The three friends rode Walney to Wear in late April and then the Whitby option from Barnard Castle in
September.  Mike says: ‘I reckon that Bigland is probably the most demanding climb on the route
(despite its familiarity – I live 4 miles from it), although the steep rise returning through Durham and
the climb out of Hamsterley are much sharper. Tan Hill is long but there’s plenty of recovery available,
it can be tough into the wind though.’