CWAM Northern England Tour, June 2025

Roger Barratt, Sunday, 15 June 2025

The CWAM Northern England Tour 2025 was 800 miles over 4 days, travelling from Coventry to Whitby, then over to Ambleside in The Lakes followed by Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales and then back home. Ten like-minded riders staying three nights in Youth Hostels….perfect!

Day 1

The first day was a trip up the M69 followed by the A46 Fosse Way to Lincoln. After that we had had lunch at the Humber Bridge followed by an afternoon stop at Thornton Le Dale where we had time to visit Matthewson’s Car Auctions of Bangers and Cash TV fame.

Highlights:

1) Pete had a suspected break down on his new bike due to an oil leak which necessitated an emergency trip to his main dealer (turned out to be simply over-filled with fuel, not oil!).

2) Derek Matthewson being on hand to answer questions and selfie requests despite offloading another aging British classic in the worst colour red (not because it fades but because it hides the rust in those rose-tinted internet pictures).

3) Riding through a medieval stone arch to reach the hostel situated in an amazing location next to Whitby Abbey.

4) The hostel being conveniently located next to Whitby Brewery whose ale was worn off navigating the 199 steps down to town for fish and chips and then back up to bed...

Day 2

The second day provided some entertaining roads to reach a coffee stop in Thirsk market square, lunch at the Tan Hill Inn then a few open roads until reaching The Struggle (1 in 4) to drop us down literally into Ambleside.

Highlights:

1) Navigating the bollards in Thirsk market square car park, no doubt designed to keep cars out of the motorcycle parking area but requiring some care if you forget you now have your panniers on.

2) The ride leader going the wrong way (due to my sat nav honest) and the group getting split up by Kevin not marking the junction (ok it’s a first offence, you can be forgiven).

3) A table set for ten at Tan Hill (England’s highest inn) even though it only comfortably seated six (and not in their biking gear).

4) The Struggle being freshly surfaced dressed with gravel (nice).

5) Ambleside Youth Hostel, a fabulous location on the banks of Lake Windemere.

Day 3

The third day was a feast of Lake District passes going in circles at times (deliberately) with lunch on Coniston Water before travelling over to the Yorkshire Dales in the afternoon for a break at Ingleton then an amazing fast road pass Ribblehead over to the biking hotspot of Hawes.

Highlights:

1) Deciding to take some action shots at the bottom of Honister Pass and waiting an age for someone (anyone please...) to come down for their moment of glory.

2) Deciding not to go down The Struggle again and taking the long way round – good decision.

3) Cramming bikes into the laughable motorcycle parking area at Coniston which two foreign registered GS’s had spread out to fill completely.

4) Deciding at the last minute to stop everyone in the rutted layby to get a picture of Ribblehead Viaduct.

5) Being passed at circa 100mph by two bikes as we entered the Hawes 40mph zone (hmmmm).

Day 4

The final day was a trip including some great roads in the Yorkshire Dales then dropping down through West Yorkshire for a tea stop at Oxenhope Railway Station, over Saddleworth Moor to Glossop for lunch then Chesterfield where we said our goodbyes before travelling down the M1 back home.

Highlights:

1) Lovely roads in the Yorkshire Dales past the areas I used to visit in my moped days and the hotel where I had my first honeymoon.

2) Getting split up because Kevin (again) failed to wait for the person behind as we turned off.

3) The ride leader following a learner driver bus for miles (thinking this driver is a bit slow but not realising the writing on the back of the bus is warning that it’s a learner, not an advert for new drivers).

4) A steam train arriving right on queue as we had tea and cake at Oxenhope.

5) Navigating eight miles of M1 traffic by filtering which we all know that Big Neil in particular hates.

It was a great trip and the last one that I am organising so a fitting finale in many ways.

I have organised six tours for CWAM since 2019 and I am running out of ideas and motivation so it’s time to pass these things onto others who I know are waiting in the wings.

Thanks to everyone who has supported the tours that I have led – without exception people have been appreciative and accommodating for other CWAM members and you can ask for no more.

See you on a tour next year!

PS please note that names above have been changed to protect identity.