Stridey's Round the UK trip on Ten
 

Hi
I am planning to go next Monday 12th on a UK trip on my Tenere visiting most of the UK's National Parks on my way round.

I will be in staying in or close to following places;-

Mon 12th Brecon Wales
Tues 13th Keswick Cumbria
Weds 14th Oban Scotland
Thurs 15th Braemar Scotland
Fri 16th Helmsley North Yorks

and on Sat 17th I will be travelling home via Peak District down to near Nuneaton to ride south on the Fosse way (tarmac on-road bits) to near Ilchester Somerset.

If anyone wants to come and say hello on the night stops above or join me on part of the ride then please contact me.

All in all its about 2000miles. First National Parks (NP) are Dartmoor, Exmoor & Brecon on 12th, Snowdonia & Lake District NP's on 13th, Galloway Forest, Trossachs NP's on 14th, Cairgorms NP on 15th, Northumberland, Keilder Forest, North York Moors NP's on 16th and finally Yorkshire Dales and Peak District NP's on 17th and then home.

That's a good ride out!

I'm worried that you are going to miss out some great roads in the Lakes though, arriving from Wales then off to Oban. I was going to suggest some awesum roads, but I just don't think you'll have the time. If it wasn't mid-week I'd have come and guided you along a few.

Galloway Forest is also a great place to ride, you could fill in three days alone just covering these two parks.

Not sure which route you are taking from Galloway to Oban, but Glasgow is always a sod. Lots of main roads and traffic, then caravans, motor homes and sunday drivers (every day of the week) alongside Loch Lomond and you'll need to be committed to make any progress, or just relax and accept you are going to travel along at 20mph stopping (as you'll be behind a motorhome) every time something comes in the opposite diection!!

You've chosen some fantastic places though, and the long range forecast looks good too.

Thanks Gas Up for the reply.
Yes I know but this is like a weeks hols doing a bit of a recce so that later on I can go back and do more in any NP which I fancy. Also its the first time away on my own doing a bit of camping in the southern parks and probably hostels in the northern ones.

Fancy coming over to Keswick on Tuesday evening? I am looking at camping in Castlerigg Hall? Any good? or can you suggest better? Or would I be better in a hostel(weather dependant)?

cheers

Which part of Dartmoor are you going to say at?

I've just spend 15 minutes on a reply, only to loose it!

Anyway, yes, Tuesday I'm OK with that, I'll PM my mobile number.

I've no experience with Cassltrigg (it's beside the stone circle you know? Don't worry, it's just a pile of rocks, something you get used to living up here!) but I did consider it for the Lakes meet in July.

You could consider Brotherswater ( http://www.sykeside.co.uk/camping.htm) on Kikstone Pass, it's a much nicer place to be, and the view down the valley in the morning is one of the best.

From Brotherswater, I can think of a 2 hour (or so) run out through the best of the Lakeland roads (Wrynose and Hardknott passes), if you still have any energy left after the ride north.

Yes got PM-should have read this reply first though as you have answered questions-thanks.
I'll consider the ride through the passes you mention but I agree I don't think I will have the energy after the ride up North! but you never know!

Hi Mike

Thanks for reply. Not staying in Dartmoor just visiting briefly and then onto Exmoor and staying overnight in Brecon.

It will just be a quick visit into these two SW NP's as I have to progress on up North.

If your around I could meet you for a ride through Dartmoor and maybe Exmoor if you wish? Just PM me your mobile if your can make this.

thanks.
Mark

I've stayed at Castlerigg many a time. There's Castlerigg Hall (slightly lower on the hill, more camping club feel, views not so good) and Castlerigg farm site just above it, lovely views down to Derwent Water and Catbells etc beyond, probably cheaper and certainly feels more biker/walker. Boith have full facilites. There's a pub 50 meters from them, used to have a good selection of beers and reasonable pub food - think the bar is called 'CragHopper' or something. Both are at the very top of the hill, with a steep walk of about a mile to Keswick itself. Lovely roads from there though, down through Keswick into Borrowdale or over the Newlands Valley to Buttermere, or other way past Thirlmere then on to Ambleside and a left to Kirkstone or right to the Langdales and Coniston. Lucky man! Enjoy!

Brotherswater booked for 13th-looks great-thanks.
I will text you on the Tues prior to arrival at site as they say mobiles don't work in the valley and as I am on Orange I guarantee my phone won't work long before then!

Thanks- I have booked Brotherswater as recommended by Gas Up but thanks for the tips anyhow.
I am really looking forward to this even more now and appreciate all the replies and tips.
:SpinHappy_15XK8L:

You'll be amazed.....

Orange were, until a few years ago the only mobile provider that were allowed to put masts in the National Park, they have a mast that looks like a tree!


I've stuck with Orange as they are the phones that normaly work on the fells, long after O2 and Vodafone ahve lost signal.

Hope you have a good one Mark, just booked my place on the Redball run in France :026::026:

Cheers Ricky. I'll take some photos of the "rideout" and post them up on here.

Good luck on the Redball run-when is it? Is there a website for info?

speak soon.

Mark

.

Thats good to know about Orange in the fells. Normally Orange in my experience are the first to "fade" outside of most cities.

Don't want to hijack your thread, I will PM you

There's a ferry from Gourock to Dunoon that misses out the Glasgow bit, I've never done it, though planning to later in the year, so can't say if it's any good / better than the Mway.

If ya going on any of the A roads throo the borders watch out for speed cameras.

If ya passing through Nland via Kielder then you'll probly end up at (or near) Hexham, from there I'd go via Blanchland, Stanhope, Eggleston/Barnard Castle which hops over the top of the moors (can be drab if the weathers nasty) and puts you on the A66.

Stridey - Spotted in the Mountains
 

Mountains Gandalf, I want to see the mountains again.........


I had a little run out to meet up with Mark on Tuesday at Brotherswater. What a great excuse for me to ride some of the best roads in the country again (apparently one of the best roads in Europe according to some aware crap last year).

Mark had covered around 680 miles by the time he stopped on Kirkstone Pass for the night, and should be turning south again by now after his Scottish escape. Apt I think that he hit 660 miles as he entered the Lakes.......

Anyway, just to prove it's not one big wind-up, here you are, two of the original coloured Tenere's sitting side by side half way up Kirkstone Pass.

http://www.smokingtailpipes.com/Gallery/Stridey.JPG


I know Mark has some great photo's to share on his return.

I 'm back!
Got home yesterday about 5.30pm.

Bloody brilliant trip. 1924 miles done since last Monday morning.

Photos to follow once I have sorted.

I will let you know where I will post them to on the forum.

Thanks Darren for meeting me,your route tips and replacement front indicator lens(details tba) last Tuesday eve and for the taster photo above-more to follow!

Glad you had a safe one, look forward to the picces :026:

Come on Stridey let's see the pics.

Ok. go to http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=13724

Enjoy! sorry there are quite a few!

Nice piccies mate, very jealous, but i suppose it was cold:icon_albino:

Thanks. Yes a frost on the first two mornings and I was camping too!