With the ongoing difficulties with international travel this year, many people are planning on staying in the UK for the summer. To inspire your staycation, Bikesure has gathered a list of some of Britain’s best motorcycle holiday tours.
John o’Groats to Land’s End (or vice versa)
This is the one, one of the UK’s big bucket list journeys and perfect for a motorcycle holiday. Travelling from one end of the country to the other will involve a good amount of pre-planning and you’ll need to make sure you have the right equipment to deal with any issues that might arise on the way, but you’ll be able to say you’ve done it.
You can also get the chance to drive the B3306, which follows the north coast of Cornwall from Land’s End. It twists and turns through some stunning landscapes and is regularly described as one of the best driving roads in the country, making it either the best way to start your epic journey or a great way to end it.
The spectacular roads continue with the stretch between Woolacombe and Bridgewater being a particular highlight for bikers and including the steepest stretch of A road in England near Porlock.
It’s also worth planning your motorcycle holiday to pass through Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, which will set you up nicely to continue on through the Cotswolds as you head north.
If you’re in the mood for a bit of off-road action, taking the Fosse Way from Bath can take you all the way up to Lincoln. From there you can pick how directly you want to get to Scotland or which areas of outstanding natural beauty you want to pass through first.
Coast to Coast motorcycle holiday
The UK offers a sliding scale of different motorcycle holidays for driving between the east and west coasts depending on how long you want to travel. The shortest routes, and some of the most scenic, are up north.
A trip starting from Newcastle and ending in Whitehaven could take you through the North Pennines and the Lake District, and could be done in a day depending on how quickly you go and how often you stop to enjoy the landscapes.
Further south, a m otorcycle holiday between Blackpool and Whitby gives you numerous options. The most direct route passes through the Forest of Bowland, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors but a longer route through Lancaster can take you past the Lake District and the Pennines. Meanwhile, a route going down past Manchester gives you a chance to cross the Peak District. This would give you the opportunity to add the A537 to the route, one of the most scenic and challenging motorcycle roads in the UK.
If you’re looking for more of an adventure, the westernmost part of the UK is Ardnamurchan Point in the Highlands of Scotland while the most easterly point is Lowestoft Ness. If you’ve already done Land’s End/John o‘Groats and are looking for another route that will give you something close to the same level of bragging rights, this is the one for you.
Motorycle holidays wow in Wales
Wales has a wealth of beautiful landscapes to explore, from the Brecon Beacons in the south to Snowdonia in the north and, well, everywhere in between making it the perfect motorcycle holuiday destination.
Some of the bucket list roads in Wales include the Black Mountain Pass, which goes north out of Swansea and passes through the Brecon Beacons taking in amazing valleys. From there you have a number of options. Turn west and you will eventually reach Pembrokeshire, or you can head further north and explore the stunning coastal roads.
Further north still and you can explore Snowdonia national park and even take a trip along Bwlch y Groes, the highest public road in Wales which winds through truly inspiring landscapes.
Try Northern Ireland for the craic
The road that stretches along the coast from Newry to Derry is another of the UK’s best roads and includes the Antrim Coast Road, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations and just right for a great motorcycle holiday. This will give you the chance to visit the Giant’s Causeway and the Morne Mountains, which are some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.
Riding high on a Scottish motorcycle holiday
The North Coast 500 is a 516 mile trip around the north of Scotland which gives you the chance to visit pretty much anywhere in the Highlands. If you like castles, this motorcycle holiday route should be a high priority as there is a king’s ransom of castles to explore.
Similarly, amazing landscapes like Smoo Cave and the Whaligoe Steps are just some of the amazing scenery. The route also includes the UK’s steepest road, the Bealach Na Ba, an old drover’s track that hairpins through mountains and is another of the big bragging rights roads for bikers.
This is one of the routes that you’ll want to make the most of and explore properly over a week or two rather than just rushing through. It’s also one that you should be well prepared for, as you won’t necessarily be able to rely on a mobile phone signal if you get into difficulties.
Day trips from London
If you’re a Londoner looking for a bit of fresh air and a break from the city, you owe it to yourself to take the short run down to Brighton at least once in your life for a motorcycle holiday. Following in the wheels of generations of motorcyclists before you, it’s a traditional weekend escape for bikers although these days you should forgo the whole getting into a fight with a gang of scooter owners thing that was popular in the 1960s.
There’s plenty of other options along the south east coast if Brighton doesn’t appeal. Camber Sands is a great place for a daytrip or, if you feel like keeping up the theme of ‘where bikers in the past used to go’ then Canvey Island or the Isle of Sheppey are fun areas to explore near London.
Breakdown insurance for your motorcycle holiday
If you are planning a grand GB tour motorcycle holiday this summer it’s a good idea to take out some peace of mind breakdown insurance cover. Bikesure offers a comprehensive breakdown package from just £56.00 a year — that’s less than £1.10 a week.
Cover includes:
Roadside Assistance
We’ll get help to you quickly, and pay for the call-out and any labour needed to see you on your way.
Home Service
If you can’t start your vehicle, or break down near your home, we’ll send help and pay call out and labour costs to get you started again.
Vehicle Recovery
If for some reason we can’t get you going straight away, we’ll get your vehicle to a garage or back home.
And, once international borders are opened up again for non essential travel we can also provide:
European Cover
Flux Rescue offers up to 60 days extended cover in most EU countries.
