It’s fair to say that foreign holidays are looking a bit unlikely this year; fortunately, the UK has some great places to ride and ride to. Let’s check out some of the best spots.
England
England is home to the finest motorcycle gear shop in the UK, maybe even the world (we're talking about Bike Stop of course!), and it has some fine riding roads across its length and breadth.
No British biking roads list would be complete without mentioning the Cat & Fiddle, so named for the pub at its peak. Stretching between the towns of Macclesfield and Buxton in the Peak District the road is renowned for its danger and sheer riding pleasure. As with many things in life, danger has meant the law has had to get involved and nowadays there’s a strict 50mph speed limit in place with average speed cameras along its length. That being said, 50mph is more than plenty for the majority of the corners and a great cruising speed to admire the views. Don’t get carried away though, as this overenthusiastic biker will attest to how unforgiving this road can be. The pub fell on hard times in recent years but has found a new lease of life as a distillery, which offers hot food and drinks for takeaway – ideal for a lockdown ride!
The rest of the Peak District is overall a biking dream thanks to its twisty roads, cute villages and great grub – Matlock fish and chips and bakewell tarts in Bakewell spring straight to mind.
Moving further north and another famous road is the Hardknott Pass, renowned for its amazing views and incredibly steep incline. While it’s not the top of the list for speed, for a challenge and experience it’s truly unique. Look out for cyclists struggling their way to the top and enjoy the views.
Back down south and there’s another road that’s a great experience, but isn’t for those who like wide open bends. Cheddar Gorge is unique; it has a road that runs along the entire length of its floor which affords it a remarkable perspective from below the sheer sides of the gorge. It can be thronged with tourists during the summer months, but late in the evening, early in the morning and outside of peak months it can be a great challenging road to hurtle up and down. Be wary of gravel on the sharp corners, narrow sections that can hide a bus on the other side and the occasional wandering wildlife. Like Hardknott Pass, head there for the experience rather than a blistering ride and you won’t be disappointed.
If you’re down in this neck of the woods then Bridgwater, a short ride from Cheddar, is the start of a route on the A39 that follows the Severn Estuary coast westwards, with sprawling views of the coastline and wide, sweeping bends abound. It can get a little congested with caravans heading to Minehead (a lovely seaside town), but once you’ve got past Minehead you enter Exmoor, and the road should empty a bit. You’ve got the intimidating Porlock Hill (unbelievably steep, check those brakes if coming back down it!) to navigate and then you’ll have some fantastic views and a great mix of bends.
Wales
Not too far from Cheddar is the wonderful Brecon Beacons national park, home to some seriously rugged terrain and some magical roads to match. A couple of roads of note here are the Black Mountain Pass (the A4069) and the A483 heading from Brecon all the way up to Newtown – expect a wide mix of bends, great visibility and minimal traffic out of season. You’re spoilt for choice for roads around here and you’ll find it hard to go wrong!
Heading up north through Wales and things go from strength to strength. Horseshoe Pass is famous for its one of a kind U-shaped bend and the Ponderosa café that sits just next to it, however the entire area is littered with superb roads. You’re also a short way from Snowdonia National Park, another area well worth visiting for spectacular views and roads.
Scotland
Moving up to the north and we come to Scotland, which is blessed with some truly wild landscapes and one of the best road trips you can have in the UK; the North Coast 500. So named for its 500 mile length, the North Coast 500 takes in famous spots such as Loch Ness, John O’Groats and Smoo Caves. There’s even a website dedicated to the route, offering recommendations for spots to stay and visit while taking the trip. You’ll want to budget around a week to get the most out of it, although of course you could hammer it in 2 or 3 days if you simply rode constantly, but that’s slightly missing the point! The roads that make up the route are just what you want from a biking tour too, with views of the Scottish Highlands and coastline that’ll make you stop and stare.
For those heading into Scotland, or heading down to England, one of the roads that joins the two is a great rip-roaring ride – the A68 running through the Scottish Borders and Northumberland is a great way to go between the two countries. Featuring wide sweeping bends and the all-important border crossing with laybys and signs to match this is the way to go instead of the motorway.
Much like Wales, being less densely populated than most of England and being home to some fantastic wild landscapes, the roads undulate and twist to match, offering some great rides almost everywhere you go.
If you need some expert advice, then you can have a chat online with us via web chat on our website. The Bike Stop shop in Stevenage is unfortunately closed once again in line with Government guidelines, however our online shop is alive and well, and taking orders for delivery. We will be of course reopening fully as soon as it is safe and permitted. You can also check out our full range on our website with free delivery for any order over £50 on the UK mainland, and delivery possible to almost anywhere else. Not only that but our ‘No Quibble’ returns policy allows for returns within a 365-day period – see our returns page for more details.
