Just a few images and words as we slowly pedal our way around the coast of Britain
Its a little place to look back on the rides we’ve done and hopefully inspire others to join us in the future, wether that’s on a bike, by supporting A Bit of a Break or both. EVERYONE is most welcome. Send us an email if you would like to keep up to date.
The Welsh Riviera
Shotton to Llandudno Junction Date:10th September 2022Distance53 MilesAscent1700ftLighthousesTalacre & The Great OrmeRidersJane, Steve & Me So. We are cycling all the coastline of mainland Britain but not necessarily in the same order, or for that matter in the same direction. The North Wales coast is a dead cert to do in west to east as…
Six Estuaries
Sittingbourne to Colchester Date:4th – 6th July 2022Distance123 MilesAscent3850ftLighthousesNoneRidersJane & Me Its often tricky to name the rides. This section also covers the Medway, Roach, Crouch, Blackwater and Colne Estuaries but its is the Thames that is most poignant, a great river that feels forgotten after winding its way majestically through the capital. It seems…
East Sussex & Kent South
Brighton to Dover Date:4th – 6th July 2022Distance123 MilesAscent3850ftLighthousesNoneRidersJane & Me I love Trains. We shut the front door and made our way to Ben Ryhdding Station. Into Leeds and off to London. Lunch in Borough Market then on to Brighton. The sun was shining the seafront was a happy place. Blues skies, white cliffs…
Snowdonia, North & South
Conwy to Pontlyfni & Llanystumdwy to Phenrhyndeudreath DATE:19th – 20th April 2022DISTANCE:105 MilesASCENT:6375ftLIGHTHOUSES:NoneRIDERS:Jane & Me “Lets do a 2 day circular tour, then we don’t need to use trains, then we can get a big crew together”. things got in the way of the plan and just the 2 of us drove through the Castle…
Solway North
Carlisle to Dumfries Date:19th March 2022Distance49 MilesAscent1350ftLighthousesNoneRidersJane & Me Carlisle is a friendly place. Lots of people doing that eye contact thing, wishing us a good morning, a group of kids waved us on our way sat on their garden wall and a man fixing his garden gate lent us his oil to lubricate Janes squeaky…
Tyne & Wear
Middlesborough to South Shields Date:15th January 2022Distance54 MilesAscent1725ftLighthousesPilot Pier, Heugh, Seaton, Roker Pier, Seaham, Souter, South Tyne Pier, Herd Groyne.RidersRob, Lindsey, Tim, Bryan, Jane & Me We lifted ice covered bikes off the roof of our cars at 9am saturday morning in a foggy, rough industrial estate car park. It wasn’t looking like a belter.…
Forth Estuary
Newhaven to Grangemouth Date:31st October 2021Distance30 MilesAscent825ftLighthousesGrantonRidersJane & Me Trains to Glasgow were full so we headed up to Edinburgh with our trusty fold up bikes to ride between the two cities. The capital is on a hill so its a joyous fizz along a brilliant network of cycleways to Newhaven. A limp egg sarnie…
South Gare
Saltburn to Middlesborough Date:31st October 2021Distance49 MilesAscent1075ftLighthousesSouth GareRidersRob, Paul, Anna, Jane & Me Guisborough Forest looks like a right place to go for a ride. We will return. Our ride took us away from the trails and out to Saltburn via beautiful leafy victorian housing and steep switchbacks down to the coast. The sea was big…
Bridlington Bay
Hull to Bempton Date:11th sept 2021Distance49 MilesAscent1075ftLighthousesChalk Tower, Flamborough HeadRidersJane & Me Hull station was full of people in their finery. We were heading out, everyone else heading off to the Doncaster races. Sam fixed his puncture on the disused railway line to Heddon by stabbing his tyre with a thick needle! Tubeless tyres are…
Kent East & North
Dover to Sittingbourne Date:21st & 23rd July 2021Distance74 MilesAscent2050ftLighthousesSouth Foreland, Ramsgate, North Foreland & MargateRidersJack, Jane & Me Most of us will have driven on to the ferry to cross the channel dreaming of sunshine. Dover seafront is a fine place. Clear calm seas, beautiful natural planting, people out and about getting in their exercise…
Duddon Moss
Foxfield to Kirkby in Furness Date:15th July 2021Distance6 MilesAscent100ftLighthousesNoneRidersJane & Me Just a little ride and a cheeky pint in the evening sunshine to join up the Furness and Millom rides.
West Cumbria
Ravenglass to Carlisle Date:4-5th July 2021Distance104 MilesAscent2850ftLighthousesSt Bees, Whitehaven, Maryport, Cote & Lees ScarRidersJane & Me It seems a bit wrong getting up at 6am on a Sunday driving up to the Lakes only to drive out the other side! Parking up at Maryport we made our way to the station but not before picking…
Furness Peninsula
Ulverston to Kirkby in Furness Date:9th May 2021Distance52 MilesAscent2300ftLighthousesWalneyRidersWill, Ruth, Anna, Ollie, Kate, Dan, Mel, Juliet, Jane & Me Ok so Walney Island isn’t mainland. I KNOW!…but you can walk over to it at low tide, so in my world it counts! Its good being able to make up the rules. Ulverston is a proper…
North York Moors
Saltburn to Whitby Date:10th August 2020Distance55 MilesAscent4675ftLighthousesWhitby North Pier & Whitby South PierRidersLindsey, Rob, Jane & Me We cycled up the hill we had just driven down into Castleton in the North York Moors. Its a toughy and I thought it was best to get it out of the way early doors. On to the…
Sussex Bay
Bognor Regis to Brighton Date:4th August 2020Distance35 MilesAscent275ftLighthousesKingston & LittlehamptonRidersJack, Jane & Me We had people to meet in Brighton, so it was an early start. This ride was most definitely pan flat, and for the majority right up against the coast. We hit 12.6mph average speed….unheard of….we usually struggle to do 10! The speed…
The Langstone & Portsmouth Harbours
Warsash to Chichester date: 4th August 2020 distance: 41 miles ascent: 675ft lighthouses: Southsea riders: Jane, Emily, Jack & Me. Date:4th August 2020Distance41 MilesAscent675ftLighthousesSouthseaRidersJane, Emily, Jack & Me Train from Chichester to Swanick, then down hill to the Solent. Through woods and fields before ‘Eating Out to Help Out’ in a windy pub garden by…
The Manhood Peninsula
Chichester to Bognor Regis Date:3rd August 2020Distance36 MilesAscent425ftLighthousesNoneRidersJane & Me A little break between lockdowns provided us with an opportunity to go on holiday. The only house left in the country we could afford was in Chichester. Well, it ended being a smashing house, and an opportunity to ride some coast. We pedalled out along…
Norfolk North Coast
Burnham Overy Staithe to Kings Lynn date: 18th July 2020 distance: 35 miles ascent: 350ft lighthouses: Hunstanton riders: Jane & Me. Date:18th July 2020Distance35 MilesAscent350ftLighthousesHunstantonRidersJane & Me Sometimes, if the roads are mad we cut inland to find quiet lanes. We prefer to enjoy the riding if possible. The lane over the tops (we are…
Norfolk East Coast
Ingham to Burnham Overy Staithe Date:17th July 2020Distance50 MilesAscent1725ftLighthousesCromer & HappisburghRidersJane & Me After another guilt free big breakfast we headed straight for the coast and on to Happisburgh which is actually pronounced Haze-borough!!! Why oh why? If it was Grimburgh, I could understand. Anyway its a place with a very happy looking red and…
Suffolk Coast
Suffolk Coast Date:16th July 2020Distance69 milesAscent1500ft LighthousesSouthwold, Winterton, Gorlestone & LowestoftRidersJane & Me Jez cooked us up an amazing breakfast to set us on our way, only to be scuppered by a puncture. It was a late start that meant we shot through Aldeburgh without giving it time, something that needs rectifying in the near…
Essex into Suffolk
Clacton on Sea to Aldeburgh date: 15th July 2020 distance: 72 miles ascent: 1700ft lighthouses: Naze Tower, Dovercourt High, Dovercort Low, Harwich High, Harwich Low & Orford Ness riders: Jane & Me. Date:15th July 2020Distance72 MilesAscent1700ftLighthousesNaze Tower, Dovercourt High, Dovercourt Low, Harwich High, Harwich Low & Orford NessRidersJane & Me Clacton Holiday Inn was comfortable…
Colne Estuary
Colchester to Clacton on Sea Date:14th July 2020Distance22 milesAscent675ft LighthousesNoneRidersJane & Me We escaped for a few days to cycle the Norfolk Coast. A drive down to Kings Lynn and 3 trains later we were peddling frantically out of Colchester to meet a tiny ferry make its last crossing of the day to take us…
North Wash
Boston to Skegness date: 5th July 2020 distance: 35 miles ascent: 350ft lighthouses: None riders: Jane & Me. Date:5th July 2020Distance35 milesAscent350ft LighthousesNoneRidersJane & Me It was during this time in the project when Covid started really getting in the way. The joy of riding and exploring with friends and family was not an option.…
Scarborough
Bempton to Whitby Date:18th July 2020Distance61 milesAscent13475ft LighthousesScarborough & Whitby HighRidersJane & Me Most of the rides are designed as circular routes working with estuaries and peninsulas, or if its a straight coast we use trains to get back to the start, the coastline is remarkably well connected by rail. There are occasions, however, when…
The Thames
Gravesend to Trinity Buoy Date:20th April 2019Distance29 milesAscent650ft LighthousesTrinity BuoyRidersJane & Me From the Humber Estuary we headed down to the Thames Estuary. A train from St Pancras took us out to Gravesend and we pedalled back into the capital watching the city build before us. We headed along the south bank and in glorious…
The Humber
Goole to Hull Date:27th January 2019Distance51 milesAscent900ft LighthousesTrent Falls & WhitgiftRidersGraham, Tim, Jane, Me & almost Rachel After a long drive to Goole, Rachel proceeded to get the next train home, dog issues. Nightmare. We had amazing weather and a kind westerly pushing us out to the coast (sorry Rachel). Not sure what Graham felt…
The Wirral
Ellesmere Port to Neston Date:27th December 2018Distance49 milesAscent1275ft LighthousesBirkenhead, New Brighton, Leasowe, Hoylake High & Ellesmere PortRidersAnt, Juliet, Dan, Helen, Jane, Sam, Rachel, Cathy, John, Rachel, Paddy, Richard, Gemma, Catherine, Chris, Ben, Joe, Dan, Jack, Emily & Me This is the largest ride so far, involving 20 cyclists. It was another peninsula which helps with…
Kent & Leven Estuaries
Arnside to Ulverston date: 1st December 2018 distance: 33 miles ascent: 2075ft lighthouses: None riders: Jane,Mel, Simon & Me Date:1st December 2018Distance33 milesAscent2075ft LighthousesNoneRidersSimon, Mel, Jane & Me Next up was Grange, this joined up the Arnside ride to Millom, there are very few photos, there were no lighthouses…..it just rained and rained and rained.…
Millom Peninsula
Foxfield to Ravenglass Date:31st October 2018Distance29 milesAscent950ft LighthousesMillom & HodbarrowRidersDave, Lizzie, Jane & Me Millom Peninsula is right at the bottom of Cumbria its a mix of forgotten towns and villages and amazing views back towards the Lake District, we rode up to Ravenglass via tracks, roads and even a pedal across an estuary.
Ardnamurchan Peninsula
A (sort of) Circular Ride Date:10th October 2018Distance64 milesAscent4925ft LighthousesArdnamurchanRidersJane & Me My advice to you is to never trust a path on a Scottish map. The Ardnamurchan Peninsula ride was probably the toughest so far. It included a bike carry up and over a heather clad col, a failed attempt at a river crossing…
Spurn Point
Roos to Paull Date:30th September 2018Distance61 milesAscent1275ftLighthousesWithernsea, Spurn, Spurn Low Light, Thorngumbald High Light, Thorngumbald High Light & PaullRidersRob, Rose, Tim, Kate, Paula, Cindi, Chris, Jane, Steve, Helen, Emily, Rachel, Bryan, Hollie & Me The rides are usually limited to a maximum of 50 miles. We feel that with a full day, this gives us…
Sunderland Point, Silverdale & Arnside
Lancaster to Arnside Date:1st September 2018Distance35 milesAscent1500ft LighthousesHeysham & MorecambeRidersHollie, Sue, Jane, Ollie, Juliet, Dan, Kate, Rachel, Bryan, Lindsey & Kate Sunderland Point, which isn’t anywhere near Sunderland is an incredible remote spot south of Lancaster on the far side of the Lune estuary. Its one of those places that seems lost in time. The…
Pembrokeshire
Laugharne to Cardigan Date:11th – 19th August 2018Distance198 milesAscent15300ft LighthousesSt Annes, St Annes Head, Strumble Head & FishguardRidersEmily, Jack & Me It wasn’t a great start. I turned around to see Jack sprawled across the road after catching the edge of the tarmac, the bike jack knifed because of the trailer. I think we had…
The Fylde Coast
Preston to Lancaster Date:4th August 2018Distance57 milesAscent1600ft LighthousesFleetwood Beach, Fleetwood Pharos, Plover Scar & Glasson DockRidersJane, Rachel W, Brynny, Dan, Kate, Emily, Juliet, Cindi, Ollie, & Me We set off from Preston station making our way down to the Ribble Estuary and the docks. A fine start followed by the usual section of busy road.…
Coasts & Castles
Newcastle to Edinburgh Date:29th June – 1st July 2018Distance203 MilesAscent8850ftLighthousesNorth Shields HL1, North Shields HL2, North Sheilds LL Tynemouth Whitley Bay Blyth Ambe Seahouses, Bamburgh, Berwick North Pier, St Abbs, Barns Ness, Newhaven, Leith West Breakwater, Leith East BreakwaterRidersSam, Jane, Simon, Jo, Pete, Jonty, Graham & Me On the 29th June 2018 we sort of…
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