Yank in the UK for a few days....routes?

[Tabasco]

I'm not sure where to post this but I'll start here.

I'll be in London on Business this month and after concluding business will rent an R1200GS from a new rental outfit based near Oxford for a few days.

My plan is to have the bike delivered to me in London on Wednesday October 24 and then head the hell out of London first thing on the 25th in some as yet unknown direction for three days. My first inclination is to head west or east and then north along the coast.

The rental company is going to give me some route suggestions but I thought I would check here as well. In the U.S. it's not difficult to put on some serious miles but I'm not sure about the UK. My desire is to ride some nice challenging secondary roads and while I would like to stop and take in some sites, I'm really wanting to put on some miles perhaps to Scotland and back.

I have just have a couple simple questions:

- Any suggestions on a route that would provide scenery and nice roads?

- I've ridden through France, Germany etc. and have always been able to find a little farm with rooms or small inn's along the way without reservations; can I expect this in the UK or will I be sleeping along the road.

Thanks for any info.

Terry

 

[Shep]

I would see if they could deliver the bike to a northern airport and then fly up, pick the bike up, do Scotland, then bimble back via the lake district & Wales, then arrange to get the bike picked up locally.

Alot will depend on how long you have the bike for.

Shep

 

[SilverFish]

I think taking a scenic route up to Scotland and back would be pretty tough - not impossible but quite heavy miles per day.

Might be good to go to one of the large Northern National Country Parks like the Lake District, North York Moors or Northumberland National Park. The scenery in any of those is stunning and the roads are generally very varied and challenging so some really good riding too. Being country parks there's an abundance of guest houses, pubs with rooms and country hotels - and I would say at this time of year you should be able to find a room without too much trouble.

If its not too late, best pack your best wet and cold weather riding gear though as these parks arent known for the sunshine hours records!

National Parks

Have fun,

Mike

 

[THE DOCTOR]

I have just have a couple simple questions:

- Any suggestions on a route that would provide scenery and nice roads?

- I've ridden through France, Germany etc. and have always been able to find a little farm with rooms or small inn's along the way without reservations; can I expect this in the UK or will I be sleeping along the road.

Thanks for any info.

Terry

Hi Terry,
UK in October wouldn't be the best time of year to tour it but it's quite warm & pleasant here in the NW atm, can't promise it'll be OK in late October though.
You CAN expect rooms along the way if you're in a 'tourist' town but sleeping along the road isn't really a British thing but if all else fails feel free. The Police may move you on, but feel free.

Depending on how far up North you want to ride from London here's some of my 'special' places.

Yorkshire Dales.

Aberystwyth, Wales

And The Adventure Capital of The World, Scotland.

Enjoy yourself & don't forget to pack your camera.

 

[Skippy]

Need anything??

Got some Rukka stuf you can borrow while you're here if it fits.

It's uurrr, black and waterproof.

Got a spare lid too if that'd be any good. Boots but they're not waterproof.

Gloves, soft (Oxford) throwover luggage too...........

Let me know.

Skip.

 

[Tabasco]

Thanks for the info. Sorry I have not replied earlier; I've.....well, I've been on the road.

I'm in London now and will be picking up a hired R1200GS in Milton Keynes on Thursday morning. I think I am taking the route north to Glasgow Scotland. Judging only by distance, it looks like no problem to ride straight through taking the route posted by Panzerphil. I'm used to riding 1K to 1.2k per day so the distance does not look like a problem but I guess it depends upon the roads and limits.

In any case, I thought I would ride straight through to Glasgow the first day and then spend the night there and the next day ride a bit around Scotland and then start heading back south and take it a little easier and see some sights with a planned return of the bike on Saturday afternoon.

I guess my question would be, can I make the one shot trip to Glasgow? Second would be, should I or am I better off seeing things between the two points? Maybe Wales?

I appreciate the gear offer Skippy but I hauled my stuff along and am all set as that goes. But I sincerely appreciate the offer.

Thanks again,

Terry

 

[Zed Zed]

if you need assistance in milton keynes sat afternoon just ask!!

i live just up the road

 

[Rushy]

Terry,

Glasgow in one hit, taking some time out to admire the views, will be enough riding for one day. If you try to take in some of Wales too then you will lose time in Scotland.

I live close to Junction 16 / 17 of the M6 Motorway ( Look for Sandbach or Crewe). I you need any assistance during you trip don't hesitate to call me anytime night or day on +44 (0) 7973 226540.

I was shown loads of hospitality during a 3 mth trip to the Western USA a few years back (dropped into Veil, Boulder, Estes State Park, Rocky Mtn National Park and had my GS serviced in Fort Collins whilst in your neck of the woods) and I am always happy to repay it.

Have a safe trip,

Ian R

 

[Tractorpilot]

You can do Glasgow from MK in a day and I would recommend you stop overnight there. Not because it is physically impossible to get further but because you will be getting to the good bits and will miss it all in the dark!!

Stop on the far side of Glasgow (so you miss morning rush hour on the M8 motorway) then go on the next day past Loch Lomond, over Rannoch Moor and through Glen Coe and on through Fort William. Then you are in God's Country and you have impossible choices to make about whether to go up to the Kyle of Lochalsh and on to Skye (Oonyackistan has not yet been recognised by the U.N. as far as I know - do a site search on this site if you need to know more) or on up the Great Glen towards Inverness and/or down to Edinburgh. You will cover a lot of miles and see a lot whichever way you choose. When you get to Fort William, you will have a good 'feel' for how many miles you can cover in the remaining time and choose a route based on that.

For what it is worth I did the N.W. corner of Skye (Stein) to Worcester (about 670 miles on my route) in 10h15m but that was literally only stopping long enough to fuel and WC

If you want a Plan B because you are held up en-route, take the M6/M74 into Scotland then turn off on the A701 which will take you to Edinburgh. You can stay there and do the tourist bit then do not come down the A1 but take the A7 road through Galashiels then the A68 down into England heading for the A66. Take the A66 west then you can pick up the M6 at a number of junctions depending on how much time you have left. You will miss some of the best bits but you will see some pretty good bits if you find time is a problem.

Whatever you decide good luck and I hope the weather is good for you.

TP

PS Someone will now come along and say no, no, no - you should do...

 

[HORIZONTALLY OPPOSED]

I'm not sure where to post this but I'll start here.

I'll be in London on Business this month and after concluding business will rent an R1200GS from a new rental outfit based near Oxford for a few days.

My plan is to have the bike delivered to me in London on Wednesday October 24 and then head the hell out of London first thing on the 25th in some as yet unknown direction for three days. My first inclination is to head west or east and then north along the coast.

The rental company is going to give me some route suggestions but I thought I would check here as well. In the U.S. it's not difficult to put on some serious miles but I'm not sure about the UK. My desire is to ride some nice challenging secondary roads and while I would like to stop and take in some sites, I'm really wanting to put on some miles perhaps to Scotland and back.

I have just have a couple simple questions:

- Any suggestions on a route that would provide scenery and nice roads?

- I've ridden through France, Germany etc. and have always been able to find a little farm with rooms or small inn's along the way without reservations; can I expect this in the UK or will I be sleeping along the road.

Thanks for any info.

Terry

Go north young man.

 

[luckylucian]

Just in case no-one has mentioned it, ride as if you are invisible - drivers here are blind to motorbikes and will not notice you until they drive into you.

There are chains of hotels such as Travel Lodges and Premier Inns dotted across the country and may provide a welcome respite to dry off. If you can get some tourist information office telephone numbers and they may be able to help you out with local places to stay.

Glad to have you over for a visit

 

[Tabasco]

Thanks again for the info. Heading that way today so if you see a yellow GS on the roads be sure to waive hello.

 

[Greg Masters]

If you're doing Glasgow in one day, head north from there past Loch Lomond, across Rannoch Moor and to Glen Coe and Fort William.

From there head to the Isle of Skye via Kyle of Lochalsh - do a complete circuit of the island and then head south again.

Greg