Lose yourself in history
Emerald Isle and UK Adventure
England, Wales & Ireland
Emerald Isle and UK Adventure
England, Wales & Ireland
Fantastic roads, pretty National Parks, ancient woodland and beautiful mountains with quintessential hotels to boot.
Ben Spear and Felix Billington.
Find out more about Magellan Guides
Find out more about Magellan Guides
We start our UK itineraries from our rental facility in the South-East near London but you can join the route at any point to form a loop from your house if you are on your own bike. Just let us know when you book which night’s stop would suit you best acting as night one of the trip.
Self Guided Tour
14
days
2100 miles
March to October
From the South-East you’d start your UK tour by riding through the South Downs National Park a landscape covering 1,600km of picturesque villages, rolling farmland, lowland heaths and ancient woodland along the cross country A272 with it’s wide and open sweeping bends. Then take a cruise through the New Forest, this peaceful national park is full of open moors, deep forests and native ponies. After visiting the medieval cathedral in Salisbury and the world-famous Stonehenge you will cross into Wales riding the Brecon Beacons, visiting the National Showcaves and then on to Aberystwyth.
The next morning you enter ‘‘Alpine Snowdonia’ and then on to some of the most scenic roads North Wales has to offer, visiting Conwy castle in the afternoon and on to Liverpool for the overnight ferry to Dublin. Continue up the East coast of Ireland and visit Kirkistown motor racing circuit, and then on to explore Belfast.
Scenic coastal riding is the order of the day, with a haunted house, the Giants Causeway and the oldest whiskey distillery in Ireland all en route. You’ll travel the scenic route down the west coast on roads voted the best in Ireland by Irish bikers themselves. A waterbus tour of Donegal Bay at lunchtime and great views are real treats.
National Parks and prehistoric peat bogs galore as once again you follow some of the best biking roads in Ireland and continue down the West coast to visit Limerick and the beautiful Crag caves, before riding the internationally famous World Heritage route ‘The Ring of Kerry’. Then you’ll journey around Kenmare Bay and on to reach Blarney Castle, the medieval stronghold near Cork built 600 years ago before ending your day in the home of Waterford Crystal.
See the iconic Giant's Causeway
See the iconic Giant's Causeway
The beautiful Chatsworth House
Visit a Celtic craft centre, and an ancient monastery before riding through the truly beautiful Wicklow mountains the largest upland area in Ireland on the route back to the ferry in Dublin. On the island of Anglesey visit the village with the longest name in Europe and then cross over to the mainland and ride the world renowned ‘Cat and Fiddle’ road into the Peak District National Park.
You’ll then have a day off the bike to explore the Peak District National Park, visit the Heights of Abraham by cable car, Chatsworth House or the Blue John caverns. On your final day you head South again and visit the renowned National Motorcycle Museum to see hundreds of classic British bikes and then ride the amazing Roman road the Fosse Way.
Ride epic roads through pretty National Parks, ancient woodland and beautiful scenery with quintessential hotels and interesting cultural stops to boot.
Tour highlights
Stonehenge: One of the best known prehistoric monuments in Europe with 250 ancient objects and a world class exhibition.
Alpine Snowdonia: Snowdonia’s National park surrounds Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales at 1,085 metres high.
Visit the Giants Causeway: A series of 40,000 interlocking rock columns make up this UNESCO world heritage site. It was caused by a volcanic eruption, but legends suggest that it is the remnants of a causeway built by an Irish giant to cross the channel and fight a Scottish giant.
This tour had so many highlights its difficult to know where to start. Riding through England, Wales and Ireland was exactly what I was looking for and it surpassed my expectations. I've got the bug now, so will definitely be back soon!Michael S
The Titanic Museum: The world’s largest Titanic experience, which explores the story of the Titanic in a new way. Experience over one hundred years of maritime and social history, at this unique museum.
Ride the world-famous Ring of Kerry: The ring of Kerry is a world famous 111 mile route in Ireland, encompassing white sand beaches, herds of wild goats grazing on moorland, dramatic mountain passes and coastlines, this is Irish riding at its best!
Blarney Castle and kiss the Blarney Stone: Cormac McCarthy built the Blarney castle over six hundred years ago, and it has been an attraction for visitors ever since. The Blarney stone is a piece of limestone built into the castle walls which is said to give those who kiss it a ‘mystical elegance’.
Take a Bushmills whiskey distillery tour: Bushmills Irish Whiskey is made at Ireland’s oldest working distillery and has been since 1608 using the unique water from the stream onsite and Irish barley. ‘The Bushmills Brand Experience’ offers guided tours around the working distillery with all the associated sights and smells and even tutored whiskey tastings.
Visit the National Motorcycle Museum: The National Motorcycle Museum traces the history of British Motorcycles through a collection of over 1000 classic bike from almost 170 manufacturers.
The beautiful Irish Coastline at its very best
Tour Map / Itinerary
Full Itinerary
Day 1 146 Miles
Ride through the South Downs National Park and along the legendary A272 to Bath.
Day 2 200 Miles
Crossing into Wales you visit the stunning National Showcaves, then ride to Aberystwyth on the shore of Cardigan Bay.
Day 3 170 Miles
Into ‘Alpine Snowdonia’ this morning and then on to some of the most scenic roads North Wales has to offer, then a ferry to Dublin from Liverpool.
Day 4 165 Miles
Dublin to Belfast today.
Day 5 Explore Day
Day off the bike to explore Dublin.
Day 6 144 Miles
Scenic coastal riding today through Ireland.
Day 7 165 Miles
A fantastic day riding the scenic route down the west coast on some of the roads voted as the best in Ireland by Irish bikers themselves.
Day 8 195 Miles
National Parks and prehistoric peat bogs galore as once again you follow some of the best biking roads in Ireland and continue down the west coast.
Day 9 224 Miles
Visit Limerick and the beautiful Crag caves, before riding the ‘The Ring of Kerry’.
Day 10 216 Miles
Ride around Kenmare Bay and then on to reach Blarney Castle to kiss the famous Blarney Stone.
Day 11 109 Miles
Visit a Celtic craft centre, an ancient monastery and then ride through the Wicklow Mountains on the route back to the ferry in Dublin.
Day 12 180 Miles
On the island of Anglesey visit the village with the longest name in Europe.
Day 13 Explore Day
Day off the bike to explore the Peak District National Park.
Day 14 186 Miles
Heading south again, you visit the renowned National Motorcycle Museum to see hundreds of classic British bikes and then ride the amazing Roman road the Fosse Way on the way home.
What's included
Overnight ferry crossing with cabin Liverpool - Dublin, day time crossing Waterford - Holyhead (if Liverpool isn’t convenient for you do please get in touch as other crossings can be arranged see Q&As below).
12 Nights accommodation in good quality hotels, 1 overnight ferry cabin.
Excellent breakfast each morning.
Full use of all hotels’ leisure facilities.
Detailed route plans and maps.
GPS routes (Garmin / Tom Tom).
Detailed daily itinerary including sights and suggested coffee and lunch stops.
What's not
Fuel.
Toll charges.
Admission charges.
Occasional hotel parking charges.
Meals and drinks other than specified above.
Travel/Breakdown insurance.
Common questions about this trip
Where does this tour start from?
If you are renting a motorcycle then the tour will start from our rental facility in the south east of England near London. If you’re on your own bike then you can join the route at any point to form a loop from your house. Just let us know when you book which night’s stop would suit you best acting as night one of the trip.
When is the best time of year to do this trip?
May to September, as a rule, is the safest time to tour anywhere in the UK and Ireland although March, April and October can work with a dash of luck. It can be wet at any time of year but a sensible mix of vented kit and waterproofs with some base layers should cover all eventualities. Full kit and packing lists are supplied and we are happy to offer advice on packing for any of the trips.
More information
For general information on planning and preparing for motorcycle trips including what to pack please see our Prepare for your trip section.
Magellan Hub
Want to ask one of the team a question, or a get a previous tourer’s take on a trip?
Other similar trips
England & Wales
UK 5 day tour
National Landmarks and brilliant scenery on this 5 day sample of the great riding to be had in the UK.
Self Guided Tour
5 days
England, Wales & Scotland
UK 7 day tour with a Scottish taster
A 1 week sampler of some of the best riding in the UK with visits to historic tourist sites thrown in.
Self Guided Tour
7 days
Ireland
Emerald Isle adventure
9 stunning days exploring a country rich in history with gorgeous roads and scenery to boot.
Self Guided Tour
9 days