You might have been motorbike touring all over Europe and even the rest of the world, but there’s no place like home. The UK still offers some of the most breath-taking scenery and exhilarating rides anywhere on earth. None of these routes are difficult to get to and most can be done in a weekend or even a day’s riding. Pack up all your essentials and don’t forget about motorbike security while you’re on your travels. All you need is some free time and your two wheels. Here are some top recommended routes:

The Windermere Loop

Taking you from the starting point of Windermere, this route finishes back where you started and covers 65 miles. The Lake District is simply stunning, and this ride can be done in a day. You’ll need to take the boat across to the west shore from Windermere and then the adventure begins. Experience the steepest pass, known as Hardknott and take in the picturesque villages along the way. Coniston Lake offers great views and plenty of facilities. It’s easy to get around, with loads of great places to stop and eat. It’s also an ideal base for linking up to other routes for a longer tour, such as taking in the Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales.

The Peak District

Setting off from Matlock and ending at Hebden Bridge, this route is 80 miles long. Roads can get a little congested in this area as the Peak District is surrounded by some major urban conurbations. By choosing a weekday and heading up through the middle, you’ll find it much more remote. The more popular route of the Cat and Fiddle and Snake Pass get very crowded, so you’ll find this route much quieter and without such a high police presence.

You’ll travel through Rowsley, past Chatsworth House, through Castleton and on to the highlight of Winnats Pass. Finishing at Hebden Bridge is also ideal for further explorations into the Yorkshire Dales. Some of the roads are a bit narrow, with corners creeping up on you, so make this a ride about taking your time to soak up the scenery and not a full throttle ride.

 Yorkshire

This ride begins at Skipton and ends at Gretna, covering an impressive 132 miles so you might want to make this a weekend tour. The scenery is breath-taking, but this isn’t a fast ride, being quite challenging in places. It is, however, away from the congestion of the county’s towns and cities.

Places to take in on the journey include the Wensleydale Creamery, Tan Hill (the highest elevation pub in the UK) and the Killhope North of England Lead Mining Museum.  If you’re looking for biker-friendly places to stay, you can’t go wrong with Haggs Bank Bunkhouse, not far from Alston.

The Welsh Valley

Commencing at Chepstow and ending in Aberystwyth, you’ll cover 100 miles of very diverse landscapes and experience one of the UK’s quietest coastal areas, as well as the Brecon Beacons.

Heading north from Chepstow to Monmouth is a beautiful ride along the River Wye, past the ruins of Tintern Abbey and then onto the Brecon Beacons. Be sure to include the Devil’s Bridge Falls, a narrow but gorgeous stretch of road with massive valley views and dotted with copper mine ruins.