MEP conquer the Coast to Coast challenge

20 May 2024

Undaunted by the promise of ‘the highest and hardest climbs in the country – often several of them in one day’  the MEP team took on the epic C2C challenge this May to raise money for our chosen charity of 2024, Dementia UK. The C2C bike ride is a long-distance cycle path which links the Irish sea in the West to the North Sea in the east and comprises over 235 km in length with an elevation gain exceeding 3600 metres.   Completing the event in 3 days was always going to be a challenge and our team training sessions began in earnest during the wet spring.

Spirits were high on day one as we departed Whitehaven, riding 88 km and climbing over 1,300 metres through the glorious Lake District National Park, past the stunning Helvellyn mountain range. Stopping for lunch at the beautiful town of Keswick, we descended into Penrith for a well earned nights rest, where we were rewarded with an excellent curry.

Day two proved to be even more challenging as we travelled through the North Pennines, conquering the 580 metre Hartside Pass, before being faced by what seemed like endless steep inclines and descents through the stunning countryside of Cumbria and Durham.  This stage involved around 75 km with over 1,700 metres of climbing, with a headwind which lasted the entire day.

After an overnight stop, our now somewhat weary legs were immediately challenged by a brutal climb out of Stanhope.  We were relieved to discover however that this was the last significant climb of the event, as after joining the old Waskerley Way railway line, it was pretty much downhill all the way into Newcastle and from there on to the finish at Tynemouth.  

Should you wish to donate to our very worthy cause, please follow the link below;

https://www.justgiving.com/team/morg