SLOTHO rides West: Day 1 – The Cinder Track (Scarborough to Whitby)

When

I started this tour in the middle of November 2024. It came about a week after returning from my trip to London with my Brompton. In the intervening days I had rather tentatively done my regular 96 mile round trip to Barnsdale for a free coffee; successfully returning from that confirmed that my knee could again cope with the distance and duration, although I was even slower than my normal “steady” pace – especially on hills!

Why

This summer I had planned to complete some of the many coast-to-coast cycle routes which are on the National Cycle Network. I was first thwarted by weather, and then when a perfect forecast turned up I set off, only to turn back after 30 miles due to a muscle strain (unfortunately I had returned from my European trip feeling superfit and was just pushing a bit too hard!). I missed that weather window, missed more good weather due to knee problems referred to in my “Yorkshire Ruins”  video and was feeling a bit disappointed  as Autumn signalled the end of the season for long tours.

What

A few days of good cycling weather with NE winds was forecast. I noticed a line of hostels running from Whitby to Llanberis which I thought I could link into a multi-day ride. Scarborough was easier to get to by train than Whitby, and that would enable me to spend half a day on the Cinder Track ride. At the other end of the ride, it would be mainly downhill from Llanberis Pass to Bangor station for a train home.

Staying at Youth Hostels would keep the cost down, but  meant I would not be able to just follow one of the established cycleroutes all the way across. But cycle.travel generated what appeared to be satisfactory routes from hostel to hostel. A quick check showed that all of the hostels had space on the nights required – I was probably helped there by being so late in the season. I checked the forecast at about 10pm  and then made all my bookings.

How

Next morning I caught the train. I was laden down with basic dry food for 5 nights and a huge bag of sandwiches – I realised that few cafes would be open, and that with the limited daylight I would not necessarily be able to spare  time for shopping for food (although I did try to buy some fresh stuff most nights).

On the train I looked at the forecast again – it had changed completely. Today was now cloudy and drizzly (the wind was still NE, but that was against me anyway for today). The fine weather would follow – but only for 1 to 2 days and the wind would turn  West. Oh joy… Clearly completing the ride was in the balance, but I might as well start as one has to give 2 days notice to get a refund from YHA!

The Cinder Track ride was uneventful really, beyond what is shown in the video. I didn’t (quite) need waterproofs and wasn’t cold. I had plenty of time so I went slowly and spent a lot of time on filming.

I was sad not to be able to use my EH membership to look round the abbey. In fact, YHA guests can get a free pass to visit the abbey, but I needed to leave too early in the morning to avail myself.

Who

I rarely remember names of people I meet, but there was:

A man who volunteered at lots of hostels;

An American who always tried to stay at Whitby when he came to the UK – he was a wood turner who made pens from acrylic or resin impregnated wood;

A school party whose staff made me a hot chocolate at bedtime (not my bed time – the children’s!).