Over the Pennines: Nenthead, Allenhead and the moors (Winter C2C Day 5)

Lovelady Shield Country House Hotel set us up for the day with an award winning Brilliant Breakfast
Read more about our visit to this award winning country house hotel here.

Day 5 of our C2C ride saw us riding through the Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, not that we got to see too much of it in the swirling mist that dominated the high moorland. After leaving Alston and Nenthead we headed up and down to Allenshead and Rookhope. After four days riding we finally reached the edge of Cumbria, rode briefly in Northumberland and ended the day in Consett, County Durham.

It was a shame to leave but we had an early appointment up the road in Nenthead 

With Dick Phillips, a specialist in Icelandic Cycle Touring.
He gave us some ideas for our summer tour in Iceland.
And warned us of a tough day ahead climbing over the Pennines. 

Up in the hills it was winter conditions, cool, misty with not much to see

Except the odd border crossing, leaving Cumbria behind after 4 days riding across it  

This is mining country and the evidence is all around, like here in Allenshead

Back on the high fells the boys put the climbing skills they picked up in Keswick to good use 

And found the strangest of objects concealed in the bee hive cairn, a Buddhist geocache?

Down in Rookhope this made us chuckle. But in their defence, it is winter.

Beyond  Rookhope, we tried the off road trail marked by one of the classic C2C milestones 

It was a tough ride off road up and across towards Consett, but we made it eventually.
In the dark, of course.

Have you taken on a family challenge? We'd love to hear about it. Click comments below to tell us more.

See more of our Winter Coast to Coast (C2C) Photo Journals

• Are you a purist or not bothered? 
• Day 1: Setting Out: Workington to Cockermouth
• Day 2: Northern Lakes: Over Whinlatter and into Keswick
• Day 3: In the Shadow of Blencathra: Keswick to Penrith
• Day 4: Goodbye Lakes, Hello Pennines: Penrith to Hartside Summit and Alston
• Day 5: Over the Pennines: Nenthead to Allenhead and onto Consett
• Day 6: Welcome to the North East: Consett to Beamish & Sunderland
• Day 7: The end of the ride: Along the Wear in Sunderland

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We did this C2C ride across England, from Workington to Sunderland, as part of our Family Adventure Capital Season. We're exploring different ways families can adventure together in and around Cumbria, sharing ideas and inspiration to encourage families to get out, get active and adventure together. Got some ideas for things we should try? Let us know.  

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