Rain or shine – Our Motorcycle Tour Through the UK
Not everyone would be interested or willing to consider traveling in England on a motorcycle, where it is known to rain more than not, but for those looking for an adventure it can be a fun ride! My husband and I started out by searching some sites for renting a motorcycle in London and choosing one with a good price which we could rent over the weekend. UK motorcycle rentals can be found in various locations including online at websites such as Admo-Tours Motorcycle Rental in London, New Horizons Bike Hire in Manchester, and 2 Wheel Travel located in London South, New Castle Upon Tyne, and Bournemouth. We made sure to include rain gear (which was much needed, as it rained on us at least 50% of our driving time) and essential safety equipment, like a GPS and helmets and then we set off on the trip to see the countryside!
Our plan included visiting Stonehenge, then stopping by in Bath before heading to Cardiff, Wales. On our way back we detoured through Oxford and then back across the countryside home to London. You might choose to each ride a separate motorcycle, but this wasn’t really an option for us because I don’t ride so well, so we rented only one bike, which made the trip a little less comfortable and we definitely had to pack light – fitting everything for the trip in one backpack which I wore!
The countryside of England is very different from the city of London and riding on the motorcycle, we were glad to take a break several times along the way to stop and gaze at the rolling hills and nature’s beauty. Trust me, you will want to get off and walk around occasionally, especially if you don’t rent a cruiser style bike, we rented a sport bike, as we have a distinct need for speed! The stop at Stonehenge was interesting as we were able to include such a famous place. Though, both of us were a bit disappointed, as it really isn’t much more than stones and the price for the Stonehenge Tour seemed a bit high to go inside the fenced area and simply walk around. But hey! We can both say we’ve been there now.
We spent the first night in Bath, a quaint little town in England which is often over-looked by tourists. We ate at Yak Yeti Yak, enjoying traditional Nepalese food and stayed in a stylish bed and breakfast place which was run by a local family. There are tons of hotels in Bath England, but we chose Radnor Guest House and they provided a hearty home-cooked breakfast for us before we set out to explore the town the next day. We enjoyed seeing the historical Roman baths and touring the town a bit. The best part is that the town is small enough to walk around easily, so we visited the beautiful Parade Gardens and Alexandra Park, as we relish spending time outdoors as often as possible. Before leaving we decided to try more of a local flavor and enjoyed a delicious meal at The Cork. There are tons of restaurants and accommodations in Bath England, so it comes to choosing one it really depends on your own tastes.
On the road again, we continued our motorcycle tour and headed to Cardiff, Wales and to spend some time relaxing near the beach. Now, there are plenty of hostels, B&B’s, and hotels in Cardiff, but we took a most nontraditional approach and arranged to stay with some locals for the two nights we were there. We looked on Couchsurfing.org and found that were lots of locals willing to host us. We arranged a host and it was so much fun. She advised us on places that we should see and how to get to some of the beaches just outside of town, including Southerndown Beach. We also continued exploring the coastline and found a beautiful remote area to relax at, which with all the coastline, you are sure to find, if you are interested. In Cardiff, we also were lucky enough to be to walk around pretty much everywhere. We saw the old churches, the Cardiff Castle, and Roath Park just by walking around. We did have to take the motorcycle to get to Castell Coch Castle, which is like stepping out of a fairy tale book! For an American, it was a grand visit just to see that castles like this aren’t only make-believe! There were also local bus options for those who don’t want to walk so much. Our last evening, we delighted in playing darts at a small little pub with some of the locals. We had a lot of fun and just liked getting to know some people; Cardiff accommodations were plenty and the people really were friendly, going above and beyond to welcome us.
Heading back to London from Cardiff is quite a trip on a motorcycle and we decided to make it a little longer, just so we could pass by Oxford. Personally, I’m an academic – being a teacher, so I wanted to see the town and the historical university. It definitely lived up to its reputation, the remarkable architecture is everywhere you look, it is almost overwhelming! Since I was basking in my academic nature, I made my husband treat me to a traditional Sunday pub meal at The Eagle and The Child, which is where J. R. R. Tolkien (The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings) and C. S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia) are said to have spent many Sundays. My husband enjoyed typical “Bangers and mash” and I loved the lamb shank, both of which were delicious alongside the fabulous atmosphere which is tradition pub style as well as keeping its literary history and feel. There are plenty of restaurants and hotels in Oxford and in various tastes as well as prices.
Our trip came to a close as we traveled back to London on the rented motorcycle, which had to be returned the next day. My bum was sore for a week or so afterwards, but I knew the experience was not one we would soon forget. We still talk about our travel in the UK and wonder when we will hop on a motorcycle again, we are based in the US now and the open roads are plentiful, so we will probably need to plan one soon!
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About Karla MiddletonKarla is a regular contributor to Traveloids.com. Karla has has lived, worked and traveled extensively throughout the Middle East and Asia.
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