National Cycle Route 165

National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 165 is a Sustrans National Route that runs from Barnard Castle to Whitby. The route is 116 km long and is fully open and signed in both directions.

History
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. This southern branch was originally classified as regional route 52, it was upgraded to National Cycle Network Route 165 in 2012. The Walney to Whitby route is 179 mi.

Route
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 20 mi to Croft-on-Tees near Darlington. Continuing on flat roads for 27 mi until it reaches the North York Moors at Great Ayton. Following the Eskdale for the final 27 mi 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.

Related NCN routes
Route 165 is part of the W2W route along with: 70 · 14 · 715 · 68 · 65 · 1

Route 165 meets the following routes:
 * 70 at Barnard Castle
 * 715 at Whorlton
 * 65 at Hutton Rudby
 * 168 at Kildale
 * 1 at Whitby