lap around the Isles

[martin_14]

For those in Great Britain or that have been there, I'm a Southamerican living in Germany (Munich, to be precise) and I'm planning to do a little trip this spring, like every year, this time to the Isles. So far I sketched it as follows:

Day 1. Munich - Aachen (700 km)

Day 2. Aachen - Dunkerque (300 km + ferry to Dover) and then make my way through the south of England (Brighton, Midhurst, Winchester...)

Day 3. Still in England, make my way to Cardiff and then to Swansea, to cross to Ireland (ferry to Cork)

Day 4 to 10. A quick lap clockwise around Ireland with main stops in Belfast and Dublin, from which I intend to take the ferry to Heysham. A question remains as to whether I visit the Isle of Man or not, but once in Heysham I'd like to drive up north to Glasgow and Edinburgh, and then find a way back to Dover and to the continent.

My question for you guys is short (which entitles a long answer): suggestions? I think I pretty much know what I want to do in Ireland and it is somehow smaller, but Great Britain is bigger and I've been already in London a couple of times, so I'm asking mostly about Scotland and the east coast.

I do have a couple of English friends here at the office, but one of them is from London, so he considers everything outside it beyond interest  ;) and the other one is from Ipswich and he's never been away from it until he came to Germany  :o

Thanks for your time,
Martín

[2kwacks]

how ironic is that! I'm looking forward to riding outside of the uk, and your forward to riding in the uk ;D well! we have some excellent roads, but the weather leaves alot to be desired :( and the further north you go the less likley you will get sunburnt. assuming you have a good set of gortex textiles ;D your less than a hours ride from heysham to beautiful cumbria, depending on your time schedule avoid the m6 like the plague, theres some excellent roads through kendal,windermere,ambleside,keswick and up towards kilmarnock m77 into glasgow then pick up the A82 to Loch Lomond and onto Fort william then cut across to edinburgh,northumberland and down the northeast and eventually dover! what date do you have in mind landing at heysham? might do a few nights myself around south cumbria, may even make Loch Lomond :)

[Lonewolf]

If your work colleague considers that anything outside London is irrelevant then avoid his advice like the plague!  ;D
Scotland is simply stunning and you could have a bike tour there and there alone and still come away a very happy man. The west coast of Scotland, dare I say it has significantly more to offer a tourist than the east coast which in all honesty is drab by comparison.

Have a look in the trips section of this forum where you will see a write up I did on my trip to Scotland last June. I only had four days there but I'll never forget the experience. Loch Lomond, Loch Ness, Glencoe, Fort William, Isle of Skye, etc are all simply breath taking.   :)

The Lakes as 2kwacks mentioned are a very worthwhile route on your way back down south.

[mecki]

Well, I agree the Lake District has stunning scenery but unfortunately there are far too many tourists in cars and not enough spots for overtaking them especially in Summer. At least for my taste and riding style that is. Most roads are so narrow that every time 2 buses or trucks meet (and there are plenty of those too) they cause a traffic jam.
Only someone who would even struggle to keep up with Ms Daisy on a GTR would recommend that area for a biking tour. ::)
No, Scotland is the ticket. Glencoe to Fort William via Kinlocheven and Loch Ness are a must and if you feel really adventurous try the road to Applecross (definitely not for the faint hearted).
Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales are not too bad either. If you don't mind the odd sheep on the road that is. >:(

[100milesaway]

Well, I agree the Lake District has stunning scenery but unfortunately there are far too many tourists in cars and not enough spots for overtaking them especially in Summer. At least for my taste and riding style that is. Most roads are so narrow that every time 2 buses or trucks meet (and there are plenty of those too) they cause a traffic jam.
Only someone who would even struggle to keep up with Ms Daisy on a GTR would recommend that area for a biking tour. ::)
No, Scotland is the ticket. Glencoe to Fort William via Kinlocheven and Loch Ness are a must and if you feel really adventurous try the road to Applecross (definitely not for the faint hearted).
Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales are not too bad either. If you don't mind the odd sheep on the road that is. >:(

If you dont mind Gerd there is nothing wrong with Yorkshire dales sheep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are not ODD at all. ;D

[mecki]

If you dont mind Gerd there is nothing wrong with Yorkshire dales sheep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are not ODD at all. ;D

Well, Geoff as long as they stay off the road in front of me I EVEN like them, as ODD as it may sound. 8)

[O.C.]

The Lake District is my home territory and it is in Cumbria, which is why I was a bit confused by your post.

You are correct that in summer the roads are somewhat busy with tourists, but to be honest I've never had any issues overtaking them (safely that is) and they really aren't all so small that two vehicles can't pass  :)

There are some truly stunning biking roads in the Lake District and its a great place to visit whilst en route to Scotlands West Coast

Martin, your planned tour sounds awesome, I do think that if you get the chance, that you should visit the Isle of Man. You will no doubt regret it if you don't.

[2kwacks]

Well, I agree the Lake District has stunning scenery but unfortunately there are far too many tourists in cars and not enough spots for overtaking them especially in Summer. At least for my taste and riding style that is. Most roads are so narrow that every time 2 buses or trucks meet (and there are plenty of those too) they cause a traffic jam.
Only someone who would even struggle to keep up with Ms Daisy on a GTR would recommend that area for a biking tour. ::)
No, Scotland is the ticket. Glencoe to Fort William via Kinlocheven and Loch Ness are a must and if you feel really adventurous try the road to Applecross (definitely not for the faint hearted).
Cumbria and the Yorkshire Dales are not too bad either. If you don't mind the odd sheep on the road that is. >:(

due to me residing in a busy town full of conrete building and car drivers trying there dam best to make my wife a widow :'( there's nothing more than I enjoy than a nice leisurely ride around the lakes :) I do agree if you would rather race around, the lakes may not be the best choice. the last time I went to the lakes with a few mates there was sneaky camara vans and a shed full of unmarked police cars waiting to relieve you of your licence. however it would not have been in our interest if there was no high speeders around, last year I went to the lakes with a mate for a good days ride. we where not going like the clappers but we where not hanging around either, approx 15 m.p.h over on average when this guy on a "rex" zrx1200r over took us on a right hander he came past us like the red indians where after him for his scalp. I needed to look at my speedo to make sure I had not stop. I noticed a dark blue vectra just park a hunderd yards down the side road on my left, he had not seen this car because he most likely needed to concentrate fully on the road at that speed, at first I seen the car through the trees and was not sure if he was moving, so more concerned he may have pulled out on me, if he had done on the "rex lover" he would have carried on without his bike for a few hundred yards more. as soon as we passed the vectra which turned out to be a "vxr" unmarked police car, it was on us very quick. couple of miles further on, he had pulled over the "rex" we never got the chance to thank Mr "rex" for making us "the lesser of 2 evils" I bought my gtr because I don't want to race round anymore. but when I need to, have got the power to overtake as quickly as possible when the situation presents itself. one of the reasons I got rid of my zx636, cbr600 and the gsxr 600 srad, I used to grow horns when I was out on them. don't know why because the zzr1400 would make them feel like scooters ;D ok suppose it may be aged thing now :( but more likely don't want to end up as the ornament on some car's bonnet because he swayed and hit the curb sending him into my path, or the victim of some car driver who as swayed over the white line on a bend, or as simple pulled out on you! have lost 3 mates over the last 25 years and all in the above 3 situations, and they where excellent very experience riders and like me with many track days experience, but unless your god himself and can be somewhere eles at that exact time I'm afraid your "TOAST" "not to fast, not to slow" medium is good! so is the scenery ;)

[BigAlan]

Funnily enough I have had many blades and suchlike bikes and used to ride like a right knobhead on a Sunday morning, since I started touring a little I have gone from a blade, vfr800, sprint, sprint and now GTR and when I ride now I am the most chilled out person on the road, calm in all situations, give way to people and will happily sit there for the odd minute while someone else plays the knob.

But I know when I want to go, I can go like hell in comfort.

Alan

[2kwacks]

Funnily enough I have had many blades and suchlike bikes and used to ride like a right knobhead on a Sunday morning, since I started touring a little I have gone from a blade, vfr800, sprint, sprint and now GTR and when I ride now I am the most chilled out person on the road, calm in all situations, give way to people and will happily sit there for the odd minute while someone else plays the knob.

But I know when I want to go, I can go like hell in comfort.

Alan

couldn't have said that better myself :) but I'm still 14 years away from my bus pass, so it must just be the gtr1400, it brings the best out in us ;)

[Lonewolf]

At the risk of disagreeing with mecki and commenting on his sarcasm I have to summise that he clearly has never experienced the delights of The Lakes or acknowledged their beauty. I see no point in blatting about when I am touring, exploring etc as that would be futile and counter productive in my opinion.

I have found that in the The Lakes as elsewhere a gentle nod of the head or wave of the hand in appreciation of a drivers acknowledgement of my presence as they pull over to let me through goes along way to increasing a positive attidude with other road users. I have visited The Lakes and especially Ambleside for years as I used to have family who lived near Rydal Hall.

I do not wish to make this a personal post and ciriticise anyone who has contributed to it but unfortunately on this occasion I cannot help myself, mecki you are so very wrong. The Lakes are stunning, they are a must on 'The List' of places to visit, over and over again!!!!











And then there's Keswick. Another stunning location.









I rest my case.  8)

[mecki]

I don't deny that the scenery at the Lakes is quite spectacular as far as England goes.
It can't compete with Scotland, though, and the roads in Scotland are usually a lot better too.
But since Martin lives in Munich and therefore not far from the Alps I guess the scenery at the Lakes might not be as impressive to him as it may be to you.
And as you can see on your pictures the roads are not particularly great.
But I suppose I'm just a bit spoiled because I go to the Rhone Alps at least once every year and ride through the most stunning scenery in Europe on my way home.
I also used to live in the probably most stunning place in the world for close to two decades and am not that easily impressed ever since.

And no, I am not out there to race and prefer a more sedate pace.
I most likely would 2kwacks and his mates let past me and only shake my head.
But just going from the back of one bunch of slow moving cars to the next on a road full of potholes and gravel is not my idea of having a good ride out regardless how beautiful the scenery around may be.
I just find it extremely stressful and boring at the same time.

But maybe it's not as bad in spring at the Lakes. :-\

[ChrisB]

The UK has some fabulous scenery. It is only in recent years I have taken the time to look and enjoy it rather than see how quick I could get home from Aberdeen or Cardiff or wherever. I have done some serious miles in the UK over the last 10 years with work, but seen very little. Now I have the GTR and a few years on me, I am enjoying the trip rather than the destination. Everyone should see Scotland, Wales, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Devon, Cumbria and North Lancashire. In fact all of the UK. Just need some decent weather. Can't wait to see N Ireland in May.

[Ubertours]

You missed out the best bit! The stunning cornish coast, and Germany has nothing quite like it either. :D

[100milesaway]

Lovely pictures Steve,  hopefully it wont be long before we are all out enjoying days like your pickies depict. The Lakes are a truly magical place and if you cannot enjoy the fantastic vistas and brilliant biking roads that the whole region has to offer then you are very hard to please indeed. I kid you not there have been lots of times whilst in that area that I could have sat and cried :'( at the awesome spectacle before me.                          Roll on summer. :)