Right, a couple of people have asked me about the route, and about good eatin' along the way, so I've tweaked the RWGPS route posted above with some personal preferences of routes:
Day 1:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/22823845Day 2:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/22824534Day 3:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/22825091Day 4:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/22825433Now updated with the control at Langholm and split at Sedbergh into 4 days (05/07/17)If anyone wants to keep track, the changes to the h'official route are as follows (also listed on each track:
1) along the A-road into Richmond on Day 3. Adds 4 km, less climbing - it's the route all local cyclist take as it feels faster, and it probably is faster.
2) Day 3: dodge the 1:3 concrete bank at Littlebeck after RHB (adds 100 m , 70 m less climbing - more importantly, it’s straight across the A169 rather than mixin’ it with the tourist traffic down Blue Bank). Anyone who hasn't ridden up Littlebeck should take the official route and ride it, but I'd then recommend going up to the top of Blue Bank and right down into Grosmont, which is a glorious descent at ludicrous speed into the village, just watch out for the junction...)
3) Day 3: along the south of the Esk between Grosmont and Egton Bridge, rather than hacking up to Egton village and down the 1:3. I’m assuming AC doesn’t know about this route! It’s half a k shorter with 60 m or so less climbing (all according to RWGPS). You cross the Esk at a proper bridge, then there’s a big ford, but with a FB at the left. Still hilly enough to keep you honest, though.
4) Day 3: cut off the corner at Keldholme near Kirkbymoorside. Probably not worth the bother, but you might as well have it - signs say Keldholme only. Saves about 200 m, negligible impact on climbing.
5) Day 2:
alternative crossing of the A69 after Hexham - mostly dodging the A69. It’s a bit shorter but a bit climbier. Edit: my tame local Mick (who is riding the event and lives about 6 miles from Hexham) has pointed out that the locals use a tiny bridge over the A69, then rejoin the A6079 just before Acomb. You can see it
here, and Mick reports it being a bit gravelly, so blame him if it's crap, but it can't possibly be worse than hacking across the A69 at Saturday dinnertime.
6) Day 3 - I've left the route through the lanes from Helmsley to Ripon as it's considerably more pleasant than flogging along the A170/A61 - but the main roads are dead easy route to follow if you prefer, and they're not likely to be very busy on Sunday evening.
7) Day 4 - along B-roads to the west side of the Lune rather than along the A683 (which was 'orrible last year with loads of wagons trundling across from the A65). A little bit shorter than the A683 too.
Day 2 - I've routed along the shortest route from Hawes to Stanhope, which is via Buttertubs and Tan Hill, then the OFFROAD section across Sleightholme Moor. If you do this section, you need to be aware of two things - firstly, the substantial bit of offroad. It's no more than gravelly, but it's downhill, so you need to go cautiously. Second, there are very few places to eat. The only likely place would be Tan Hill itself, but they do breakfast, so if you go this way, you would need to give them a call and book a breakfast, otherwise you could be living on body fat from Sedbergh to Stanhope. Obviously, the below bit about eating in Barnie wouldn't apply - you could roll down to Barnie to eat, but it would be a detour from the more direct route via Cotherstone (where there's a cafe, but it doesn't open until 10)
And onto the food.
TOP TIP - eat in Keswick rather than at Whinlatter (the cafe was absolutely rammed last year - you can just get a stamp for PoP at the Whinlatter visitor's centre).
There's a tiny village shop/cafe in Lorton as well, which is good for a coffee and a cake or some snacks.
Kirkstile Inn at Loweswater - good for bottle top-ups, but only worth stopping to eat if you have the time for a proper sit-down meal.
Gosforth village before Seascale has a very well-stocked village shop, including a coffee machine. Would recommend calling in here and just getting a receipt at Seascale (
http://www.thevillagestoregosforth.co.uk/ - I'm not sure the cafe is actually open, but it's a couple of years since I was last there) .
Seascale - large-ish Co Op before you drop to the sea and a takeaway opposite, or a crappy McColl's on the front. Just snacks and supermarket food. Also public toilets on the front.
Eskdale - there are a couple of pubs before you go over Hardknott, including the Eskdale Inn, which does coffee and snacks as well as full-on meals, but I'd probably just eat earlier. But there's nowt else on route until Skelwith Bridge.
Once you're into Ambleside, there are plenty of choices around Windermere, Kendal and so on.
Day Two
Hawes - not likely to be much open early in the morning apart from newsagents - or an ATM if you're dead early.
Barnard Castle - the butcher's opposite to Costa opens early, and does a decent bacon sandwich. Costa might be open by the time you get there.
Stanhope - there's a Co Op and a cafe next to it, but the cafe at the Dales Tourist Centre is much better (opens at 9).
Above Stanhope there's Parkhead Station Cafe:
http://www.parkheadstation.co.uk/tea-rooms.php (I'm not sure of the opening times, but you could give them a call and just get a receipt in Stanhope before riding up Crawleyside to the cafe - it says 3 miles from Stanhope, and there's a board at the cafe for writing your time up Crawleyside. Don't expect this to be a quick 3 miles)
Blanchland - there's a shop and a decent cafe, but I wouldn't bother stopping unless you're on your knees. Hexham isn't that far, and this is probably the toughest section where you can lose the most time. N.B. the Waitrose at Hexham does NOT have a cafe, if anyone from down south is hankering after a taste of home.
Wark has a handy village shop.
Bellingham is just off route and there's a Co Op, a few cafes, a bakery and a bike shop.
Falstone - cafe in the old school. Just off route, and can be a good stop before slogging into the headwind over Kielder.
Kielder Reservoir - There's a nice cafe at the Tower Knowe Visitor Centre about 10-15 km before the village stores, they didn't seem to mind that we were oozing water all over the floor
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Tower+Knowe+Visitor+Centre/@55.174844,-2.4751189,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x83c142965f854792!8m2!3d55.174844!4d-2.4751189. (thanks Jon for reminding me! I think there are public loos here as well)
Kielder control - as well as the village shop (which doesn't stock much), there's a little shop at the garage on the main road (I think they do coffee), and the pub, which is farther off the route.
Top tip - I'd just get a receipt at Kielder for PoP and ride the 20-25 km to Newcastleton and go to...
Copshaw Kitchen - excellent home cooked food. Open till five I think, and worth stopping. Steve and I stopped there last year after just getting a bar of chocolate for PoP at Kielder. If running late, call to check opening times (013873 75250) - they're pretty friendly and would probably stay open a little bit if they knew you were coming, as they offered to do just this last year when I mentioned the ride to them.
EDIT: someone has called them and they're open until 8 on Saturday night.
Newcastleton also has a couple of shops and hotels, so it's well-provisioned.
There's not a lot in Langholm Longtown or Lockerbie (another reason to stop at Newcastleton) - a quick garage stop, or pizza shop is about as good as it gets.
Gretna Services - I noticed we passed this on the road from Lockerbie to Carlisle. You'll miss it if you don't know it's there, but on the B7076 between Kirkpatrick Fleming and Gretna, there is a secret entrance to the right in the hedge which takes you to the M'Way Services:
https://goo.gl/maps/995u2cZkPqR2
It's a proper motorway services with proper Motorway prices. But if you want a bucket of KFC, it's your lad.
Above removed as the route doesn't pass Gretna Services. I don't think there's much on the A7 from Langholm to Langtoon and Carlisle, but if anyone knows different, shout up.
Farther on, there's a McDonald's on the A7 in Carlisle, and obviously loads of options in Carlisle itself.
Don't try the McDonald's in Penrith if it's late as it's drive-thru only and they won't let you order on a bike. Last year, they wouldn't even let someone in a car order for us "cos I can still see them". FFS.
Tebay J38 services - the route passes the M'way services (on the right just before the A685 roundabout), and this is a pretty good option if you need something get you the last 10 miles or so to Sedbergh. The shop on the forecourt is 24-hour, and comes with a coffee machine.
Day 3
The control at Yarm is probably going to be the garage - if you take the right after the roundabout, though, there's a decent cafe at Kirklevington Prison. No, really. Ask at the counter for their "Just Visiting" stamp*.
Castleton - there's a Co Op and a cafe at the old school. The route also passes the National Park Centre at Danby, but I'd expect that to be rammed on Sunday afternoon. Either of those should get you to the control at RHB (which is a decent chippy).
After Robin Hood's Bay, there's not much on the route - a couple of pubs in Egton Bridge, or you can nip into Grosmont. After Egton Bridge there's nowt until Rosedale. You can top your bottles at one of the pubs or the campsite in Rosedale, and there are cafes and shop if you're early enough.
I wouldn't bother stopping in Hutton-le-Hole, but Kirkbymoorside is a good place to stop, with a couple of shops and takeaways to break up the long section to Ripon.
After Helmsley (loads of options), there's unlikely to be anything open except pubs, though there are plenty of those.
Ripon - if it's late, the 24-hour garage on North Street is likely to be the only thing open. There's nothing else 24-hour on the route, and it's a long way yet to Sedbergh. If it is early enough, there's a Costa and loads of stuff but you'll have to ride into town.
Masham - there's a Co Op open late on Sunday evening, and obviously plenty of pubs. I'd recommend the White Bear at the Black Sheep Brewery, which is signposted from the route.
I can't think of anything opening late up Wensleydale or Garsdale. Stock up at Ripon!
Day 4
You're on your own as it's the wrong side of the hills for me, but there are loads of places to get grub, and you can nip into Kirkby Lonsdale if you're desperate. I would point out that one rider (Paul Cre) rode straight through on Sunday night last year, and at the time I thought "What a fucking idiot", but after dealing with the crazy trucks on the A683 round Caton, then Monday morning rush hour in Lancaster, I kinda thought he might have done the right thing.
I'll be helping at Sedbergh at some point, anyway, so I'll hopefully
get to point and laugh see you lot. As ESL points out, there's a massive Spar at the western end of Sedbergh which you'll pass on day 1 at your left - great for grabbing any pocket food. EDIT: it opens 7 till 9, so it mightn't be open for many of you when you pass.
*They may not have a stamp