby which crosses the Kirtons at Hyde. They might fit together. That was a really helpful pointer 'shroom, thank you.

[Graeme]

This is looking promising.
https://goo.gl/maps/iP4Vfwq556o

[mcshroom]

That does. I like the pub finish

[Si S]

This is looking promising.
https://goo.gl/maps/iP4Vfwq556o

I'm assuming that's your shortest route and you'll actually use the TPT from Speke to Warrington as per

Actually - there is a RideWithGPS route (https://ridewithgps.com/routes/5375136) from Liverpool to Grimsby which crosses the Kirtons at Hyde.

Don't even consider riding on Speke Blvd / Rd. One issue you may have with NCN62 is that there is a diversion in place at Widnes because of the Mersey Gateway bridge and you'll have to go into Widnes and then back out. One thing to bear in mind is you've picked the nicest route from L'pool to Manc but don't expect it to be quick, expect very mixed surfaces from good tarmac, gravel, through to some muddy sections if wet. Expect gates, plenty of gates.

I might go and recce the diversion, it's an excuse to look at the new bridge.

[frankly frankie]

Last time I rode from Liverpool to Hull we just went straight along the East Lancs (A580) for the leg to Manc.  But that was at 2 a.m.  And quite a long time ago.  It was deserted.  And it snowed (it was a winter solstice ride).

As I recall after Manc we went Greenfield - Holmfirth - Woolley Edge M1 Services - Howden - Hull.

[basset]

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/5375136 This route appears to go on some very busy urban roads and over the woodhead pass and the only time you want to be doing that is when the Tour de France comes through and they shut it to all traffic bar bikes 😉

[Delph Cyclist]

I'm interested in this topic too.  I like the idea of one-way rides with the possibility of wind assistance and train return, hence the Scarborough Fare 200 Perm.

Rather than Mersey to Humber, what about Dee to Humber?  There are Audax routes from Chester to Poynton and Poynton to Howden.  I'm sure the Organiser of these rides won't mind you using these as suggestions.  The return would need a change of train company, IE Arriva and Trans Pennine.  Northern Trains as run local services and don't require bike reservation, which might be a good or bad thing depending on whether you can get on.

[Peter]

I haven't looked at any onf the links on here yet, Graeme (I will) but I have used the A580 East Lancs from just east of Liverpool as far as Patricroft.  It's a proper cycle lane all the way, though you do have to cross some side roads, which is easy enough.  I've also used the TPT and, as Si mentions, the Widnes section has recently been a bit of a bugger.  Awaiting developments!

Peter

[markcjagar]

Northern Trains as run local services and don't require bike reservation, which might be a good or bad thing depending on whether you can get on.

If it's a Pacer they won't give a shit, the ones in the Peaks regularly end up with 4+ bikes crammed in.

[paulworthington53]

I rode Allerton (Liverpool) to Elloughton/Brough a few times as a DIY perm.  There really is no easy way from Liverpool to Manchester with traffic and the new Mersey Gateway, although if you leave early enough you are past the worst of it before most folk wake up (especially on a weekend).

This route gets you from Liverpool (well, Allerton but it's near the river and saves a trip into town).  It used to be my winter commute and I suspect if you left at 6am you'd get to Didsbury traffic free by 8-8.30 ish... It also avoids the worst of the Gateway pallaver too and takes in the sights of Fiddler's Ferry power station.  You also Cross the Mersey at Warrington and again at Didsbury.  Plenty of control options at Didsbury.

https://www.strava.com/activities/850159835

It's certainly the route I'd use as far as Lymm.  And then pick up the route of Kirtons as it goes north from Poynton all the way to Brough...

And +1 for avoiding Speke Road - it's a 70mph road to certain oblivion!

For what it's worth, this was my DIY route... https://www.strava.com/activities/264321148

I'd be more than happy to routecheck this for you (or some of it) - you put a lot of effort into the Humber Bridge 200 which I'd be glad to repay.

[Graeme]

Si you're right, that was just the Google waking shortest route to satisfy the Audax rules. I don't mind routes being slightly over distance but if a selection of better controls reduces that I'm happier.

I like the idea of the TPT but this isn't about touring, so mud and gates would make me less happy with that. Gravel I don't mind.

Frankie - the things we do to ourselves! 2am snowy ride. Brrr.

Pieman - but the crowds!!!

Delph - I hope it isn't cheeky taking advantage of your work on the PoK600. Also one of the reasons for Liverpool Lime Street as a start is that Hull to Liverpool is about £25 single and only involves one change. Plus Liverpool seems like an iconic start. Icons are okay, it's idols I'm supposed to shun.

Peter, Paul, thank you both. I'm enjoying the open source approach to developing an Audax DIY route.

[Si S]

I had a think about this last night. If this was my hare-brained scheme spiffing adventure my approach would be:

Discard the TPT - it's a time sink
Avoid Warrington unless you leave L'pool at stupid o'clock, too much traffic.

So I'd head to the East Lancs but leave at Lowton in order stick to a South Manc crossing, the fallowfield loop is your friend to cross Manchester. At the end of the floop at Audenshaw head to Stalybridge and take the back road (B6175) to Greenfield.

Note: My route is probably influenced by the fact it passes my front door, but then again pretty much any route will come within a mile or two. It would be this in effect with very little deviation from the gmaps route: https://goo.gl/maps/2mqoBqBrX172

[Graeme]

Thanks Si - when I get home I'll have a look at that closely. I'm thinking of 9th Dec - unlike Frankie I'm allergic to midnight snow, but if the weather is favourable it works be great to do something *adventureous*.

[CaptainVolvo]

Hi Graeme, I've done this route from Liverpool to Selby. The bit from Liverpool to Manchester is a bit of a drag, but it's relatively wide so plenty of room for cars to get past.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/25415484
Keat.

[frankly frankie]

Thanks Si - when I get home I'll have a look at that closely. I'm thinking of 9th Dec - unlike Frankie I'm allergic to midnight snow,

The snow is an optional extra but at this time of year I think starting with a night ride makes sense, you're going to ride a lot of dark hours however you do it.  The East Lancs is (was, 20 years ago!) pretty good in the wee small hours and a good way to eat up some miles and get time in the bank. Not using the cycle facility, obviously.  Last time I did it, I think we set off from Liverpool Station around 1am and we didn't see dawn until just before we got to the M1 service station - that's how fast it was, snow and all.  We took a long break there to thaw out and by the time we reached Hull we were lighting up again in the dusk, and hitting our time limit.
We did this a few years running by the way, so it was a tried and tested formula.  It then morphed into the first 'Winter Solstice' calendar event.

[Graeme]

Thank you!

I have a significant amount of route input to process. Now either I'm going to sort this all out and do it on the 9th Dec or I'm going to opt for a pub-2-pub route around Yorkshire. If I go for this I'll probably have to start at 9am due to train times, but I don't mind a bit of night riding at the other end.

I'm very grateful for all the suggestions. There is a lot to examine now #pause and reflect. There will be an update.

G.

[JonJo]

or I'm going to opt for a pub-2-pub route around Yorkshire.

@Graeme, have you seen this? http://www.hophideout.co.uk/epoy
That could be spun up into the ultimate Yorkshire pub crawl. Maybe not at this time of year though.