The UK has some of the best motorbike routes in the world, and they can take you down our region’s coastal roads, through mountain passes and across sweeping moorland. If you want to go further afield and take a road trip, where should you go? Here are some of the best routes for you to explore.
Cat and Fiddle, Peak District
The A537 road between Macclesfield and Buxton is almost a rite of passage for bikers. It connects the two towns via an 11-mile road that snakes between the counties of Cheshire and Derbyshire. The route provides challenging bends and glorious straights that are positioned in the most glorious of landscapes.
North Coast 500, Scotland
Why go for a short trip when you can take a week? This 516-mile route was created in 2014 and provides bikers the chance to follow Scotland’s stunning sea views, castles, inns and even a hope to see Nessie. If the idea of spending a week on a bike is too much, cars from BMW Edinburgh are a comfortable alternative so that you can get the most out of your Highland journey.
A39 Minehead to Barnstaple
The A39 takes you from Bath to Cornwall, which is a wonderful ride out in itself, but the area of most interest to bikers is the 35-mile section of the A39 between Minehead and Barnstaple. Outside of the village of Porlock, is the imposing Porlock Hill which separates the wheat from the chaff with a gradient that can bring tears to the eyes of the people towing caravans. Of course, this steep hill is no problem for bikers who are rewarded with a breathtaking ride over Exmoor.
A470 Cardiff to Llandudno
The joy of this route is that it takes in two different coasts and two different National Parks. Cardiff to Llandudno is approximately 180 miles, but once you get out of Cardiff and through Merthyr Tydfil, the road enters the Brecon Beacons and takes you past stunning scenery near Pen y Fan the highest point in south Wales. From Brecon to Builth Wells via the Abergwesyn Pass, before heading to Snowdonia (having detoured to embrace the Elan Valley reservoirs and the Aberystwyth Mountain Road) to Devil’s Bridge. This is a varied ride in both the demands it makes on you, and the scenery in which you travel.
Antrim Coast Road, Northern Ireland
This stunning road clinches the coastline from Larne up to the splendid Giant’s Causeway, taking in seaside villages on the way that are found between the surf and the glens. One way is approximately 52 miles, but it is certainly worth doing the return route exactly as you initially made it – you will need one journey to be able to take in the scenery, and one journey to appreciate the road that you are riding.
Before you go on any road trip, it is important that you complete an inspection of your motorbike and pay extra attention to ensure that mechanically your bike is up for the job. Do not over schedule your itinerary – you need to be able to give yourself time to enjoy where you are and make any stop offs that appeal to you.