Both tours are virtually full now - however, some will drop out (they always do) so ask about places...

The 2008 April & May “Best of Three” Tours

I’ve finally got around to fixing up the Best of Three trips, and sorting out the accommodation and pricing.  The pricing structure is much more straightforward now.

The response is very good this year, and even before the re-appearance of the “regulars” it looks like we’ll have up to a dozen bikes on each tour.

There has been a very slight change of plan.  It is subtle, and won’t really make a lot of difference, but it’s only fair to point it out.

The April 18^th to 20^th Tour is going to be a standard Best of Three Trip, riding exactly the same routes as all previous years, but instead of staying in Dent, we’re going to be staying in the next town up the road instead.  It’s just 4 miles up the road – in Sedbergh.

A surprise wedding is taking place in Dent, meaning I couldn’t get enough rooms in there. (The Sun Inn only has 4 rooms remember?)

The good news is, by staying in Sedbergh instead, we can all be in the same hotel. I’ve provisionally reserved all 16 en-suite rooms in a traditional coaching Inn for us.    A bar with Real Ales, a secure car park and no antipathy to motorcyclists augers well for our trip.

The riding itinerary of; Derbyshire on Friday, an exciting circular tour around the Lakes on Saturday, and a bit more Yorkshire Dales on Sunday, stays just the same as ever.   April Tour now FULL.

The May 9^th to 11^th Tour will be based in The Lake District for a change.

We’ll be staying in Ravenglass again, which is a sleepy little ex-smugglers village, right on the coast.  Despite it’s beachfront location, it is only 8 miles from Eskadale and the tricky mountain passes inland.

 We’ll be using the same friendly Pub / hotel that we stayed in last time, bu tas they only have 5 rooms, I’ve requested rooms in the adjacent B&B as well.

The roads we’ll ride are broadly the same on both tours, but because our base for Friday and Saturday nights is somewhat further away than Dent / Sedbergh, we sometimes truncate or eliminate the Derbyshire bit, in order to reach the Dales & Lake District a bit sooner.    The Ravenglass itinerary allows us to ride the magnificent Honister Pass if we wish to as well.

Pricing

Although there are small price discrepancies across both venues and hostelleries, for simplicity, the tour cost is now the same for both tours, and for whichever establishment we lay our weary heads down in.

2 sharing a twin room

£165 per rider.                            (Feb discount, to 10^th March, £155)

1 person in single room / or occupying double, twin or family room.

£215.                                       (Feb discount to 10^th March £205)

Camping version  £99, where possible. (not possible in Ravenglass)

I now believe that every room but one (in Ravenglass), is en-suite.  A true “single room” is very rare, nearly all rooms are actually twins or doubles, and are priced accordingly.  On busy weekends, hotels & Inns do not like to let large rooms go to individuals.  In Ravenglass, the B&Bs are actually a bit posher than the hotel.  There are a couple of nice, newly-refurbished double bedded rooms for couples!

To be fair to all guests, when we check in as a group, we often pile the room keys on the reception desk (separating twins, from doubles from singles of course), and just take your pick at random.  It’s just pot luck whether you get a sea view room that way.

(Hint….. no one in Sedbergh gets view of the sea!)

I can offer a discount for pillion passengers occupying the same room as their partner or travelling companion.  Say, £50 off above prices)  The accommodation costs me just the same, but it’s one less motorcycle I have to worry about.

NOTE – to people who have already paid me their deposit – if you are unhappy with these slightly changed arrangements, just speak out and I’ll refund your deposits if you don’t want to go with the new plan.

To secure your place on one of these tours, just send me £50 per head deposit.  (or full amount if you prefer)

Cheques preferred by me, although direct transfer is possible if that suits you better.  Cheques to be made payable to “Bike Tours UK” and posted to;

Bill Roughton

Bike Tours UK

83 Main Road

Wilford Village

Nottingham

NG11 7AP

In both cases, the tour commences by meeting up at the above address in Nottingham, on the Friday morning of the tour at 09:15.  (18^th April or 9^th May).

If guests are coming a long way, they normally make their way up to Nottingham on Thursday evening.  I can arrange hotel accommodation for you in West Bridgford, about 1 mile from my house. 

I normally use the Balmoral Hotel, which is a budget / mid-range hotel, with a bar, and close to good pubs, food and amenities.  Approx cost, based on previous years is £32 for a shared room or approx £45 for a single room.  It’s normally a social evening where we meet up, have a beer or two and maybe a curry, or sometimes pay a visit to the oldest pub in England – Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem.  A break the ice kind of thing.