WHEN: Sunday 16th July – Sat 21st July 

COST: £495

IN A NUTSHELL: A loop of the best Tarmac roads in the upper half of England, including an optional sailing to the Isle of Man for a lap of the famous race track. All on road. On your own bike. Novice friendly but with some testing sections. Chief guide on this one is Richard Rowe, a veteran racer of the TT course giving you the best insights about the track and the history of the circuit.
 
HIGHLIGHTS: A lap of the TT course, Snowdonia, Holy Island, Buttertubs Pass, Hardnott Pass and the Lake District, North Yorkshire Moors and the Peak District. Also option to start the journey with a weekend at the The Lightweight Adventurers Festival 2023, running from the 14th-16th July, with tickets bought separately through their website; either £75 for the full weekend (Friday to Sunday morning) or £50 for the Saturday and Saturday night's camping. We leave from a cafe just near its venue on the Sunday morning.

WHO IS IT FOR: For riders who want to ride the best roads of the UK, meet some great people and have an adventure along the way.

ACCOMMODATION: Camping 

ITINERARY
Meet the morning of Sunday 16th of July at 9am at Grindleford Station Cafe on the southern edge of the Peak District, with breakfast and briefing before departure. The Lightweight Adventurers Festival is only ten minutes down the road so if you've been at that then a perfect short ride to the Grand Tour meeting point.

 

Sunday's destination is Cumbria, with a fantastic ride through the Peaks, over the Yorkshire Dales, taking in the epic Buttertubs Pass along the way. After Cumbria, Northumberland follows, riding some of the newly anointed Northumberland 250 route as well as an option to ride the Kielder Forest Drive, a spectacular 12 mile scenic drive along an unsealed road. From there we'll skirt the Scottish borders, tracing the route of Hadrian's Wall before dropping down to ride best of the Lake District, including the testing and optional Hardnott and Winnats Pass. 

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After our passage through the Lake District, we'll catch the ferry from Heysham to the Isle of Man, spending two nights enjoying the local roads, including the infamous TT circuit. A ferry back into Liverpool and with one last adventure through Snowdonia we'll find journey's end at Dom's Bike Stop in Leominster. A true Grand Tour Adventure!

WHAT DOES IT INCLUDE?

The tour includes six nights camping accommodation, route map, two guides and return sailings to Isle of Man. 

WHAT DOES IT NOT INCLUDE? The cost does not include fuel, food, breakdown insurance and other associated costs with travel.

RIDING REQUIREMENTS: Riders must be of competent ability to deal with single track roads, tight corners and group riding conditions. Advisable to be on a machine capable of travelling road legal speeds, or be able to self-navigate. Guides will be riding Royal Enfield Himalayans so the pace will be moderate. Faster or slower riders will have the option to self navigate with the route map provided on GPX.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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HOW LONG ARE THE DAYS?

Daily mileage is between 180 and 200 miles, with option to shorten or lengthen it depending on your preference. Total mileage for the route will be around 1000 miles.

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WHAT WILL I NEED TO BRING?

You'll need a well serviced and reliable machine capable of travelling at road legal speeds, or able to self navigate on a slower machine. It's also worthwhile having breakdown cover in case you need recovering home. 

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For camping you'll need a sleeping bag, tent, roll mat and a stove if you want to make your own breakfast or dinner, although we will always camp where there is access to food.

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WHAT BIKE?

Any bike will do, as long as it's reliable. 

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