COG US member traveling to the UK starting 23-May

[7LakesGuy]

Hi all - I was referred here by gPink on the COG forum in the US.

I'm taking advantage of Air Canada's "fly your bike" program to do a round trip tour of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales between 23-May and 2-Jun.  I put a link to my route plan below - yes I know it's aggressive, I'll be riding solo so I can make adjustments along the way as needed.  Unfortunately I can't get more than 2 weeks off work.

I think I have all the shipping logistics figured out, and I'll be either camping or using Airbnb to find a room each night along the way.

Any local knowledge is appreciated - regarding the routes, tips/advice, etc. Yes I realize that Isle of Man is going on while I'm there, but it'd take too much time to ferry in and out of there for not much riding, so that will have to wait for another trip when I have more time.

And if any of you are ever in my area -north/west of New York City - let me know!

Thanks!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1xD6ZuOZ7IxyTzxMxihlmLJn1Oas&usp=sharing

[beegee]

Good luck. Have a nice trip 

[Icefever]

Wow that's a fair bit of riding there, I'm a trucker and the one big fly in the ointment over here is way over crowded roads, road repairs, grid lock, accidents, and a whole lot of other stuff that will eat into your day to day riding times.

Until you get way up north then the traffic does thin out a little, don't get me wrong we have some great biking roads and beautiful scenery.

Enjoy your holiday and if you do change the latter part of your route and find time to visit Warwick we have a spare room that your welcome to. 

[ChrisB]

Good luck, looks like a great ride. make sure you have wet suit and insect/midge repellent if riding in Scotland in June. You might like to take a look at the following sites:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/

Good luck
ChrisB

[doebag]

Hmm.
Personal opinion is some of those days are quite ambitious, have you plotted them and timed them ?

Personally I would do the Heathrow to Hull short route, the long route via Ely and Kings Lynn is not the most scenic [ majority is reclaimed marshland and very flat ]

In north Scotland a lot of the western part of the red  route is single track road [ though tarmac paved] with passing places and I reckon you would not average more than 40mph.

Applecross is a wonderful route but again single track with passing places and a few very tight hairpin bends, a fully laden 1400 will be a bit of a handful.

Likewise your yellow route through the Lake District will be full of tourists in campervans and mobile homes, you may well find your timetable slipping there.

I stand to be corrected by others, but like I said only my opinion.

[mikeyw64]

why Hull 

[O.C.]

I'm with doebag on this one...some of those routes will require at least two days to complete and appreciate, the roads are small and can be busy which will slow you down

I see that you have nine different colours on your route plan and think that you will definitely need more than 9 days to complete

Good luck, keep us posted about your journey which does include some stunning areas and outstanding riding roads     

[PaulB]

Not sure I can add anything other than agree with what has already been said; some of those days may be a little ambitious.

Our roads are a lot smaller and twisting than roads on your side of the pond: your average ground speed is going to be way *way* less than you've calculated.

If you're planning spending 6am until 9pm in the saddle, stopping only for fuel (and the occasional coffee and bite to eat) then you will be able to do those routes. Not the best way too see another country though, really.

Whatever you decide, I hope you have a wonderful time. Oh, and be prepared to get wet. Especially in Ireland. You know it's called "The Emerald Isle"? There is a reason for it being so green

Cheers

Paul B.

[doebag]

Just put your Day 4 into a route planner.
It is showing 408 miles in 10 hours [ 40mph average ] purely on the road time. That includes good quality highways where you can do the national speed limit.
I recently did the NC500 a few weeks ago and I am sure you will not better that time.
Add on a couple of fuel stops, at least one food/drink stop plus any getting off the bike to stretch out and actually see the scenery and you are looking at a 12 hour day.

[viper]

do less miles and see much more !

[7LakesGuy]

Thank you all for all the feedback on the routes.  I'm traveling solo so I will be able to make adjustments on the fly.  I did the trip planning in Garmin Basecamp and relied pretty heavily on it's trip timings, sounds like I probably need to dial it back 25% on speed to plan more realistic days.  Worst case I can skip some segments so I can stick to my schedule.  I do plan to spend between 8-10 hours a day on the bike, only stopping for petrol and quick food - it's what I'm used to when I'm on trips like this.

Enjoy your holiday and if you do change the latter part of your route and find time to visit Warwick we have a spare room that your welcome to. 

Thanks much for the offer, I'll let you know if I end up that way.

Personally I would do the Heathrow to Hull short route, the long route via Ely and Kings Lynn is not the most scenic [ majority is reclaimed marshland and very flat ]

In north Scotland a lot of the western part of the red  route is single track road [ though tarmac paved] with passing places and I reckon you would not average more than 40mph.

Applecross is a wonderful route but again single track with passing places and a few very tight hairpin bends, a fully laden 1400 will be a bit of a handful.

Likewise your yellow route through the Lake District will be full of tourists in campervans and mobile homes, you may well find your timetable slipping there.

Thanks for the detailed feedback.  The longer Heathrow to Hull was based on a tour from the book I was using, I created the shorter one since I'm not sure what time I'm getting my bike through customs and wanted a more direct route.

I had seen pictures and read about the single-track roads in Scotland but it wasn't clear from the mapping software which roads those were.  I have a couple alternatives including cutting across the NC500 through the hills, and skipping Applecross or Isle of Skye altogether to make up time if needed.  My worst case "parachute" is that I ditch Ireland and stick to England and Scotland if I'm enjoying the roads and sights and am not making good time.

As for the lake district - I was hoping that getting through there the ween of 22-May ahead of the holiday weekend would work in my favor - wishful thinking?

why Hull 

It's a Doctor Who thing.  Based on all the other feedback I'm thinking that I'm better off heading straight up towards the lake district and skipping Hull on the first day.  Maybe better off heading up through Peak District?


Thanks again to everyone for the advice, cautions, and encouraging words!  It's really appreciated.

Guy

[mikeyw64]

It's a Doctor Who thing.  Based on all the other feedback I'm thinking that I'm better off heading straight up towards the lake district and skipping Hull on the first day.  Maybe better off heading up through Peak District?

In which case you're better heading for (my hometown) Cardiff and going to the Dr Who exhibition plus its where a lot of it is shot :)


(all of the below are quick & dirty and not detailed)

ANyways that aside  I f I was doing it I would head up to mine day 1, which is a comfortable day and gets you settled in (also takes in the Cat & Fiddle)

https://goo.gl/maps/QvkPNJXv3PQ2

Day 2 I would punch aout a bit longer and only give you a "taste" of the Lakes (up as far as Penrith is part of a regular Sunday ride out for me but instead of coming home I've continued you up to Jedburgh. unfortunately Im in work otherwise would take you on this leg)

Takes in places such as Ribblehead and Tan Hill (UKs highest pub above sea level)

https://goo.gl/maps/o4xttutVSTs

Day 3 I would go straight up to John O'Groats (easily doable, have done it a couple of times)

https://goo.gl/maps/GFygscC3TJr

WHich then means Day 4 you can enjoy the ride around to Applecross  as per your original

Day 5 I would probably just cut out the diversion to Skye

Day 6,7,8  I havent got a clue about as havent been over to NI or Ireland (dont forget you need Euro in the South not £sterling)


Day 9 as it is is a bit of a killer, personally I would stop at Cardiff (did I mention Dr Who exhibition in Cardiff Bay ??) then just shoot down the M4 to Heathrow the following morning back to Heathrow but I don't know what flexibility you have.

ALso bear in mind that the 27th May-29th may is a Bank (Public) Holiday weekend

[doebag]

This could be quite an interesting thread.

Have you ever visited/driven in the UK before?
The reason I ask is that your first day out of Heathrow involves two of the busiest motorways in the south east of England, the M25 and M1
Compared to the US, besides driving on the other side of the road, you may find lane discipline over here leaves something to be desired at times, filtering [lane splitting] is legal, and you will need to make sure you are familiar with our road signs .
In Scotland, the maximum speed limit is explicitly signed by e.g 60 or 70 numerals on a circular sign.
However in England and Wales the maximum speed limit can be indicated by the sign below, which on dual carriageway roads is 70mph, but on single carriageway roads [ no centre reservation / median strip] is 60mph. It would be very easy to get stopped for the sake of not understanding the signage

[mikeyw64]

This could be quite an interesting thread.

Have you ever visited/driven in the UK before?
The reason I ask is that your first day out of Heathrow involves two of the busiest motorways in the south east of England, the M25 and M1
Compared to the US, besides driving on the other side of the road, you may find lane discipline over here leaves something to be desired at times, filtering [lane splitting] is legal, and you will need to make sure you are familiar with our road signs .
In Scotland, the maximum speed limit is explicitly signed by e.g 60 or 70 numerals on a circular sign.
However in England and Wales the maximum speed limit can be indicated by the sign below, which on dual carriageway roads is 70mph, but on single carriageway roads [ no centre reservation / median strip] is 60mph. It would be very easy to get stopped for the sake of not understanding the signage

And don't forget we have those quaint things called "roundabouts" :)

On the plus side though the only guns our coppers generally have are laser ones 

[7LakesGuy]

ANyways that aside  I f I was doing it I would head up to mine day 1, which is a comfortable day and gets you settled in (also takes in the Cat & Fiddle)

https://goo.gl/maps/QvkPNJXv3PQ2

Day 2 I would punch aout a bit longer and only give you a "taste" of the Lakes (up as far as Penrith is part of a regular Sunday ride out for me but instead of coming home I've continued you up to Jedburgh. unfortunately Im in work otherwise would take you on this leg)

Takes in places such as Ribblehead and Tan Hill (UKs highest pub above sea level)

https://goo.gl/maps/o4xttutVSTs

Day 3 I would go straight up to John O'Groats (easily doable, have done it a couple of times)

https://goo.gl/maps/GFygscC3TJr

WHich then means Day 4 you can enjoy the ride around to Applecross  as per your original

Day 5 I would probably just cut out the diversion to Skye

Day 6,7,8  I havent got a clue about as havent been over to NI or Ireland (dont forget you need Euro in the South not £sterling)


Day 9 as it is is a bit of a killer, personally I would stop at Cardiff (did I mention Dr Who exhibition in Cardiff Bay ??) then just shoot down the M4 to Heathrow the following morning back to Heathrow but I don't know what flexibility you have.

ALso bear in mind that the 27th May-29th may is a Bank (Public) Holiday weekend

Wow - thank you for the detailed route advice - one question.. several of the pages I read said that Honister pass and Whinlatter pass were must see rides - your "taste of the lakes district" skips those.  What's your take on that extra loop to go through those two passes, just not worth the traffic and frustration?

And agreed, if I can get to Cardiff it would be the best for the Whovian in me.  I like that your map mods get me a bit farther, and whether or not I skip skye will have more to do with ferry timing than anything... if it does me good to get to Cairnryan earlier, and that gives me extra time in Ireland, that could be a good call.

Thanks again for the time you spent putting this together - very helpful!

Guy