Coast to coast cycling holiday across Lancashire and Yorkshire
Please feel free to download our Way of the Roses information PDF
The Way of the Roses is a 170 mile (274 km) route through some of the most scenic and historic places in England. Open Road Open Skies offer flexible cycling holidays across the Way of the Roses for groups of all sizes. Beginning in Lancashire coastal town of Morecambe it crosses the northern edge of the Forest of Bowland, through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales and Nidderdale, across the Vale of York as well as passing over the Yorkshire Wolds on it’s way to the Yorkshire coastal town of Bridlington on the east coast.
It’s a tour of differing terrain, fantastic views and historical cities, not to mention the picturesque towns and villages you pass through along the way. The Yorkshire Dales is a glorious place to cycle; changing colours throughout the day, dry stone walls in unbelievable numbers, roads snaking up hills, not to mention the welcome, food and local brews. The cities of York and Lancaster need no introduction and are fabulous places to visit, full of fantastic history and buildings, and members of England’s thirteen Heritage Cities.
OROS Way of the Roses tours recommended in The Guardian
Prices Per Person Sharing
DAYS / NIGHTS | AVG DAILY DISTANCE | COST | COST |
2 / 1 | 84 miles | £325 | £245 |
3 / 2 | 56 miles | £385 | £295 |
4 / 3 | 42.5 miles | £465 | £345 |
5 / 4 | 34 miles | £525 | £395 |
6 / 5 | 28.5 miles | £585 | £445 |
With our tour options ranging from two to six days, you have the choice of how fast you would like to cycle, you will find below the different options along with a detailed route itinerary. Also, near the bottom of the page, you can find youtube videos of some different parts of the route you will take cycling across the Way of the Roses.
Please get in touch with us for group prices or if you have any questions about this tour, you can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For our Way of the Roses supported tour and costs please click: Way of the Roses Supported Tour
Being between Lancaster and Morecambe, one mile from the start point of the Way of the Roses, we consider this one of our home tours. We know the Way of the Roses route inside out; having completed it a number of times by bike and driven it countless times, we consider ourselves to be experts on the route, the available accommodation and diversions that can be taken along the way. If you do have any questions or queries on this beautiful coast to coast tour, please do get in touch and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
*or equivalent journey, please enquire
Tour Notes and Set 3-6 Day Tour Options
Way of the Roses - Three Day Tour
DAY 1 | Morecambe - Grassington | 50 miles / 80 km |
DAY 2 | Grassington - York | 62 miles / 100 km |
DAY 3 | York - Bridlington | 61 miles / 98 km |
170 miles in 3 days doesn't leave much time for hanging around and is recommended for more experienced cyclists looking to put in longer days on the saddle. Averaging 57 miles a day, it's a tour that's all go.
This spectacular coast to coast tour takes in the historical Red Rose county of Lancashire and White Rose county of York, while passing through the Forest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales national park among other areas of natural beauty. The trip begins on the west coast in Morecambe and finishes over 170 miles later on the east coast, cycling on traffic-free paths, on-road cycle lanes, country lanes and quieter roads.
It's a tour through English history, both ecological and political. Places formed over eons and places formed by the politics of their time. Its an adventure where you are made to feel at home by the warm northern welcome you receive in towns such as Settle, Rippon, Boroughbridge and Bridlington.
* All prices per person based on two people sharing.Tour Details
Start Date: Anytime
Type: Self-guided
Cost:
- £385
- £295
Holiday Duration: Three Days Cycling Two nights B&B
Start point: Morecambe
Challenge Rating: 4/5
Distance: 170 miles / 274 km
Phone +441524424117
Way of the Roses - Four Day Tour
DAY 1 | Morecambe - Airton | 41 miles / 66 km |
DAY 2 | Airton - Boroughbridge | 46 miles / 74 km |
DAY 3 | Boroughbridge - Pocklington | 40miles / 64 km |
DAY 4 | Pocklington - Bridlington | 43 miles / 69 km |
A four day trip across the north is a challenge, with distances averaging 40 miles a day. Depending on how fast you turn those pedals and how much you stop to drink in the beautiful surroundings, it can leave you with lots of time for sampling the way of life in these hills and visiting the sites spread all over this route.
* All prices per person based on two people sharing.Tour Details
Start Date: Anytime
Type: Self-guided
Cost:
- £465
- £345
Holiday Duration: Four Days Cycling Three nights B&B
Start point: Morecambe
Challenge Rating: 3.5/5
Distance: 170 miles / 274 km
Phone +441524424117
Way of the Roses - Five Day Tour
DAY 1 | Morecambe - Settle | 35 miles / 56 km |
DAY 2 | Settle - Pateley Bridge | 27 miles / 43 km |
DAY 3 | Pateley Bridge - York | 47 miles / 75 km |
DAY 4 | York - Hutton Cranswick | 35 miles / 56 km |
DAY 5 | Hutton Cranswick - Bridlington | 25 miles / 40 km |
Cruising from the Irish Sea to the North Sea over 5 days gives you plenty of time and ample opportunity to see, sample and discover the places and culture which the North has become famous for. Averaging less than 35 miles a day gives you time to stop, look, wonder and question.
* All prices per person based on two people sharing.
Tour Details
Start Date: Anytime
Type: Self-guided
Cost:
- £525
- £395
Holiday Duration: Five Days Cycling Four nights B&B
Start point: Morecambe
Challenge Rating: 3/5
Distance: 170 miles / 274 km
Phone +441524424117
Way of the Roses - Six Day Tour
DAY 1 | Morecambe - Settle | 35 miles / 56 km |
DAY 2 | Settle - Pateley Bridge | 27 miles / 43 km |
DAY 3 | Pateley Bridge - Boroughbridge | 25 miles / 40 km |
DAY 4 | Boroughbridge - York | 20 miles / 32 km |
DAY 5 | York - Hutton Cranswick | 35 miles / 56 km |
DAY 6 | Hutton Cranswick - Bridlington | 25 miles / 40 km |
Stroll across the North on the this 6 day adventure. Averaging just over 25 miles daily gives you all the time you need to see and discover the numerous historical and cultural places you pass on your journey to the North Sea
* All prices per person based on two people sharing.
Tour Details
Start Date: Anytime
Type: Self-guided
Cost:
- £585
- £445
Holiday Duration: Six Days Cycling Five nights B&B
Start point: Morecambe
Challenge Rating: 3/5
Distance: 170 miles / 274 km
Phone +447421095838
Way of the Roses - Tour Notes
After a good night's sleep in Morecambe(or an early train ride) you set off inland from the Irish sea to Lancaster, where a short detour into the city is both possible and recommended. From Lancaster the route climbs and follows the northern edge of the Forest of Bowland through the Forest villages Hornby and Wray. If your vision is as good as some of the birds here, you may very well spot hen harriers gliding over the ground, the short-eared owl or – if you're really sharp-eyed – a peregrine falcon flying high overhead; as well as views of the Yorkshire Dales. You then pass into Yorkshire and onto the picture postcard village of Clapham, which sits underneath Ingleborough Mountain. From Clapham we have a short ride to Austwick before the road gently rises up towards the Market town of Settle.
Leaving Settle, you meet probably the hardest climb of the trip. Not everyone makes it up to the top in the saddle, especially after the full English breakfast in Settle, so there's no shame in getting off and pushing for a bit. Then there's a nice gentle descent to Airton. The riding here is undulating as you pass through more villages such as Burnsalland Appletreewick. Once you leave Appletreewick you will be on the climb into the Nidderdale to the highest part of the tour (1312ft or 404m) from which you have a very steep descent into Pateley Bridge, so caution and braking are required here.
At this stage, while leaving Pateley Bridge, it is good to know that while the mountain isn't quite beaten yet, the remaining climbs shade into comparison. Having said that, there are another couple of climbs leaving Pateley Bridge. Heading towards Riponyou pass the curious Briham's balancing rocks before finding yourself in more of a pastoral landscape that surrounds the cathedral city of Ripon.
After Ripon the cycling becomes much easier as you exit The Pennines and find yourself cycling through The Vale of York towards, well, York. The journey here continues to pass through quaint picturesque villages like Boroughbridge, the halfway point, where as with other towns it's nice to stop for a cup of tea and maybe to take some photos. On the way to York you pass over the River Ouse, using the small Aldwark toll bridge, which is free for cyclists but you are asked to stop before crossing. Just after Overton, you turn to the right and follow the signposted traffic-free path which takes you right into York, and almost to the Minster itself.
You use the traffic free bridge to cross the River Foss leaving York and the cycling contiues to be easy while passing through more countryside villages until you come to Polkington, about 20 miles outside of York. Here the road again rises, this time into The Yorkshire Wolds, a series of low-lying hills. You continue your gentle undulating climb towards Huggate. Keep an eye out for Red Kites flying overhead. Now it's plain sailing or cycling and mostly downhill to Driffield.
Out of Driffield, the next village you visit is Harpham, the home of St. John, and the Well of the same name. Now you are closing in on Bridlington, your destination, but first you rise one more time into the wolds where sea weather permitting, you will get your first glimpse of The North Sea and Bridlington Bay. You pass through the trees that inspired some of David Hockney's pictures before cruising into Bridlington for a well earned ice cream and a pat on the back.

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