Looking to go somewhere in the UK with a mate for a weekend road riding. Had thought mid-Wales, Yorkshire or Cumbria.

Anyone got an recommendations?

Was thinking of following one of those top 10 climbs type pages and seeing how many we could tick off in a few days.

Northumberland and the borders

Forest of Bowland in Lancashire. Terrific scenery, very quiet roads. I did a 100 mile sportive round there a while back, and not a single traffic light!

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/323885398

ransos – Member
Forest of Bowland in Lancashire. Terrific scenery, very quiet roads. I did a 100 mile sportive round there a while back, and not a single traffic light!
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/323885398

+1 although I’m slightly biased because I live there 😉 also did the sportive that ransos linked to and can recommend it, lovely quiet roads.
If you do decide to head up to Cumbria instead I can recommend this route, starting and finishing in Broughton-in-Furness. Once again great quiet roads with the small matter of wrynose pass thrown in 😯
Click on the link to view a short video about the route :
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/britains-best-road-ride-votes-now-open-38735/
Here’s the route for it :
http://outdoorsgps.com/route/show/299442_copy-of-broughton-wheelers-lakes-loop

Lakes?

Hardknott, Wrynose & Blea Tarn all in a very small area. Then you have Kirkstone, The Struggle in easy distance to get there.

Rather than do a circular ride, why not do a linear one? Park at Skipton and ride all the way through the Dales to as far as you feel like up the Settle-Carlisle railway, then come back against the SW wind by train. We do it often; the scenery is maginificent and there are plenty of pubs. B&Bs, YHAs and cafes along the route.

It would be the Lakes for me also and I’d give the Fred Whitton route a go.

Thank you for the recommendations the routes posted look awesome.

Any suggestion of decent b&b’s nearby at all?

thanks again!

Thank you for the recommendations the routes posted look awesome.

If you’re looking to bag some climbs, the route I posted has more climbing than last year’s Etape du Tour! I think Cross O’ Greet, Bowland Knotts and Jubilee Tower are in one of those Simon Warren books.

You could do worse than get Dave Barter’s book for inspiration. He may even be along in a minute 🙂

Great British Bike Rides

Forest of Bowland in Lancashire.

+millions. Roadie heaven. Being mobbed by curlews going over the Cross O Greet is one of my magic moments on a road bike.

Forest of Bowland is lovely, if you’re riding more than one day it’s also not far from the Lakes and – in the Pennines – Great Dunn Fell, the biggest road climb in the UK.

Twelve more must-ride climbs for your bucket list

I was hoping to get up and have a crack at that this year, but work’s getting busier again now.

🙁

Thanks stilltortoise

OP do the Rhayader route in my book it is the best and one of the hardest in Wales

Would recommend the Yorkshire Dales and stay at the Dales Bikes Centre near Reeth. From there you have access to the following climbs: Buttertubs, Tan Hill, Oxnop Scar, Fleet Moss, Kidstones,Garsdale Head and Grinton Moor plus many others. I personally think the road cycling in the Dales is better than th lakes. Dales Bike Cnetre is also a great place to stay with pubs handy nearby.

I personally think the road cycling in the Dales is better than th lakes

Been said more than once

The Lakes is stunning and there are some fab challenges to have a go at. Unfortunately a lot of it can be busy. Very busy. The Dales roads are in my experience a lot quieter, giving you more chance to enjoy the riding and the views and having to worry less about being run over.

How about the length of Wales in a weekend…twice, on the Bryan Chapman audax route? 😆

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/16-195/

MID-WALES! – https://www.strava.com/routes/1559558

Plenty of very quiet roads in fantastic wilderness and some great pubs to stop off in, that route is a bit much I expect but if you chose to head around there drop me an e-mail as I have many routes for the area.