I cycled two-thirds of the Way of the Roses, Sustrans' newest challenge cycle route, last week - from Morecambe, on the west coast, over the Dales to York. (The route continues to Bridlington, but I'm leaving the small bit of unmapped route there for our East Yorkshire correspondent to finish.)

A beautifully scenic route, well chosen, and generously signed - which is just as well, as I was cycling 'blind', the official route map not having turned up. There were some pretty strenuous hills; the worst of the lot was one on an off-piste detour I foolishly took out of Settle, having mapped the official route there already. Actually, the flattest bit (railway paths notwithstanding) was the most boring - the section from Ripon to York, which was fairly featureless countryside. The Ouse crossing on the rickety old Aldwarke Bridge was an experience, though!

It's now mapped as National Route 69, 68, 688 and 65.