North of England and Scotland tour in May

[esullivan]

My wife and I have settled on a rough plan for a tour in May, visiting Leeds (my wife has been and I haven't), Edinburgh (vice versa) and the Highlands (first time for both of us). I'm looking for any suggestions/experiences on hotels and B&Bs?

May 1: home (Greater London) to Leeds. Can anyone suggest a hotel that isn't a nightmare to ride to and is convenient (walk-able) to the centre and any attractions?

May 2: Leeds to Edinburgh. Ditto? Any good experiences with hotel/B&Bs in that area? In the cities, we're not looking at riding around much. We're just looking to park at the hotel and then explore on foot.

May 4: Edinburgh to a B&B in Ballachulish (near Glencoe) that was recommended on here: https://www.strathassynt.com/. Using this as a base to explore the area for a few days.

May 9: Ballachulish to somewhere Hadrian's Wall-related. I'm a history buff and like all things Roman, so looking to make a visit here on the way back and stay a night in the area. Again, looking for accommodation recommendations.

May 10: Hadrian's wall to the Peak District. We'll probably stay at an expensive "spa/gourmet" kind of place that we've stayed at before (Losehill Hotel) for one night of pampering before heading home. But open to any suggestions.

May 11: Peak District to home.
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Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[DrSnoosnoo]

With regard to hotels in Leeds, parking could be an issue, many hotels in Leeds centre don't have carparks. There are some B&Bs outside the centre and you can jump on a bus into the centre or ride in, there's quite a lot of bike parking in the centre
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[stinkwheel]

When going from Leeds to Edinburgh, do NOT just blast up the A1. Turn off at Newcastle and go A698 -> A69A68 up over the Carter Bar.

Likewise when going Edinburgh to Ballachulish do not go on the A82 up Lochlomondside.

Go M90, B914, A823 then A822 to Crieff then A85 to Lochearnhead.

You can thank me later.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[esullivan]

[Casper]

[raesewell]

What sort of thing are you hoping to look at in Leeds.
What sort of hotel are you looking for (what price band)
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Yamaha FJR 1300 Normanton West Yorkshire

[map]

[esullivan]

[raesewell]

Sounds like just the sort of thing we do.
We live about six miles from Leeds, let me have a think and I'll post something up
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Yamaha FJR 1300 Normanton West Yorkshire

[raesewell]

As for things to do I think you will find plenty to see and do once you are there.
The Queens Hotel and Marriot Hotel are both nice and right in the middle of everything. There are Travelodge and Ibis at the cheaper end and lots in between. Living so close to Leeds we dont often stay there. Trip Advisor is your friend in cases like this.
Oh and bye the way we make a mean cuppa at our house
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Yamaha FJR 1300 Normanton West Yorkshire

[Northern Monkey]

Any reason what you are going to Leeds instead of York,

York is a much nicer city, IMHO, stay at the Hotel Du Vin.

For Hadrians Wall, this place is a couple of hundred yards from the wall. https://www.twicebrewedinn.co.uk/home.html

[Boris the spider]

Likewise when going Edinburgh to Ballachulish do not go on the A82 up Lochlomondside.

Go M90, B914, A823 then A822 to Crieff then A85 to Lochearnhead.

You can thank me later.[/quote]

He right .

One of my frequent runs
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Yes I'm a pig....And yes... The working public do pay my wages. Tho I contribute to your benefits you lazy c##t. You do not pay my wages. So go fcuk yourself.

[J biker]

For the run up to Edinburgh;
A68 to A608 Hawick, then up the A7....trust me.

[AlanC]

[stinkwheel]

[esullivan]

[esullivan]

[chickenstrip]

Not been to Leeds, but another recommendation for York here. A lovely town, with a car park right next to the castle (more just a grassed mound, but didn't look too closely that time), and an easy stroll from there to the Minster - spectacular, and well worth a visit.

I made York from London at about lunchtime, and after a bit of exploration, rode a bit further north to a campsite near Byland Abbey. Don't know about hotels, but that was within easy reach of Rievaulx Abbey, which I visited first thing next morning. Then on up to Whitby by lunch again. A look around the abbey, and then on up to Bamburgh Castle, reached at early evening (just too late to visit properly, alas). Then Lindisfarne Island next morning, before the ride to the northern end of Loch Lomomd.

So the whole northern part of my ride was based on these places I wanted to see, not too much mileage each day, but leaving time to look around the points of interest. Wasn't too tired at the end of each day, thoroughly enjoyed it and this was camping all the way, hotels of course will be more relaxing.

[map]

[Casper]

Good luck finding a cheap Hotel in Edinburgh around May. Most double in price around then as not many have security for the bike. Look for B&B's around 2 mile circle from the centre. Monto street area has lots and some have car parks round the back.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Minto+St%2FA701&daddr=Craigmillar+Park%2FA701&hl=en&sll=55.933049,-3.164964&sspn=0.013703,0.042272&geocode=FUaJVQMdVILP_w%3BFRpiVQMdNqrP_w&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=15&t=m&z=15

[stinkwheel]

Meh. I parked big bikes on-street in Edinburgh for years in the solo MC bays (or which there are plenty) and they were never touched. A small bike will grow wings and fly away as soon as your back's turned but anything 500cc+ tends to be left alone.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Casper]

[spnorm]

[spnorm]

[mac600]

If you are going to stay in Yorkshire I'd personally either stay in York or Harrogate and miss out Leeds, unless you like big modern cities.

Both Harrogate and York are popular tourist destinations so have plenty of B&B and Hotels.

For your route north I'd do this route, if going from Harrogate

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Harrogate,+North+Yorkshire/Edinburgh,+City+of+Edinburgh,+UK/@55.0796449,-3.6331594,8z/data=!4m54!4m53!1m45!1m1!1s0x48794e237175bd01:0x3c084fbaadea4ff!2m2!1d-1.541812!2d53.99212!3m4!1m2!1d-1.5810062!2d54.198643!3s0x487ea92d3e42259f:0xaa065c57f2edbc2e!3m4!1m2!1d-1.8298996!2d54.3096745!3s0x487c1bb8c83c671d:0x582cad3b6b9073d4!3m4!1m2!1d-1.9545839!2d54.3983266!3s0x487c17b827749c35:0x64d1eee012ee88d5!3m4!1m2!1d-2.1245546!2d54.5952714!3s0x487c37f724b74085:0x82dfc5cd22ff94bf!3m4!1m2!1d-2.4355864!2d54.8095942!3s0x487dadaaaf09df11:0x6f21a6f30f22032a!3m4!1m2!1d-2.3961158!2d55.1666778!3s0x487d9773aebd0969:0xf3a60cb2b2c6f344!3m4!1m2!1d-2.7815265!2d55.4318895!3s0x487d7ddbede11ae1:0x52b66f43853fb16!3m4!1m2!1d-2.8599775!2d55.6493846!3s0x48879ad9bebdf805:0xf27f061322d547a8!1m5!1m1!1s0x4887b800a5982623:0x64f2147b7ce71727!2m2!1d-3.188267!2d55.953252!3e0