Suggestions for a 2-3 day ride in Southern UK and/or Wales

[Sathiya]

Good day, folks.

I am Sathiya. I am planning to visit London from The Netherlands in March 2025, arriving on a Saturday, I am meeting a friend on Saturday, then have between Sunday and Tuesday (can extend by one more day if required). I would like to know if there are nicer routes and places to see in the Southern UK and/or Wales in March. The idea is to ride back to London to catch the train to France or ride to Harwich and take a ferry to Hook of Holland. I am thinking of doing both, one way via the ferry and one via the train.

Other considerations:
* Would like to ride along scenic countryside routes/alongside the sea wherever possible i.e., not too much motorway riding, to the extent possible.
* Some nice towns/places to stay.
* Around 5-7 hours of riding per day, stopping at scenic locations or historic places wherever required.

Please let me know your thoughts. I will accordingly plan the travel.
Thank you.
Sathiya

 

[scooter paul]

Good day, folks.

I am Sathiya. I am planning to visit London from The Netherlands in March 2025, arriving on a Saturday, I am meeting a friend on Saturday, then have between Sunday and Tuesday (can extend by one more day if required). I would like to know if there are nicer routes and places to see in the Southern UK and/or Wales in March. The idea is to ride back to London to catch the train to France or ride to Harwich and take a ferry to Hook of Holland. I am thinking of doing both, one way via the ferry and one via the train.

Other considerations:
* Would like to ride along scenic countryside routes/alongside the sea wherever possible i.e., not too much motorway riding, to the extent possible.
* Some nice towns/places to stay.
* Around 5-7 hours of riding per day, stopping at scenic locations or historic places wherever required.

Please let me know your thoughts. I will accordingly plan the travel.
Thank you.
Sathiya

5-7 hours a day covers a lot of ground! I’d look at heading south from London to Portsmouth (D day museums, historic dockyards etc) then along the south coast to the New Forest ( Motor Museum and Sammy Miller bike museum) then perhaps Salisbury for the cathedral. Stonehenge ancient standing stones. Then further west for the scenery of Dorset and Devon. From north Devon coast back to London eventually on the A4 not the motorway. Leave the splendour of Wales for another trip.

 

[wessie]

Maybe ride west into the Cotswolds - follow the M40/A40 from London past Oxford. Stay in Stow on the Wold for night. Have a day riding around the Cotswolds and then cross the River Severn into South Wales via the Forest of Dean. Stay in Monmouth area. Day 3 ride into the Brecon Beacons and return to Monmouth. or a little further east if you are heading to Harwich.

 

[Flintlock]

The counties of Hertfordshire & Essex had some lovely country roads & villages to explore - that was back in the 80's tho!

 

[Wapping]

Let’s ask AI for its first suggestion:

Request:

I woukd like a three day scenic motorcycle tour, starting at Harwich, ending at Folkestone. I would like to avoid motorways if possible and favour lesser roads. I would also like suggestions for nice medium priced hotels and attractions to see along the way. No day to be longer that seven hours, including stops.

Answer:

That sounds like a great ride! Here’s a suggested route for your three-day motorcycle tour, with scenic roads, interesting stops, and comfortable mid-range hotels.


Day 1: Harwich to Aldeburgh (Approx. 5 to 6 hours including stops)


• Route: Take the B1352 along the Stour Estuary, passing through Mistley and Manningtree. Then, follow the A137 towards Ipswich, avoiding the A12 by taking back roads through Woodbridge and Rendlesham Forest before reaching the coastal town of Aldeburgh.


• Stops:


• Dedham Vale (Constable Country) – Beautiful countryside and quaint villages.


• Woodbridge Tide Mill – A working historic water mill.


• Orford Castle – A well-preserved Norman keep with great views.


• Accommodation: The Brudenell Hotel, Aldeburgh – Seafront hotel with good food and comfortable rooms.





Day 2: Aldeburgh to Rye (Approx. 6.5 hours including stops)


• Route: Follow the coast via the A1094 and B1125 towards Southwold, then take scenic B-roads through the Suffolk and Essex countryside via Hadleigh, Dedham, and the Dengie Peninsula. Cross into Kent via the Tilbury Ferry or Dartford Crossing (if needed).


• Stops:


• Southwold Pier – Classic English seaside with great fish and chips.


• Mersea Island – A detour to sample some of the best oysters in the UK.


• Rochester Cathedral and Castle – Historic stop with a lovely town center.


• Accommodation: The Mermaid Inn, Rye – A historic inn with character and charm.





Day 3: Rye to Folkestone (Approx. 5–6 hours including stops)


• Route: Ride along the B2089 and A28 to Tenterden, then take country roads through the Kent Downs (AONB), passing through charming villages before descending to the coast.


• Stops:


• Bodiam Castle – A stunning moated medieval castle.


• Tenterden – A lovely market town with traditional Kentish charm.


• Dungeness – A stark, unique landscape with a historic lighthouse.


• Accommodation (if staying another night in Folkestone): The View Hotel, Folkestone – A modern, comfortable hotel with sea views.





This route keeps you on scenic roads, avoids motorways, and includes a mix of coastal views, countryside, and historic towns. Let me know if you’d like any adjustments!

 

[LOLGEOFF]

Tilbury/Gravesend ferry stopped running last year due to lack of investments. There are records of it dating back to 1571. They stopped transporting anything larger than a moped after the Dartford Tunnel opened so it would not be a viable route for a motorcycle even if it was still operating.

In Your Face A.I....

 

[Wapping]

Tilbury/Gravesend ferry stopped running last year due to lack of investments. There are records of it dating back to 1571. They stopped transporting anything larger than a moped after the Dartford Tunnel opened so it would not be a viable route for a motorcycle even if it was still operating.

In Your Face A.I....

It also offered up the Dartford Crossing in the same sentence.

In one sense, AI is no different to somebody on this site recommending “Mate, stay in the Yak and Yeti Hotel is Walsall. It was the dog’s when we stayed” only to then be told that the hotel closed last year. It’s not perfect but it learns from its errors.

I have given ChatGPT a kick up the arse, not least as it knew the crossing is no longer in use. It says sorry:

 

[Wapping]

Good day, folks.

I am Sathiya. I am planning to visit London from The Netherlands in March 2025, arriving on a Saturday, I am meeting a friend on Saturday, then have between Sunday and Tuesday (can extend by one more day if required). I would like to know if there are nicer routes and places to see in the Southern UK and/or Wales in March. The idea is to ride back to London to catch the train to France or ride to Harwich and take a ferry to Hook of Holland. I am thinking of doing both, one way via the ferry and one via the train.

Other considerations:
* Would like to ride along scenic countryside routes/alongside the sea wherever possible i.e., not too much motorway riding, to the extent possible.
* Some nice towns/places to stay.
* Around 5-7 hours of riding per day, stopping at scenic locations or historic places wherever required.

Please let me know your thoughts. I will accordingly plan the travel.
Thank you.
Sathiya

You arrive at Harwich on Saturday and ride to London.

You plan on leaving London on Sunday to ride your bike for two days (possibly three) to return to the continent via the Chunnel on Tuesday (possibly Wednesday). You might like to go to Wales or you might like to ride around south east England, avoiding motorways, enjoying scenic roads and, if possible, enjoying the coastal roads.

Wales is, near enough a day’s ride from London and a day back to Folkestone (for the train) or Harwich for the boat. Due to the location of London and Wales, you’ll not see very much of the sea, until you get to the Welsh coast. I live in central London, the roads to Wales and back to Folkestone or Harwich are often not too exciting. But, if the intention is to enjoy Wales, then the sacrifice is worth it.



Likewise, the roads from London and along the south coast are often not great.

Post #3 is a pretty good suggestion.

To give you some ideas have a look at this website, created by the RiDE motorcycle magazine:

RiDE-RiDE Guide to Great Britain

A selection of our favourite motorcycling routes across England, Scotland and Wales including the North Coast 500, Pennines, Cotswolds and more

www.ride.co.uk

You’ll maybe have to make some compromises about not using motorways / major roads to get to the suggestions but, just like leaving Rotterdam to get to the Belgian Ardennes, that might just be a fact that you cannot avoid.

PS London is a very big city. If you are in say the the east or south of it, then it might take you an hour to get to the start of the motorway towards Wales. To give you an idea, it takes me from near Tower Bridge (so near the middle) about 75 minutes on a good day, to get to Folkestone to check-in to catch the train to Calais. That is using the main roads and the motorway.

 

[Greg Masters]

Good day, folks.

I am Sathiya. I am planning to visit London from The Netherlands in March 2025, arriving on a Saturday, I am meeting a friend on Saturday, then have between Sunday and Tuesday (can extend by one more day if required). I would like to know if there are nicer routes and places to see in the Southern UK and/or Wales in March. The idea is to ride back to London to catch the train to France or ride to Harwich and take a ferry to Hook of Holland. I am thinking of doing both, one way via the ferry and one via the train.

Other considerations:
* Would like to ride along scenic countryside routes/alongside the sea wherever possible i.e., not too much motorway riding, to the extent possible.
* Some nice towns/places to stay.
* Around 5-7 hours of riding per day, stopping at scenic locations or historic places wherever required.

Please let me know your thoughts. I will accordingly plan the travel.
Thank you.
Sathiya

I assume that you are a 'cloggie'.

As a nation, you flatlanders love the mountains. So head to Wales and have a great time!

 

[LOLGEOFF]

It also offered up the Dartford Crossing in the same sentence.

In one sense, AI is no different to somebody on this site recommending “Mate, stay in the Yak and Yeti Hotel is Walsall. It was the dog’s when we stayed” only to then be told that the hotel closed last year. It’s not perfect but it learns from its errors.

I have given ChatGPT a kick up the arse, not least as it knew the crossing is no longer in use. It says sorry:

View attachment 388920

Yes I saw the option of the Dartford Crossing, but I thought A.I. had instant access to large databases in nanoseconds so it's inexcusable if it's going to take over the world, and as I said the carrying of larger motor vehicles ended in about 1964 it's a bit behind the times.

The signs on the Gravesend side still shows a motorcycle, I did ask the crew about it a few years ago when I was considering a bike ride over every vehicular crossing on the tidal Thames, this being the last before the sea, and apparently they had a different ferry and loading ramp but if the bike was light enough they might help someone heave it on board, this was the ferry before last that only had space for foot passengers.

 

[Arsey]

Just take a good map like this

 

[cookie]

Looks right to me.

 

[grantmac]

Did our OP revert with any conclusions

Coming via ferry from Hook of Holland can take you above London towards Wales. Tunnel will take you south and plenty of options heading west towards Southampton. If you need to be in London make sure you find a safe place to park. Irrespective of plates they will steal it if you leave in on the streets overnight.