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  #16  
Old 15 Nov 2007
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"Go Advanced''

Quote:
Originally Posted by Invicta Moto View Post
can't you edit the title?
It's OK. We'll take it as a verb as in:
"(I'm) Touring around (the) UK... (Can you please) advise?"
Stephan
PS I edited my title here by selecting the "Go Advanced'' editing option. Try it.

Last edited by Stephano; 15 Nov 2007 at 08:56.
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  #17  
Old 15 Nov 2007
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A suggestion as to your timing of the trip. You state summer but I would advise you to avoid July/August. This is when the schools are on holiday and many of the cities and attractions you will wish to visit will be heaving with people, prices are at their highest and accommodation availability at its worst.

Consider the spring, very often the weather is better at that time of year and you do not have to battle with the crowds.

As was stated in an earlie post, head away from the south and south east, for no other reason than if you are based in Thatcham such areas can be covered in the occasional day or weekend.
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  #18  
Old 16 Nov 2007
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Stephano...your a genius

Hayastani...unbelievably I've waited for 16 years for my daughter to finish school so I don't have to take my holidays during the School Vacations only to have my partner become a teacher

I've lived in the South and am keen to focus on Wales, the lake district/Yorkshire moors and up into Scotland.
I wish there were coastal ferries here in the UK. I'm happy with long days in the sadle, at speed where necessary to cover ground but my partner has a slower, shorter riding style which is going to make getting up to the good bits in the North tough. I guess I have a lifetime to do it all!
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  #19  
Old 16 Nov 2007
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If you're doing the lakes make sure you do the wrynose and hardknot pass. An amazing road. Try to do it in good weather. I did it in torrential rain and gale force winds one year to do a Round Britain Rally landmark. With all my camping gear on, scary.
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  #20  
Old 10 Dec 2007
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try coming on the road south out of newton in wales ..the A483 for about 25 miles...it's so so nice
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  #21  
Old 11 Dec 2007
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Another idea to toy with, although it does incur a financial penalty, one way van hire to a Scottish city. Take the 'bikes up in the van using the fastest route, and then utilise the additional time to make the journey one way on the machines travelling south back to Thatcham. This should allow for shorter sections to accommodate your partner’s riding style. However, the scenery you will undoubtedly be passing through will be such that you will not want to rush.
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  #22  
Old 11 Dec 2007
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I agree. The A483 out of Newtown is one of the best roads in Wales. I once had it all to myself for the whole way. It was like doing my own lap of the Welsh TT.
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  #23  
Old 11 Dec 2007
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The Llanberis pass down from Snowdon is another classic run, just slow down for Nant-Peris as North Wales police are @?"£*%^(s
Look out for the bridge halway down, I know of someone who overcooked it on the approach, left the road going sideways on the humpback and managed to ride the side of a dry stone wall for ten feet before rejoining the road. Amazingly he stayed on and rode it out. On a 1960s Triumph. Legend.

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  #24  
Old 11 Dec 2007
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Haven't read all the other posts so apologies if someone else has suggested this but I would recommend going to the Caledonian MacBrayne ferries website and having a look at their various multiple island rover tickets. The west coast of Scotland and the Hebrides are stunning and quite unlike the rest of Britain.

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  #25  
Old 11 Dec 2007
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The Lake district gets pretty packed in the summer, but the further north you go the less traffic. There are some fantastic roads when you get up in to the Scottish borders. Pulled up at St Mary's Loch in the summer and there were a couple of Lothian and Borders police bikers there dishing out free leaflets showing the best bike routes in the area, along with notes on where the surface was bad, well known accident spots, etc. Nice approach from the police I thought, can't see it on thier website though.

If you're heading through Yorkshire give the Trough of Bowland a try too.
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  #26  
Old 11 Dec 2007
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with regards to scotland

I live in the N east of scotland so the coastal route is done alot by bikers and tourists alike goes up from aberdeen north. If your coming up the east coast head to stonehaven nice castle ruins there and pretty little fishing port.
A must is royal deeside, banchory, aboyne over the sking centre upto aviemore and speyside. Whisky trail attractions and very pretty landscapes abound. Also wildlife park at aviemore you wont get to go through on bikes but there is a large part which is done on foot.
Roads up here are mainly country roads but sign posts usually give good warning about bends ect. They are not the best maintained roads and frequently have crap all over them gravel and stuff from farms and forrestry vehicles.
Lots of animals on the roads and therefore lots of people on wrong side of roads trying not to hit animals.
Also during summer lots of people from mainland europe with caravans, camper vans and loads of bikers travelling in packs normally on the wrong side of the road.
Use the youth hostels for cheap accomodation book well in advance there are lots of nice ones all over the place and most are biker friendly with safe parking. Last few I have been in are not really been designed for intimate relations between couples even in the family rooms so camp out if u want nookie.
Summer weather does not always happen during the summer up here with spring and autumn being better choices as no school kids. try not to go to royal deeside during fishing/shooting season prices double and lots of twats in rangerovers parked all over the place.
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  #27  
Old 12 Dec 2007
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if you need a place to overnight in Edinburgh PM me. in addition, a mate owns a bike shop 2 mins away; so could probably get your bike secure in his shop for the night.

Doug
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  #28  
Old 12 Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RizzoTheRat View Post
If you're heading through Yorkshire give the Trough of Bowland a try too.
For anyone looking for it (not a particularly well known name), the T of B is principally in Lancashire with, perhaps, a tiny bit in Yorkshire depending on exactly where that boundary twists and turns - bit worrying really (!); all the best roads are being identified here - could lead to an increased police presence in the summer!!

My experience of Scottish roads has been very good surfacing, in much better condition on average than in the rest of the UK (can't remember seeing potholes except in the occasional major city) and very clean on the West coast i.e. generally lacking in grit, gravel, animal muck etc etc.
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  #29  
Old 12 Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Walkabout View Post

My experience of Scottish roads has been very good surfacing, in much better condition on average than in the rest of the UK (can't remember seeing potholes except in the occasional major city) and very clean on the West coast i.e. generally lacking in grit, gravel, animal muck etc etc.
Yer, the government went on a mad road improvement binge in the sixties and the low volume of traffic has meant the tarmac is still in very good condition. Some mad out of the way places have exceptionally good roads. Just a shame they didn't leave a few as gravel...
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  #30  
Old 13 Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Samy View Post
Hi All,

I planned to do this trip (infact coast of northern part only) with Lake District.
I didn't have time and money to do that yet. Hope to do that in a few years time.

Definitely a route which have to be done.

Please share your experiences with us as I know the accomodation and prices are very high.

Sami
Bring your tent and do wild camping. Not easy in England but easy in Scotland. Cook your own food bought in supermarkets. South England is very overcrowded, Birmingham is very very ugly. Sheffield too. Scotland is fantastic if it doesnt rain.
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