Tours Update
Earby, 5-8 April – this tour is now fully booked. To add your name to the reserves list please email garethdent@gmail.com
Slaidburn, 17-20 May
Slaidburn sits in the heart of the Forest of Bowland and was last visited by the club in 2017. There are 30 places available. Details of the hostel are here: https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-slaidburn
This tour is booking up but there are still places available. We have some great routes planned for Saturday and Sunday to some iconic cafes – see first two photos.
There are three possibilities for getting to Slaidburn with a group leaving from Sheffield (approximately 120km/75 miles), a group leaving from Hebden Bridge railway station (approximately 50km/31 miles) or following a route to be provided from Long Preston railway station (approximately 16km/10miles). All train services are Northern Railways and so no bicycle reservations are necessary.
The price is £75 and includes three nights accommodation, three breakfasts, two evening meals and tea/coffee and snacks. A pub meal will be booked for one evening.
To book a place, transfer £75 to the Sheffield CTC bank account
Sort code 08-92-99.
Account no 65439483
Then please email garethdent@gmail.com to confirm that you have booked, any dietary requirements, your mobile phone number and the name and phone number of an emergency contact. If you went to Claxby and your details haven’t changed, you just need to say that you have booked.
A note on refunds. To keep the prices as low as possible all places are sold on a no refund basis. If after booking you find you cannot go, we will endeavour to resell your place and refund you. If at the last minute you cannot attend for health reasons, we will look to provide a partial refund from any surplus on the trip.
Any questions please ask.
Expressions of Interest: Cycle Tour to Carlisle, June 2024
If you have ever wanted to try cycle touring but commercial tours seemed too long or too expensive, then we may have just the tour for you! This tour can be joined in Sheffield to attend the York Cycle Rally 2024, or at York Racecourse, Harrogate or Settle after the rally.
The York Rally Cycle 2024 is at York Racecourse, from Friday 21 June to Sunday 23 June 2024: https://yorkrally.org/ The rally features Saturday and Sunday graded rides and the opportunity to meet fellow cyclists from around the UK. Bike and accessory sales, trade stands, talks and entertainment are all there too!
Optional camping at the rally can be booked here; https://yorkrally.org/visitor-information/campsite-bookings/ and includes the night of Sunday 23 June.
York also has a wide range of other accommodation and is easily accessible by train. The arrangements to cycle as a group from Sheffield to the York rally on the morning of Friday 21 June will be provided nearer the time, as will the return cycle ride to Sheffield for those not wishing to cycle tour to Carlisle.
Following the rally, at 09:00 am on Monday 24 June, we will begin a 3-day cycle tour from York Racecourse to Carlisle, with additional joining points at Harrogate and Settle for those who do not wish to attend the rally and/or seek a shorter cycling distance on Day 1.
Day 1: Monday 24 June 2024 to Helwith Bridge, North Yorkshire
Monday’s cycle ride will pass through some of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales to our comfortable, tried and tested bunkhouse accommodation (£10!!) in Helwith Bridge near Settle. Basic camping (no facilities bar a loo) is £3 or a separate, basic bunkhouse with the same facilities as the camping is also available at £5.
Approx. cycling distances/departure times to Helwith Bridge are; from York Racecourse 70 miles departing at 09:00, or from Harrogate it’s 45 miles departing at 13:00, or from Settle 5 miles departing at 17:00.
Monday’s bunkhouse accommodation can be booked here; https://yssuk.com/accom/booking-request.html
or, the basic camping/basic bunkhouse can be booked here; https://www.helwithbridgeinn.co.uk/campingbunks/
Settle and Horton-in-Ribblesdale are both approx. 5 miles away from Helwith Bridge for those seeking other accommodation.
Monday’s dinner options include self-bought and self-catering – Settle has a range of food shops – or enjoying a meal at the above Helwith Bridge Inn.
Day 2: Tuesday 25 June 2024 on to Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria
We will begin the day with a self-bought/self-catered breakfast, or breakfast may be available at the Inn if there is sufficient demand.
We will then cycle around 30 miles, exploring more of the stunning Yorkshire Dales National Park to Kirkby Stephen. This highly scenic tour is alongside the Settle-Carlisle railway with stations enroute to reduce the cycling mileage if required, or to provide an early exit from the tour. We will stop at cafes for refreshments and – subject to demand – arrange for an evening ride for those seeking a more challenging day!
Tuesday’s bunkhouse accommodation can be booked here for £28; https://independent hostels.co.uk/members/kirkbystephenhostel/
or, camping can be booked here, £12.50 https://www.pennineviewpark.co.uk/
Alternatively, Kirkby Stephen offers other accommodation options that can also be booked directly.
Day 3: Wednesday 26 June 2024 on to Carlisle Cathedral City
Breakfast and lunch options will be as Tuesday. Kirkby Stephen has a choice of food shops to replenish our supplies.
Kirkby Stephen to Carlisle is approx. 50 miles of cycling, as always with rail options to reduce the daily cycling mileage. On arrival in Carlisle, there are rail services back to Sheffield. Alternatively some may like to spend some time exploring this historical city, enjoy a well-deserved longer meal, or even stay overnight given that we might not be permitted to board one train with all of our bikes!
At this stage, please could expressions of interest be sent to iandstocks@gmail.com . We hope to see you there!