Best place to live / ride?

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

hiccy18 said:

Nice idea, but not realistically possible. I could avoid the motorways and do some sight seeing, but that's two or three days each way. The alternative is heading for the Newcastle ferry, that's four hours taking interesting roads, but that changes where you head for on the other side.

And you have to get on a boat...I personally found the Netherlands to be silly expensive as a tourist and not somewhere I'd rush to get back to. Belgium I rode from the Luxembourg border to Oostende in a morning which would at least get you to the Ardennes then on south to Champagne and the Vosges.

It would almost be tempting to shiply the bike to a mate down south or something and just fly - I regularly do easyJet to Stansted and fares as low as £25.

When I lived in London we did nip over to France a few times to do Normandy and the Opal Coast, nice area to ride in.

[scunnylad]

Biker's Nemesis said:

I spent a good 3 hours messaging Ian yesterday, good God, he remembered my parents names, what colour and model their car was and he knew myself and my Sister stayed at his Grandparents. He also said my Father had trained him at work. So many other things that blew my mind from nearly 50 years ago.

Ha Jock(his nickname since I met him at 17yrs old) has a memory like an elephant,remembers everything

Your dad could well have trained him as an apprentice

[black-k1]

KTMsm said:

MrBig said:

In the UK, I would probably go up around the Broads area. Relatively flat, lots of water to ride alongside and plenty of places to stop for an ice cream.

That just shows how different we all are, I always head for somewhere with hills, preferably mountains

It's all about how you get your enjoyment. For me, the challenge of a good road is most important, and ice-cream, coffee and cake is secondary. I still enjoy ice-cream, coffee and cake but I don't decide where to ride with any real consideration for them.Likewise, while quaint little towns and villages are pretty, I'd rather plot a route on roads that avoid them. A set of open, well surfaced switch-back bends climbing up the side of a hill are, for me, far more fun that riding past thatched cottages, antique shops and tea rooms.

But hey, we're all different.

[scunnylad]

Marquezs Stabilisers said:

hiccy18 said:

Nice idea, but not realistically possible. I could avoid the motorways and do some sight seeing, but that's two or three days each way. The alternative is heading for the Newcastle ferry, that's four hours taking interesting roads, but that changes where you head for on the other side.

And you have to get on a boat...I personally found the Netherlands to be silly expensive as a tourist and not somewhere I'd rush to get back to. Belgium I rode from the Luxembourg border to Oostende in a morning which would at least get you to the Ardennes then on south to Champagne and the Vosges.

It would almost be tempting to shiply the bike to a mate down south or something and just fly - I regularly do easyJet to Stansted and fares as low as £25.

When I lived in London we did nip over to France a few times to do Normandy and the Opal Coast, nice area to ride in.

Unless heading to Spain we get the hull to rotterdam ferry,two or three hours on the motorway gets you to Spa in belgium then leave the motorway and as mentioned above you are into the Ardennes,Luxembourg, vosges,across the border to freiburg and the black forest. For me a better route than 5hrs plus drag down the A1,M11 M25,M2 to the tunnel.

According to Google maps rotterdam to Milan is 100km less than calais to Milan,rotterdam to Nice only 100km more than calais to nice

[Bob_Defly]

KurtFlew said:

I live the English side of the England Wales border in Chester, North Wales to the left, Peak district to the right. My favourite of them all mid Wales an hour away. Some great runs down into Shropshire and Staffordshire. I've never rode in Scotland but this takes some beating.

I'm off to Aberystwyth tomorrow via Rhayader, and back via Bala. Very good.

I'm from Chester. The only issue with N Wales is that the police really don't like the English, but then again, who does.

[Andy XRV]

Biker's Nemesis said:

Andy XRV said:

In the UK I think Hexham or Corbridge would be a lovely place to live and ride and also around Hereford.

No, its crap, for 2 shakes I'd move from here and live in the South.

Biker's Nemesis said:

It rains too much here in the far north and there are no jobs. It's grim, cold, wet and full of whippet owning flat capped northerners

Well seeing as you put it like that i might think again!

I'm only 30mins from the channel tunnel which I must admit is a huge plus. On a good day I can be on my way in France in under 2hours

[Jimjimhim]

Bob_Defly said:

I'm from Chester. The only issue with N Wales is that the police really don't like the English, but then again, who does.

If the police are being racist then you should report them.

[littleredrooster]

In retirement, we moved to Thirsk. If I go to the top of the street and turn right, I have the Yorkshire Moors; if I turn left, I have the Yorkshire Dales. With a little local knowledge there are vast stretches of quiet, fabulous roads. Love it.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

Bob_Defly said:

I'm from Chester. The only issue with N Wales is that the police really don't like the English, but then again, who does.

My experience of North Wales is that they really, really don't like the English. Or anyone they think might be - I'm Scottish and it made little difference

[hiccy18]

scunnylad said:

Marquezs Stabilisers said:

hiccy18 said:

Nice idea, but not realistically possible. I could avoid the motorways and do some sight seeing, but that's two or three days each way. The alternative is heading for the Newcastle ferry, that's four hours taking interesting roads, but that changes where you head for on the other side.

And you have to get on a boat...I personally found the Netherlands to be silly expensive as a tourist and not somewhere I'd rush to get back to. Belgium I rode from the Luxembourg border to Oostende in a morning which would at least get you to the Ardennes then on south to Champagne and the Vosges.

It would almost be tempting to shiply the bike to a mate down south or something and just fly - I regularly do easyJet to Stansted and fares as low as £25.

When I lived in London we did nip over to France a few times to do Normandy and the Opal Coast, nice area to ride in.

Unless heading to Spain we get the hull to rotterdam ferry,two or three hours on the motorway gets you to Spa in belgium then leave the motorway and as mentioned above you are into the Ardennes,Luxembourg, vosges,across the border to freiburg and the black forest. For me a better route than 5hrs plus drag down the A1,M11 M25,M2 to the tunnel.

According to Google maps rotterdam to Milan is 100km less than calais to Milan,rotterdam to Nice only 100km more than calais to nice

Agreed on Holland, I found the cycle paths around roundabouts quite unnerving too, not somewhere I want to hurry back to. We've used Hull a couple of times, I'm in the huff with P&O after the way they treated their staff, many of whom we found quite helpful. However, the Hiccy Embargo will end one day, perhaps next year.

I hadn't thought of using Spa as a target, great idea; alternatively the auberge at Espace Chimay would make a cracking lunchstop. Thank you for the inspiration gents.

[Bob_Defly]

Jimjimhim said:

If the police are being racist then you should report them.

[nunpuncher]

Where I am in central Scotland suits me. Glasgow and Edinburgh 1hr away. Coast roads and ferries to the Highlands and islands on my doorstep. Surrounded by relatively quiet well surfaced B roads. And as I like a bit of off roading I'm spoiled for choice here. Off roading might technically be illegal here but nobody cares about you riding on the moors and if you close gates and leave livestock alone the farmers don't care.

As for rest of world. I'd probably go somewhere eastern European. I remember seeing those amazing mountain passes on top gear and the trail riding is incredible in some of these countries.

[Bob_Defly]

nunpuncher said:

Where I am in central Scotland suits me. Glasgow and Edinburgh 1hr away. Coast roads and ferries to the Highlands and islands on my doorstep. Surrounded by relatively quiet well surfaced B roads. And as I like a bit of off roading I'm spoiled for choice here. Off roading might technically be illegal here but nobody cares about you riding on the moors and if you close gates and leave livestock alone the farmers don't care.

As for rest of world. I'd probably go somewhere eastern European. I remember seeing those amazing mountain passes on top gear and the trail riding is incredible in some of these countries.

We toured the Highlands in a car back in 2019, absolutely stunning scenery, much much better/bigger than I had imagined. And truly amazing weather too. I would love to do it again on a bike.

[hiccy18]

Just remember Scotland only has two seasons: the cold rainy season and the warm one. Sunny days cause natives to cower from the strange gold orb in the sky. Or take their taps aff

[Speed addicted]

J__Wood said:

Fort William has 1504 mm per year, Keswick 1471 mm whilst Cornwall has around 1200mm per year. So not much drier or even wetter depending how far North/West you are. Just warmer rain.

I had a look at the average rainfall for Aberdeenshire, 753mm.
Honestly I’d stay where I am for riding roads, north of Aberdeen.
Loads of interesting and quiet roads, one of the highest roads in the UK is about 40 mins away if you like mountains. The west coast is easily accessible but we don’t get the midges they do. If you haven’t experienced west coast of Scotland midges you may think this is a trivial thing, but they stop me going there from late june until about September.
Plus everything further south has too many people in it.

World wide I think southern Germany would do for me. I like the mountains and amazing roads.

[Steve Bass]

Marquezs Stabilisers said:

Bob_Defly said:

I'm from Chester. The only issue with N Wales is that the police really don't like the English, but then again, who does.

My experience of North Wales is that they really, really don't like the English. Or anyone they think might be - I'm Scottish and it made little difference

True story.....

Maaaaaany years ago, we had a friend who moved to the Rhyadder(sp??) area, bought afarm with land and invited us up for some offroading.. so we all loaded up the enduro bikes and set off for a weekend of good clean dirty fun.
My mate asked the hotel manager for a recommendation on where we could go for a good Friday night.
His advice, in the best ever deadpan Welsh tone was we should head up to the local rugby club as the locals love fighting the English on a weekend.
We gave it some serious consideration but opted for a half a shandy and an early night... riding in the morning of course!!
The Monks Trod and surrounding areas was superb tho.....

[nunpuncher]

Speed addicted said:

I had a look at the average rainfall for Aberdeenshire, 753mm.
Honestly I’d stay where I am for riding roads, north of Aberdeen.
Loads of interesting and quiet roads, one of the highest roads in the UK is about 40 mins away if you like mountains. The west coast is easily accessible but we don’t get the midges they do. If you haven’t experienced west coast of Scotland midges you may think this is a trivial thing, but they stop me going there from late june until about September.
Plus everything further south has too many people in it.

World wide I think southern Germany would do for me. I like the mountains and amazing roads.

Yup, the midges are a pain. However, they aren't an issue when you're on the move. Only if you are camping or working out doors. Also, Avon skin so soft really is the best repellent. A few squirts of that and they don't come near.

[OldGermanHeaps]

The midges around loch ness are the worst i have come across. Skin so soft didnt work for me.
Really took the shine off stopping anywhere, but fine when you are moving.

[KTMsm]

J__Wood said:

Fort William has 1504 mm per year, whilst Cornwall has around 1200mm per year

So not much drier... Just warmer rain.

I don't think those figures are correct but it's still 20% less

I'm in Warwickshire and looked at moving down South - when you look at the amount of sunshine hours and temperatures, it makes a difference from here let alone from Scotland

Edit - a quick Google shows the wettest place is Capel Curig Wales at 2612mm of rain whilst Shoeburyness in East Anglia only had 527mm

Edited by KTMsm on Saturday 22 June 16:19

[Tonberry]

Thailand.