Around Great Britain. Summer 2011.
 

Hi,

I intend to zigzag trough Great Britain on-road for more or less a fortnight in July or August 2011.

The dates are not yet decided, but should be more probably end of July.

The destinations are to be determined... England, Scotland, Wales...
I will lurk for nice places and roads, any suggestions are welcome.

I have already been to Scotland twice, enjoyed the Speyside, Edinburgh and Highlands on 4 wheels and sailed the Caledonian canal.
I would like to go to Glasgow and the Loch Lomond area, already been there but did not have time to enjoy it.

The only thing I am sure about is that I don't want to ride highways. I want twisty countryside or mountain roads.

I will carry a tent ...

The starting point will most probably be Porstmouth.

Anyone who wants to ride along for 1, 2 or more days
Anyone who wants to host, wether it is a couch or a patch of grass for my tent
Anyone with good roads suggestions

You are all welcome on this thread

Cheers

Greg

Hi Greg, 690 Duke will be awesome fun in the scottish glens. I'll try to put up some road numbers of popular routes for you but pretty much once your north of Glasgow there are no highways it's all twisty bendy fun. Sure you'l find miles of good biking as you go. Hope the british weather is kind to you :thumbup1:

Scotland
 

Hi, from Glasgow head up the West coast Inverary, Oban, Applecross, Ullapool & Durness.Then South through the middle Inverness, Aviemore, Braemar, Killin & Callander. Don't forget ur waterproofs. Andy

Well, the two previous time I've been there -July 2004 & 2009- only had fair weather, maybe that's why I like it :laugh:


I just found an interesting destination Altberg Bootmakers - Richmond, North Yorkshire
because I can't find an equivalent in France.

I might ad that to my trip. A nice "sur mesure" ride & hike pair of boots.

Living in (but not from) Yorkshire, I would encourage you to visit this wonderful region. Plenty of places to visit and for a biker friendly venue with free camping, you could stop off here Squires Cafe - Home

There are plenty of fantasic places to ride in the UK,

As already mentioned, Scotland is brilliant, but if you've been there already why not try somewhere different ?

Coming up from Portsmouth, why not venture into Wales ? work your way north and cut over to the Peak district, The Yorkshire Dales and then the Lake District ??

Others can sell you Wales, Yorkshire and Derbyshire, I'll have a go at the Lakes -

First things first, you can ride most of the great roads in the Lakes in a day if that's your bag. But it's best to give it maybe three days for this area and explore the little towns and villages. By keeping away from the main tourist routes you can ride the high passes and lowland valleys, with different views and weather bu the minute.

I'd setup camp on day one, take in the southern Lakes on day two, the northern Lakes ond day 3 then move on. You will find it has similarities to Scotland, but over shorter distances and you see much more diversity. Hotels, Guest houses and B&B's are everywhere as are campsites! You'd be better to choose a site just outside the national park as these are much cheaper (if cost is a consideration).

Here's some great roads to ride in the Lakes:

A592 from Pooley Bridge to Windermere (or turn off at the top of Kirkstone Pass and take 'The Struggle' to Ambleside)

A591 from Keswick to Windermere has been described as one of the best drive in Europe (and won some award for it)

Side Gates from Great Langdale to the begining of Wrynose Pass, then on to Hardknott pass

Cold Fell, running from Calder Bridge to Ennerdale is a good road (avoid 06:00 -> 09:00 and 14:00->18:00 as it's used as a rat run by Sellafield workers)

Borrowdale Valley, including Honister Pass. This is the B5289 that runs from Keswick south , before turning north again, that runs through Seatoller, Buttermere and then towards Cockermouth.

The valley road from Buttermere towards Portinscale is very nice and never busy.

Winlatter Pass is good, this is the B5295 and runs from High Lorton to Braithwaite.

There are loads of other good roads, and the only A roads are around the whole area but don't go into it.

While you are in this area have a ride on the A686 Hartside Pass which runs from Penrith through Alston and on to Haydon Bridge. This is an awesome road with a biker cafe on the summit. Avoid this road on weekends as the GSX-Ninjer-Blades are al out seeing who can kill themselves first... Stick to weekdays and it's a loverly road. There is even some dirt roads in this area if you want to have a go.

Hope this helps, if you want any more detailed information please drop me a PM (campsites, sugested routes etc).

Nature Rally
 

Greg

If you're going to be travelling around the UK anyway have you seen the 2011 Nature Rally on the Adventure Bike Rider forum

You basically try an tick off as many National Parks as you can. It might be a good way to plan your route and ensure you end up in some pretty amazing places.........which should have plenty of campsites :thumbup1:

If you are travelling up or down through the middle of England a good route is the A46 out of Bath, a town worth a visit in itself, onto the A433 to Cirencester, A429 to Stow-on-the-Wold, Stratford-upon-Avon them back a little to the B4455 to meet up with the A5 near Hinkley. This is an old Roman road called the Fosse way and has some great scenery and historic towns along the way. It is the route that I take to the HU meeting in Ripley which if you are there at the right time you might like to take in.
If arriving at Portsmouth take the M27 west then the A36 will take you to Bath through some nice scenery passing Salisbury, a small diversion and you can see Stonehenge.
Bon voyage

Gosh Darnit !!

Takes lot of time to draw a road-book ... and I'm lucky I discovered the Google Maps application :)

Thank you guys for all your inputs.

For those interested here comes a first draft of the route form Portsmouth to Kendall (SE entry of the Lake District).

Feel free to give some hints :innocent:

Wharf Rd � Kendal, Cumbrie, Royaume-Uni - Google Maps

Thanks Mark Manley :thumbup1: but you advised me to ride the "Fosse way" [A 429] and even if I can admit that I like a bit of History and a lot of Architecture that looks like a damn straight road :( so I took a bit left of it :innocent: on B-class road.
Am I wrong ? Watcha think ?

At that point, maybe I should sleep somewhere between Stratford-Upon-Aven and Hinckley. What about Coventry ?

I routed via Hinckley, but I don't ride a Triumph so I hope nobody will throw rocks at me :eek3:

Then ride North through the "Peak District". There I didn't routed via the "Snake Road", am I missing something ?

Continue to ride North to "Lake District" via "Yorkshire Dales" and Richmond for a bit of boots' lust (I'm working of my feminine side :blush:).


To this point, Google tells me 736 kms / 457 miles, and 14 hours.
Do you think this is accurate ?
I was thinking of reaching Kendall in 2 days, it would means around 400 kms / 240 miles per day...

Am I out of my mind ?

Cheers

Greg

@ Desert Ways

Thanks for this link :thumbup1:

It is good inspiration but I am -at this moment- not in the mood of joining that kind of rally which requires to chase certificate ...

Maybe it is because I could not do better than Bronze Medal in the time I have in UK :biggrin:

Greg where about are you in France?

As I will guess that there could be a few that would be on for some kind of exchange ride. I.E. They take you round the UK. And then you take them round France.
John933

Hi,

I live 10 miles south of Paris, but as a seaman and a bike rider I'm not there so often

Nevertheless you're absolutly right :thumbup1: about sharing a ride with fellow bikers in their own country.

I guess that's why we post here.


As for posting here, I was thinking that I might be wrong when posting my roadbook draft in that part of the forum...
I'm not sure wether I shall create a thread in the "route planning" sub-forum or continue on this one ?
:helpsmilie:

Your route looks pretty good to me Greg, I presume you will be arriving in Portsmouth in the morning so will have a full day but you might find it takes 3 days on your proposed route, they are quite small, winding roads and you will not keep up 100 kph for long, some of the speed limits will be 80 or 65 kph, don't plan to ride much faster on these roads, there are cameras everywhere.
Are you planning to camp or hotel? campsites are not common in the midlands so look up where you hope to stay before leaving, you will find more in the national parks and surrounding areas. If staying in bed and breakfast remember the price is usually per person, not room, hotel chains like Premier inn usually charge by the room but no breakfast.
I hope this helps.
Mark

I was expecting average speed of 50 kph as I did when I toured the french mountains, but here the speed limit is 90 kph and there was not as many radars as now :rolleyes2:

I might go for 300 kms per day on my roadbook for a start.

For overnight rest I was planning to alternate camping & BB every other day, weather depending (and host/couch proposals :innocent:)

By the way, I just ordered this little item The Motorcycle Media Reader Offers Site

I hope it will be useful as I am not yet ready to throw over 200£ in a GPS and the tank bag is quite small on the Duke

Greg