If you ride a motorcycle and live in the UK, then the chances are that you have enjoyed the roads in Scotland at one time or another. There are two main roads, the A1(M) and the M6, that run up either side of the country, and if you want to get to Scotland, it makes a lot of sense to use them.
When you do that, you bypass the Yorkshire Dales National Park, arguably – on a sunny day – one of the most inspiring landscapes in the UK.
I’m guilty of this sin. I’ve ridden across parts of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, but normally just the edges on my way to somewhere else.
In my defence, we ride past the National Park because it is a National Park, and since 1954, the idea of expanding roads, infesting it with electricity pylons, mobile phone masts or doing pretty much anything else that could be considered a blot on the landscape has been banned.
If you want to get somewhere quickly, then you are in the wrong place. If you want some of the most picturesque, twisting, turning, and, at times, narrow roads to ride that are measured by the stunning vistas rather than how many times we scratched the pegs, then this is the place for you.
The header image is based on an original work by Kreuzschnabel and used under license.
When importing GPX files, your GPS or Phone navigation app will recalulate the route based on your navigation preferences. We add waypoints to hopefully minimise any differences, but it is always worth double-checking.
If you have a route that you would like to share, get in touch and with the Editor, and we will do our best to include it. Download, ride and enjoy. What could possibly go wrong? All the motorcycle touring routes are GPX 1.1 version files.
All of the motorcycle touring routes are provided “as is” without guarantee, liability or any assurances. The lawyers said we had to include that sentence. All we can tell you is that we had an excellent time planning and riding them.
Free Motorcycle Touring Routes
Hawes Loop - The Route
Free Motorcycle Touring Routes
Hawes Loop
If you only have a day in the National Park, then this is the route to ride. Starting in Hawes, there is a gentle warm-up ride to Nateby and then a right turn that is easy to miss.
The turn is just before the garage, which once displayed a sign informing you that you had just passed the last petrol pumps for miles.
Take the turn, ride across the cattle grid and you are off into the Dales and sharing the roads with the sheep, who have no regard for road safety and do dumb things.
In places, the roads are narrow, and with the abundance of farms and fields, mud can be an issue. Perhaps worst of all though are the urban assault vehicles driven by people looking at the scenery.
The route is a figure of eight, and after 55 scenic miles, it passes through Hawes again and off towards the famous Ribble Head Viaduct.
It was once possible to ride to the viaduct, but today, it is a question of squeezing into one of the parking spots and walking. It isn’t very far and easily done in riding boots.
There are ample cafes on this route but not that many petrol stations.
The garage we mentioned … yep, they were not kidding.
Free Motorcycle Touring Routes
Buttertubs - The Route
Free Motorcycle Touring Routes
Buttertubs Pass
The Buttertubs Pass is an infamous road often spoken about in the same reverent tones as Bealach na Bà on the way to Applecross in Scotland.
The legends attached to both roads are perhaps larger than the reality of the roads. That said, you need to tick them off your bucket list.
Officially, Buttertubs Pass is six miles long and takes about 10 minutes to ride. Despite this limitation, film crews often use the roads due to the stunning views and uncluttered background.
The road surface can be slippery when it is wet, but other than being narrow in places and having some sections with only a steel rope barrier separating you from a significant drop, it is a stunning ride.
The route, as planned, goes the wrong way through the pass. The classic definition of the pass is from Hawes, north to Thwaite.
We have extended the route to include a few more of the great roads and stunning views close to Buttertubs.
Our version starts in Thwaite on the B6270 and ends – 35 miles later – a few miles east of Thwaite on the same B6270.
It is perhaps one of the best ways to spend an hour going nowhere on a motorcycle you will find in the UK.
Free Motorcycle Touring Routes
North-South - The Route
Free Motorcycle Touring Routes
North-South
There is an overused saying. “It is about the journey, not the destination” Over used it might be but it applies perfectly to this route through the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Roughly halfway between the A1(M) on the eastern side of England and the M6 on the west, is the town of Skipton.
From Skipton, rather than using the motorways on either side, you can pick up the North/South route through the National Park.
Assuming you are coming from the south, take the A59 from either side and ride to Skipton. You briefly join the A65 and then turn into the National Park at Gargave.
The 60-mile North/South route passes the Ribble Viaduct and uses Buttertubs Pass on its way to the A66 at Brough.
Having arrived at Brough, if you turn east on the A66, and you can pick up our route across the Pennines to Gretna and onto Moffat. [See: Two Day Pennine]
Turn west from Brough, cross the M6, and you’ll find the Lake District and yet more stunning views and narrow roads.
Naturally there is no reason not to do all of that backwards. Either way it beats sitting on the motorways – If you have the time to enjoy the views.
