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Welcome to the Trans Pennine Trail
A national coast to coast route for recreation and transport – for walkers, cyclists and (in part) horse riders
Welcome to the Trans Pennine Trail
A national coast to coast route for recreation and transport – for walkers, cyclists and (in part) horse riders
Welcome
A national coast to coast route for recreation and transport – for walkers, cyclists and (in part) horse riders
Trail Achievements
Celebrating journeys, milestones and memorable moments.
The Trans Pennine Trail is enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities, for many different reasons.
This page celebrates the achievements, journeys and personal milestones of people who have explored the Trail – whether that’s completing a coast‑to‑coast journey, tackling a section close to home, or reaching a personal goal.
Achievements shared here are intended to inspire enjoyment and participation, not competition. Whether your journey was yesterday or 30 years ago, short or long, local or coast‑to‑coast – your experience matters.
The Trans Pennine Trail is a shared, multi‑user route, and should always be used responsibly and considerately.
What we celebrate
We showcase a wide range of achievements, including:
Each achievement is shared in the category that best reflects the experience – not the distance, speed or mode.
🌍 Coast to Coast Journeys
For people who completed the full Trans Pennine Trail — in one trip or many – by any mode and at their own pace.
In June 2015, seven of us from Sheffield Area Social Cycling Group, completed a coast-to-coast cycle from Southport to Hornsea along the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) in four days. We planned and completed the journey, using the TPT map’s & website.
Highlights & challenges:
One rider fell off his bike and buckled the front wheel. We also got lost around Manchester and Hull.
Submitted by: Lorraine Hague
In May 2026, a group completed the Trans Pennine Trail from Southport to Hornsea over four days. The riders included Jessica Coultas (age 16), Sasha Coats (age 15), Sebastian Coultas (age 11) and Charmaine Coultas (age 40), making it a fantastic multi-generational achievement.
Highlights & challenges:
The cycle was completed on 27th May 2026 and was organised by Jessica to raise money for Dove House Hospice, combining a personal challenge with fundraising for a meaningful cause.
Submitted by: Jessica and Sebastian Coultas
In June 2026, I completed the full Trans Pennine Trail from Southport to Hornsea, travelling West to East by bike. I rode my Tern Verge folding bike and covered around 60–70km each day while carrying all my gear and staying in hotels along the way.
Highlights & challenges:
It was a rewarding challenge, with some sections proving more difficult due to muddy surfaces and wet grass. These conditions made parts of the route slippery, causing a lot of sliding and a few minor falls, but I successfully completed the full route while cycle packing across several days.
Submitted by: Leigh K
In June 2026, we completed the full coast-to-coast Trans Pennine Trail route from Southport to Hornsea in a single continuous journey. We set off from Southport on the morning of Friday 19th June and arrived in Hornsea on Saturday 20th June, travelling through the day and night.
Highlights & challenges:
This was an idea that my friend Mike and I had for some time, and this weekend it became a reality. We were fortunate with the weather overall, although we faced a headwind heading towards Liverpool. A mechanical issue in Hadfield briefly threatened to end our challenge, but thanks to a huge effort from Mike’s wife, Caren – who dismantled a bike at home and drove to meet us at Dunford Bridge with a replacement part – we were able to continue.
Riding through the night from Dunford Bridge to Snaith in complete darkness was a memorable experience, made easier by our familiarity with that section of the Trail. As the sun rose over Selby, we were rewarded with a clear and beautiful morning that carried us through to Hornsea. The journey didn’t quite end there, as we then continued along the coast to catch a train home before completing the final stretch back from the station.
The full route covered over 230 miles across the Trail, making for a challenging but very rewarding experience.
Submitted by: Damo
In June 2026, I completed the full Trans Pennine Trail from Southport to Hornsea by bike over five days, averaging around 50 miles per day. Travelling solo, I stayed overnight in Southport, Sale, Barnsley, Selby and Hull before reaching Hornsea and completing my coast-to-coast journey.
Highlights & challenges:
The journey was thoroughly enjoyable and gave me the opportunity to meet a range of people along the way, from fellow Trail users completing their own adventures to local people out enjoying a day on the Trans Pennine Trail. Planning was an important part of the challenge. Before setting off, I purchased the official paper maps, which were invaluable for planning my GPS routes and breaking the Trail into manageable daily sections. I booked accommodation and train travel in advance, regularly checked the Trans Pennine Trail website for updates, and used the Stamping Scheme locations to help structure each day’s ride. Thankfully, everything went according to plan, with just a single puncture along the way. I travelled to Southport by train and returned home from Hull after completing the route at Hornsea. The Trail was well supported throughout, and I would highly recommend the experience to anyone considering a coast-to-coast cycling adventure.
Submitted by: Stuart Dunkley
In June 2026, Two Blokes, One Tandem, One Goal completed the full coast-to-coast Trans Pennine Trail route from Southport to Hornsea on a tandem bike, covering the 215-mile journey in support of Sight Support Hull & East Yorkshire.
Highlights & challenges:
Ten years earlier, the pair had completed the Trans Pennine Trail together over three days on mountain bikes. At the time, they were relatively inexperienced, carried only the essentials and relied on the Trail’s waymarking to guide them from coast to coast. Despite their lack of preparation, everything seemed to fall into place, with just one missed turning and no mechanical problems along the way.
One of the biggest mental challenges of that first ride came towards the very end, when the route passed close to both of their homes in Hull before continuing on to Hornsea. Riding past the comfort of home, knowing there was still more of the official route to complete, was tough, but finishing the Trail properly was never in question. That experience stayed with them and helped inspire their return a decade later.
This time, the challenge was different. Luke was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at the age of four and was registered blind by the time he was sixteen. Although he could no longer ride independently, his love of cycling had never disappeared. The tandem gave both riders the chance to take on the Trail together, with teamwork, trust and communication at the heart of the journey.
Setting out on the full coast-to-coast route by tandem brought plenty of physical and mental challenges. They faced setbacks along the way and had to keep pushing through difficult moments, but their shared determination carried them forward. The experience tested them both, but it also made reaching the finish even more meaningful.
Completing the full route on a tandem was a proud achievement and a powerful reminder of what teamwork, resilience and a shared goal can make possible. Their efforts also raised more than £2,500 for Sight Support Hull & East Yorkshire, supporting a cause closely connected to their journey.
Submitted by: Two Blokes, One Tandem, One Goal
In July 2026, Ruth completed a coast-to-coast Trans Pennine Trail challenge by cycling from Southport to Stockport, then from Hornsea back to Stockport, with a walk up Snowdon included as part of the adventure.
Highlights & challenges:
This was a memorable multi-part journey, combining long-distance cycling on the Trans Pennine Trail with the added challenge of reaching the summit of Snowdon along the way. Taking on the route in two sections gave Ruth the chance to experience the Trail from both directions, travelling from the west coast towards Stockport before returning from the east coast.
Ruth described the Trail as a brilliant route and a pleasure to complete, with its largely traffic-free sections making the journey enjoyable and rewarding. The combination of cycling and walking added variety to the challenge and made it a distinctive personal achievement.
The challenge brought together adventure, endurance and the enjoyment of exploring the Trans Pennine Trail, highlighting the appeal of the route for long-distance cycling and active travel.
Submitted by: Ruth G
🧭 Section by Section Explorers
For people who explored the Trail gradually over time – completing sections locally or in stages, without a single start‑to‑finish journey.
🚶 Walking Journeys
For journeys made mainly on foot – from short local walks to longer connected routes.
In summer 2026, I walked sections of the TPT from Southport to Doncaster and from Hull to Hornsea. I took on the challenge while walking in support of the RSPCA.
Highlights & challenges:
This walking challenge gave me the chance to experience different parts of the Trail, from the route between Southport and Doncaster through to the final stretch from Hull to Hornsea, while raising awareness and support for the RSPCA.
Submitted by: Neil Stinson
🚴 Cycling Journeys
For journeys completed by bike, adapted cycle or handcycle, focusing on the experience rather than speed or distance.
In September 2024, we completed a seven-day cycle packing journey along the Trans Pennine Trail from Southport to Hull. Cycling over the Woodhead Pass and riding into Penistone was especially memorable, with dramatic contrasts between high winds and calm stretches. Penistone quickly became our favourite place along the route.
Highlights & challenges:
We enjoyed mostly kind weather throughout the trip. After travelling by train from our Oxfordshire home to Southport, we stayed in seven different hotels as we cycled through Lancashire, the Derbyshire Dales and on to Hull. The experience reinforced the importance of travelling light when cycle packing.
Submitted by: Robin & Barbara, Goring on Thames
In April 2026, on Bank Holiday Monday (6th to be exact), I completed my biggest cycling journey since returning to the saddle. After having to stop cycling nearly fifteen years ago due to a neurological condition, getting back on my bike late last year marked a huge personal milestone. Rediscovering cycling has helped me reconnect with both my confidence and the places around me.
Highlights & challenges:
Wanting to set myself a proper challenge, I cycled for nearly six hours from Newton, through Warrington, Widnes and Liverpool, finishing in Southport. Route 62 was a real highlight, with fantastic views along the way, and I rolled into Southport just in time for a well-earned ice cream. The journey felt tough at times but incredibly rewarding overall. The Trans Pennine Trail website proved extremely helpful, especially having the map, which was a huge advantage. Being part of the TPT Facebook groups was also invaluable, providing useful tips and the chance to chat with others who have already completed sections of the Trail.
Submitted by: Rod Bell
🐎 Equestrian Journeys
For journeys completed on horseback, including local rides, multi‑day trips or longer explorations.
In July 2020, I completed the Kinder Loop over two days, covering 55 miles across some of the most scenic bridleways in the Peak District. Starting and finishing in Penistone, the route took me through remote moorland, historic crossings and classic Pennine landscapes, making it a memorable and rewarding challenge.
Highlights & challenges: I set off from Penistone along the Trail to Dunford, before climbing up and over the Pennines to Longdendale, Hadfield and Hayfield. I stayed overnight at Rushup Edge before heading back over Howden Moors via Langsett and returning to Penistone. The route was mostly traffic-free,
with stunning views throughout and a fair mix of typically British weather along the way. Using the Trans Pennine Trail regularly had been key in building up my confidence and fitness, including riding with my horse, Fliss, which helped prepare me for completing 55 miles over two days.
Submitted by: Katie
♿ Accessible Trail Achievements
For journeys that highlight accessible use of the Trail, including wheelchairs, mobility aids and adapted equipment.
👨👩👧👦 Family Adventures
For journeys shared by families – across any mode – discovering the Trail together.
In Autumn 2024, I cycled 100km along the TPT from Didsbury to Southport in one day with my 10-year-old daughter to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust, after a close family friend was diagnosed with a life-threatening rare cancer in his chest and was supported by the charity during treatment. I was blown away by my 10-year-old daughter’s grit and determination – she encouraged me in the final few miles.
Highlights & challenges:
We started training six months before the ride to build stamina and cycling skills.
We learned practical basics along the way – repairing punctures and changing inner tubes.
We were closely supported by family along the route and raised over £2000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Submitted by: Rebecca & Annabel
🤝 Health, Wellbeing & Community Journeys
For journeys with a personal, wellbeing, community or fundraising purpose.
In May 2026, 40 riders cycled from Barnsley to Doncaster and returned along the NCN62. The ride followed the Trans Pennine Trail and brought together participants for a shared cycling experience while supporting a charitable cause.
Highlights & challenges:
The ride was organised by the Rotary Clubs of Stainborough and Normanton, working with the Barnsley Health and Wellbeing Team (part of the South West Yorkshire NHS Foundation Trust). The event focused on raising funds for the EyUp NHS Trust and highlighted the value of partnership working and community participation.
Submitted by: Rotary Clubs of Stainborough and Normanton
Featured Achievements
Submit an achievement
To keep things clear and simple, we use two separate submission forms.
✅ Use this form if: You completed your journey recently or within the last few years, or you can easily recall details such as sections completed and approximate dates.
👉 Submit a recent or current achievement
✅ Use this form if: You completed your journey many years ago, don’t have exact dates, or are sharing a historic memory of using the Trail.
👉 Submit a historic achievement
Completed the Trail years ago?
We know many people completed incredible journeys on the Trans Pennine Trail years ago, before GPS tracking, social media or online mapping.
Historic achievements are an important part of the Trail’s story – and we’d love to include them.
You can submit:
Achievements from any year
Approximate dates or time periods
Section(s) completed or full coast‑to‑coast journeys
Short personal stories or memories
You don’t need tracking data, timings or proof – we’re interested in your experience.
A shared‑use reminder
The Trans Pennine Trail is enjoyed by walkers, cyclists, wheelers, horse riders and families.
Achievements shared here celebrate participation and enjoyment – not competition.
Please always:
- Be courteous to other users
- Travel at a safe and appropriate speed
- Respect the environment and local communities
Be part of the story!
Interactive Map
See our interactive mapping for detailed route alignment and route diversions.
Distances
Using the tables below you can work out how far you want to go on the TPT.
Useful Links for Information
Check our useful links regarding accessibility
Out on the Trail?
New for 2025 - Accessible Mapping