The Best way Cross-Country

[Andy OC]

Hello everyone,
I hope this is the right place for this....
I'm looking to cycle Newcastle - Liverpool in the near future, with my route taking me on a route I've done before to Bradford and then west via Manchester to Liverpool.
Does this sound like a sensible route? I'd like to try and keep it as flat as possible, even if it does cost me a few more miles.
I had considered heading across to Carlisle and heading all the way down the coast but i've not really got any experience of cycling around that neck of the woods. At least I am familiar with my route to Bradford.

What do you guys think?
Cheers
Andy

 

[PaulSB]

Interesting as the two main routes are opposite sides of a rectangle. I'd guess your route to Bradford would be fairly flat but then you have to shadow the Pennines for quite a distance as you head west.

My gut feeling would be to go west to Carlisle, shadowing the A69, and then head south. Once west of Hexham you might shorten the route by heading down to Penrith rather than carrying on to Carlisle. Following this route the only major climb I can think of is Shap, though I'm sure there will be others

 

[oakroyd]

Just a thought, by going down the Eastern side of the Pennines you may be able to shelter from the element slightly. Going south through Cumbria and Lancashire may be straight into the wind.

I've always thought of going westward down the A59 but this would involve a few hills so may not be ideal.