North West and North Wales

Holmfirth > Glossop > Langsett > Holmfirth  (A6024, A628, B6105, A57, Unlisted, A616, A635)

Total distance: 45 miles (approx)
Time taken: A couple of hours

Head out of Holmfirth, made famous by that old Sunday night favourite The Last Of The Summer Wine and ride straight into the rolling hills of the picture postcard world of the Peak District National Park.

The run down to the A628 is good enough, but it’s merely the hors d’oeuvre in this feast of a ride, as you cross the Pennine Way and drop into Glossop before getting onto the legendary Snake Pass. This combination of scenery, technical bends, stone walls and sheer drops can be a deadly one, so ride carefully, especially if it’s your first time.

Before you know it you’ll arrive at Ladybower Reservoir. From here the ride up towards Midhopestones and Langsett is pure poetry, with breathtaking views over one of the most naturally beautiful parts of England all the way back to Holmfirth. If you still haven’t had enough of TV land in Nora Batty’s tea and cake shop, head towards Marsden — but beware — it’s where they built the set of the local shop for local people! Tubbs!

Quick instructions

  • Get out of Holmfirth on the A6042
  • Turn right onto the A628 towards Manchester
  • Then a quick left onto the B6105 as you cross the Pennine Way
  • Drop into Glossop then turn left onto the A57 towards Sheffield
  • Take the first left turn after Ladybower Reservoir up to Langsett
  • Turn left onto the A616 for the ride back to Holmfirth

Check out the fantastic route now…

Isle of Man TT Circuit (A2/A1/A3/A18)

Total distance: 37.75 miles (exactly!)
Time taken: The brave racers can take less than 20 minutes but an hour-or-so is acceptable for the rest of us!

Quick instructions

  • Take the A2 south out of Douglas
  • Head onto the A1 at Quarterbridge
  • Then all the way past Crosby and turn right onto the A3 (Ballacraine Corner)
  • Follow the A3 all the way to Ramsey…
  • Then take the A18 (Mountain Section) all the way back to Douglas
  • Repeat as necessary!

 Check out the most iconic race course in the world… 

Ulverston > Barrow-in-Furness > Rampside > Ulverston (A590/A5087)

Total distance: 35 miles (approx)
Time taken: Get up at sunrise and take two hours to enjoy quiet roads

Quick instructions

  • Head out of Ulverston on the A590
  • Turn left onto the A5087 after Barrow-in-Furness
  • Follow the road back to Ulverston
  • It really is that simple!

Take a glance at the route…

Denbigh > Trawsfynydd > Bala > Denbigh (A543/A5/A470/A4212/B4501)

Total distance: 86 miles (approx)
Time taken: All afternoon… why rush it?

Quick instructions

  • Head south-west out of Denbigh on the A543
  • Turn right onto the A5
  • Turn left onto the A470 signed for Porthmadog
  • At Trawsfynydd, turn left onto the A4212 to Bala
  • Just before Bala, turn left onto the B4501 back to Denbigh

 Look at the route now… 

Motorcycle riding in North Wales

Caernarfon > Beddgelert > Garreg > Porthmadog > Pwllheli > Morfa Nefyn > Caernarfon  (A4085/B4410/A498/A497/B4417/A499/A487)

Total distance: 60 miles (approx)
Time taken: Allow at least two hours

Quick instructions 

  • Head out of Caernarfon on the A4085 towards Beddgelert
  • Follow it all the way to Garreg, then turn right onto the B4410
  • Pick up up the A498 into Porthmadog
  • Then get on the A497 to Pwllheli and then on towards Morfa Nefyn
  • Turn right onto the B4417 for a few miles
  • Then take the A499 before picking up the A487 and following signs back to Caernarfon

 Check out the route on our map… 

Holmes Chapel > Alderley Edge > Poynton > Whaley Bridge > Buxton > Congleton > Holmes Chapel (A535/A34/A5102/A5149/A523/A6/A5004/A53/A537/A54)

Total distance: 60 miles (approx)
Time taken: A great summer evening ride

Quick instructions 

  • Head north from Holmes Chapel on the A535
  • Pick up the A34 past Alderley Edge and then take the A5102
  • Head for Poynton on the A5149
  • Then left onto the A523
  • Turn right onto the A6 towards Buxton
  • Turn off the A6 at Whaley Bridge onto the A5004
  • Turn right onto the A53 at Buxton…
  • … Then pick up the A537 before heading home on the A54 via Congleton

Take a look at the route now… 

Check out some more of our fantastic UK biking routes

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