| National Cycle Route 165 | |
| Photo Alt: | road snaking up a hill |
| part of the W2W Cycle Route | |
| Established: | 2007 (as Regional Route 52) |
| Length Km: | 116 |
| Designation: | UK National Cycle Network |
| Use: | Cycling |
| Highest M: | 247 |
| Highest Name: | Commondale |
| Lowest M: | 5 |
| Lowest Name: | Ruswarp |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 165 is a Sustrans National Route that runs from Barnard Castle to Whitby. The route is 116km (72miles) long and is fully open and signed in both directions.[1]
The W2W was launched on 1 June 2005 as a cross-country cycle route from Walney Island in Cumbria to Sunderland on the River Wear . In 2007 a southern branch from Barnard Castle to Whitby was added.[2] This southern branch was originally classified as regional route 52, it was upgraded to National Cycle Network Route 165 in 2012.[3] The Walney to Whitby route is 179miles.[4]
The western trailhead is in Barnard Castle at a junction with Route 70. The route descends off the Durham Dales along the lower Tees Valley for 20miles to Croft-on-Tees near Darlington. Continuing on flat roads for 27miles until it reaches the North York Moors at Great Ayton. Following the Eskdale for the final 27miles the route crosses the River Esk four times before reaching its eastern trailhead at a junction with Route 1 on the outskirts of Whitby. This section includes several steep climbs and descents, some of them are on off-road tracks.[5]
Route 165 is part of the W2W route along with:[6]
Route 165 meets the following routes: