Riding the UK

Andy Brooke said:

Navigator, if you can contact the UK Rocket owners club they will be more than happy to provide you with help with routes, sights to see and anything else you need. We do this for the German owners club so they get most bang for their buck ( or Euros in their case)..

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The ferry from Dublin (actually Dun laoghaire- pron "Dun leery") also goes to South West Wales, Milford Haven docks I think. Spectacular scenery round there, coast roads etc. with good motorway and A road links to the rest of Britain. Mid Wales can be a little isolated with narrow roads if you go off piste a bit! I live in the Cotswolds-just! Beautiful cotswold stone villages, close to Stratford on Avon, Warwick etc.
Give me a shout if you come over.

I've been to Ireland only once, visiting Dublin and the taking a bus ride to Kilkenny. The countryside surprisingly resembled areas of western Washington, but of course so did northern Japan.

I'm thinking September might be best, with most of the folks having completed tgeir Holiday travel. I'll of course rely on recommendations for that.

And of course there is the Ace Cafe.....

idk said:

Never ask a man if he is from Yorkshire. If he is then he will tell you within two minutes. If he isn't then you will have just insulted him.

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Took you four minutes to answer. Do you have a secret?

Head for Matlock in Derbyshire on a weekend - great roads and plenty of bikes.

As already mentioned - try and keep away from the cities, use A roads and you should be fine.

I would advise that you think about riding half of the day and relaxing the other - although this will limit the length of your journey. I managed to drive from Hull; John O Groats; Skye; Hadrian's wall and back in one week - driving for more than 6 hours every day can be a pain, but we got to see a lot

How long are you expecting to stay over here?

Mike,
I've spoken to my friend who lives up in Yorkshire and the following website is what he uses when organising rides with his local club. It covers all of Europe but also has bike hire, places to stay, difficulty etc.. simply select an area, how far, where to stay...

1447 Motorcycle Roads United Kingdom

Thank you so much for the recommendations, web sites, references etc.

It's interesting that the Dublin ferry goes to Wales, a country that I also want to ride. I thought it might go to Liverpool but looking at the map the Liverpool/Manchester spaghetti of roads looks like it would be a real traffic mess. I thought there might be a Wessex ferry to Wales.

I didn't find Dublin traffic to be too heavy until rush hour and then I might as well have been in LA

That BBC episode that I watched was excellent and humorous as it delved into the dialect and culture of Yorkshire, the beautiful landscapes, and the drive through the moors to the coast city of Scarborough. I thought the documentary said one of the most famous British explorers, James Cook, was born near there but I just checked and it was in Marton, Yorkshire. Hmmm

It is my intention to take my time and explore this beautiful country. I also always wanted to go see where my favorite television series, Foyle's War (and great actor Michael Kitchen) but I believe that is around Hastings in the SE. I could be wrong.

I am putting all of the posts, links and personal references in this thread into a Word file for planning.

One thing about the great thing motorcycle fraternity is the willingness of riders, that one doesn't even know, to help a "bloke" out. I've got to learn to use some of the Brit words and terms like that and expressions such as "Oi" and "Ta". Perhaps then the Brits I meet won't know I'm an American.

Thedogsbollocks said:

Just a word...the roads in Ireland once you are out of the city are awful...bumpy , pot holes etc. it’s bad enough in a car.
Yorkshire, in fact the north of England has some great roads and far less traffic than the south. Over in the N.West you have the ‘ Lake District ‘ with some beautiful runs ( A fantastic nostalgic hotel is Storrs Hall in the Lake District...like a living time machine). You can then head up to Scotland and I’ll let another here make recommendations but you’re spoiled for choice.
Back to Ireland....I too did and looked forward to a tour. I did enjoy it EXCEPT for the driving and only because the roads are just simply in a very poor state once out in the country side. Sign posts...we’ll thats a whole another story...

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and .... "if you want to go d'ere you wouldna start from here" in Irish brogue

Navigator said:

I thought the documentary said one of the most famous British explorers, James Cook, was born near there but I just checked and it was in Marton, Yorkshire. Hmmm

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One of the things that Yorkshiremen and Scotsmen like to point out : is how many of them were amongst the great explorers.

And this is true.

They of course will say that it down to their tenacious, tough spirit. The truth is, however, anywhere else was better.

Wales - a word of caution. The police in North Wales are by reputation VERY anti bike. I have mates living on the border and they simply will not even try to ride there on Sunday. With your US bike - you might be less prone to being hassled though. Also - there is a really good reason why that part of the UK is green.

Navigator said:

I mentioned in another thread that touring the UK on a MC has long been a high priority bucket list item for me. This could be the year for it, or next. Father Time continues ticking on for me so there is somewhat a sense of urgency about it.

My wife and I recently watched a BBC travel show in which the hostess takes the viewer through English villages and the surrounding ccountryside. Yorkshire is the subject of this particular episode, emphasizing the history and beauty of the area. I am hoping that some of our members can provide some recommendations.

I am considering shipping my bike to Dublin and ferrying yo UK, assuming there is a ferry. Would there be one out of Dublin?

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If you are coming to Britain remember that England is only a part of it. You will find the majority of the best riding to be had is in fact in Scotland and Wales. And if you take a trip over on the ferry Southern Ireland is fantastic too.

Thedogsbollocks said:

Just a word...the roads in Ireland once you are out of the city are awful...bumpy , pot holes etc. it’s bad enough in a car.
Yorkshire, in fact the north of England has some great roads and far less traffic than the south. Over in the N.West you have the ‘ Lake District ‘ with some beautiful runs ( A fantastic nostalgic hotel is Storrs Hall in the Lake District...like a living time machine). You can then head up to Scotland and I’ll let another here make recommendations but you’re spoiled for choice.
Back to Ireland....I too did and looked forward to a tour. I did enjoy it EXCEPT for the driving and only because the roads are just simply in a very poor state once out in the country side. Sign posts...we’ll thats a whole another story...

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The roads are vastly improved in Ireland over the last few years.