I'm thinking about trying to organise a biking trip to the UK for a group of people from our cycle club here in Madrid, but I'm not sure how to go about it.
I always read on here about companies in Spain, France etc that organise riding trips, but I suppose there are ones in the UK too - can anyone recommend one? Ideally I'd like to go to Scotland I think, but other venues would be considered. Maybe a mix of routes with some trail centres thrown in (as none of us have been to a trail centre before).
The other option is to try to organise it myself (with the help of STW) and put together a plan of routes, places to stay, bike hire if necessary etc. This would almost certainly end up being a pain in the arse for me but is likely to work out cheaper and I can obviously tailor it to the group. I don't really know how many people would come - maybe a dozen.
Thanks in advance
hire a bus and arrange days led by stw regulars around the uk!
I'd stay in spain, the UK is shite why do you think we all bugger off to france in the summer...
hire a bus and arrange days led by stw regulars around the uk!
don't think it hasn't gone through my head! We could get personal local-guided routes of the best places around the UK!
i'm serious! do it do it do it do it
Why the hell would you want to do that ! the riding is the UK is sh*te compared to Spain !
The alps is even less of a drive !
I can feel abuse coming my way already... ho hum.
Spain's great but there's brillinat riding in UK too. It would be nice for the Spanish to see some trails with trees.
Ok fair enough, thats true, perhaps some sort of riding exchange program, . Spain -->Uk for Uk --->Spain.
Spain's great but there's brillinat riding in UK too. It would be nice for the Spanish to see some trails with trees.
Yeah, that's part of the reason. There isn't really that much singletrack here (Madrid - I don't know about in other parts) but people don't seem very interested in it anyway. I'd like to show them something different. They're quite happy riding the same fireroads week in week out so I reckon a change of scenery and riding would do them a world of good!
TBH one of the reasons is that I want to ride in the UK too - I only took up riding here so I've never ridden in the UK apart from commuting in London.
Make sure you take them on a highland hikabikethrubog route š That should be different for them
Will do TJ š Must also include hail, midges, fog and general dreich. Ideally all on the same day!
Try Andy from go-where based in Innerleithen ....really good set up, they can pick you up from the airport, fantastic acommodation, will take you around the 7 stanes but also more of the wilder stuff, guided, unguided etc....
[url= http://www.go-where.co.uk ]go-where.co.uk[/url]
We had some riders come from Madrid to Callander (near Stirling) for a long weekend of riding and they loved it!
They loved the mud, they loved the rain, they loved the roots, they loved the scenery.
Mark at Wheels of Callander / Trossachs Tryst sorted them out with accommodation and bikes and stuff.
that looks interesting nasher - thanks.
Definitely take them to the Lake district.
eckinspain - MemberI'm thinking about trying to organise a biking trip to the UK
WHY???????
Unless we get a miracle and have a good summer it will be cold, wet and muddy.
If you are riding on the roads, they are badly kept, too busy and the cars will treat you like you don't exist.
If you are riding off road, unfortunately, the majority of rights of way in the United Kingdom are footpaths and you can't ride on those (legally). There are some great forest trails and a few specific riding centres, but to do general off roading usually takes quite a bit of local knowledge as you can't just head off into the hills.
If you really want to ride in the UK, you could try something like the C2C (Coast to Coast) [url= http://www.c2c-guide.co.uk/ ]LINKY[/url]. There are off road sections within the ride and you will hopefully get to experience some stunning countryside with not as much traffic.
You might also want to have a look at [url= http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ ]SUSTRANS[/url]. They have lots of cycle routes, although mainly on road, but they would allow you to cycle between some of the better off road areas on less congested routes.
Mavisto - wind up surely?
but to do general off roading usually takes quite a bit of local knowledge as you can't just head off into the hills.
I don't recognise where you're talking about
mavisto - it will be off-road that we'll be doing.
It can't be that bad, surely? People post up photos on here every week that look great. Or should I stick to trail centres?
The C2C sounds interesting but that's more likely to involve more faff like sleeping bags, tents, carrying own food etc. I think I'd prefer to ride somewhere for a day then go back to hotel/B&B/bunkhouse for food, booze and sleep.
speak to Stu Price at inquiries@dalesbikecentre.co.uk
Tel: 0044 (0)1748 884908
Rides in the Yorkshire Dales are brilliant.
eckinspain - you most definitely can "just head up into the hills". Another thing the Spanish might be impressed with are maps that are ave actually an accurate reflection of reality.
Wales. Accommodation plentiful, some good Trail Centres that should yield a decent couple of days riding. Bike hire at some of them also. Got to be worth a go.
Mackem, if you gave them a map they wouldn't know what to do with it! An expensive GPS that you rely on until it sends you the wrong way, however...everyone's got one of those!
It can't be that bad, surely? People post up photos on here every week that look great. Or should I stick to trail centres?
Legally and I emphasise legally, depending on the area that you choose, there might look like there are loads of places to ride off road, but that just isn't the case.
You CAN ride on BRIDLEWAYS (and I admit there are loads of them), BYWAYS OPEN TO ALL TRAFFIC, FOREST TRACKS AND PATHS, GREEN LANES and WHITE ROADS.
You CANNOT ride on FOOTPATHS, CANAL TOW-PATHS (some you can), DISUSED RAILWAY LINES (again, some you can).
You need to think where you want to go to (north, south etc) and then get some maps (or something like Anquet).
Don't know if this [url= http://www.bikeforall.net/content/access_law_for_bikes.php ]LINKY[/url] will help.
Mackem - Member
you most definitely can "just head up into the hills".
Not legally!!
Anwsering the question.
There are lots of places to ride over here. We're quite blessed we what we have on our doorstep.
Great riding in;
Most of Scotland
Most of Wales
Lakes
Peak District
Yorkshire Dales & Moors
Exmoor/Dartmoor
Depends on what kind of riding you're looking fo scenic, technical, easy, and time of year, with the weather making some places non-ridable.
If i was over here for a week, i'd be tempted to head for Scotland. Good mixture of trail centers and Natural stuff, and go furhter north to Laggan and Aviemore. Great scenary, and very different to Madrid, plus i'm sure someone local will be willing to show you some of the natuaral stuff as well.
Eckinspain we've www.forestfreeride.co.uk arranged trips for various overseas groups in the past. Over the course of a week we've done trail centre days, epic rides into the mountains and even overnight trips staying in bothies ... the group from San Fransisco thought that was very strange š
Might be of interest, oh yea, we're in Wales 45 mins from CYB and Nant Yr Arian trail centres.
Stuart
[url= http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/route_guides.html ]THIS[/url] may also help a little.
I'd much rather be looking for off road MTB routes than working!!!
Mavisto, the OP is British so I think he might know what a footpath and a bridleway are. š And you can just head off into the hills (even in England), providing you stick to rights of way: there's this amazing device called "an OS map" that tells you where those are. Sorted. however, to find the best riding I agree some sort of local knowledge helps.
OP, why not a road trip around Welsh/Scottish trail centres if you want to avoid mapreading issues, maybe with one or two STW-guided rides thrown in for a bit of "natural" riding?
eck, I'm looking at the same thing here at the moment. I ride with a big bunch of people from all over Spain and the last meeting they were very keen to come to the UK. I think I'm going to take them over around September/October if I have a gap in bookings. It's maybe a bit different from what you're doing because we ride plenty of singletrack here but they're quite intrigued by the idea of the trail centres because they have nothing like them here. I'm thinking of hiring a minibus and taking them to the lakes for a day, then up to the 7-stanes, laggan, aviemore and finish off with some northern stuff (golspie etc). I'd like to fit in a visit to Skye but it'll depend on time and weather. The idea was to show them some of Scotland, drink some whisky and proper beer, ride some natural stuff and the best of the trail centres.
Mackem, I want to show them an OS map, just to let them see why I'm so frustrated with their 'maps'.
You can easily just head up into the hills, admittedly in England and Wales you have to stick to certain routes but it's not hard to find out which and not particularly restrictive, especially when everything is new to you.
I think you could easily choose a destination, hire a bunkhouse, pick up a vertebrate graphics book and do some nice riding and visit trail centres as well.
I agree with Chew. The biggest bang for your euro so to speak without the access complications.
Just the drive from Glasgow to Lagan, will make the trip worthwhile, passing all of the Scottish Lochs, Castles and Mountains, and thats before you do any riding.
Fly to Edinburgh/Glasgow, hire a van and travel round for the week. Cheap to do Laggan and Aviemore are fantastic and you could have a guide/local show you round for a day or too.
You've now got me planning my next trip up there now.....
I like the sound of a mix of natural and trail centres (roping in STW help where possible) in Scotland/Lakes/Wales and especially showing them proper beer and whisky!
(Doug, would love to come up to paĆs vasco too - might arrange a weekend with the wife)
PS ebygomm a vertebrate graphics book??
eck, give me a shout if you're doing that and I'll show you about. It's reet nice up here!
Proper beer and whisky is a definite, although whisky is significantly cheaper here than it is at home.
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ooh, check them books!
thanks
Aye, it's nice where Doug is. If you come oop north I can show round my neck of the woods too (Bilbao).
cheers Mackem. Went to Bilbao last summer for a couple of days and loved it so I'd be up for a return trip
http://www.mb7.com/
http://www.cyclewild.co.uk/
http://www.aeadventure.com/
http://www.innerhaven.co.uk/
http://www.scottishmountainbikeguides.com/guided-holidays-scotland
http://www.wildcat-bike-tours.co.uk/
http://www.macsadventure.com/holidays/biking.php
http://www.trailbrakes.co.uk/output/home.asp
http://www.wildernessscotland.com/adventures.php?tripID=35
http://www.7stanes.com/
http://www.gallowaycycling.co.uk/
A few companies who offer holidays and/or guiding.
But I am sure the STW massive could offer local guiding if you could source transport.
eg I live in Dumfries and my speciality is a "tour de" Mabie and Dalbeatie.
I can also do routes in the Lowther hills above Sanquhar/Thornhill. These routes can/could be started from Drumlanrigg. Sure Rik would be only to happy to show you round his patch.
http://www.drumlanrig.com/default.asp?PageId=84
I also know my way around the Howgills and the Lakes.Not as well as some but have been riding down there for 15yrs or so.
Andy @ Biketreks may be able to sort you out with something, he has done guiding here and abroad for yrs;
http://www.biketreks.net/
http://www.bike-express.co.uk/
http://www.offroadadventures-online.com/
http://www.mtbthedales.org.uk/
http://www.mtbbritain.co.uk/peak_to_peak.html
http://www.mountain-bike-cumbria.co.uk/
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/achs-5rneev
We have decided to go at the end of the Summer and probably going to base ourselves at Glentress. Thinking that Glentress house looks good - anyone able to recommend it? How close is it to Glentress? How easy is it to get to other trail centres & natural riding?
... this [i]is[/i] a joke, isn't it?
mountain biking is basically illegal in Britain. it's a bit like Drug abuse in Switzerland; frowned upon and actively discouraged by the rest of society, but tolerated within a few small parks.
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eckinspain
some of my 7Stanes pics+others;
http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l145/bigjohnskona/
All the 7Stanes centres are within an 1hr or 2 from GT
Innerliethen = 20mins
Ae = 1hr 15min
Mabie = 1hr 30min
Dalbeattie = 2hr 30min.
Drumlanrig = 1.30min
All times approx depending on traffic etc.
There are loads of natural trails in most of the forest, but you will need a local to find them for you.
There are loads of natural trails around GT/Inners/Ae/Mabie/Dalbeattie and Drumlanrig. OS78 Nithsdale is your friend for the Dumfries area.
Usually controversial but I would reckomend Dumfries as a base rather than the GT area, more "centred" for getting about imo.
Also within a couple of hrs from the Lakes. Keswick, Whinlatter + Borrowdale Bash eg.
http://www.mabiehousehotel.co.uk/
http://www.marthrown.com/index.htm
http://www.astonhotels.co.uk/hotels/dumfries
Loads more depending on budget and size of party.