TET United Kingdom
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adventure
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motorcycle
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TET
Unmetalled public roads and byways in England & Wales (commonly known as green lanes/roads) follow historic pilgrimage, military, drovers, funeral and trade routes between settlements – often criss-crossing the UK’s most scenic rural landscapes, and in some cases dating back to prehistory.
The network of green roads available for public use by motor vehicle has diminished considerably over the years, principally due to the efforts of a small anti-access industry which has successfully misrepresented public access in order to profit from landowner apprehension. The UK TET incorporates scenic routes through areas of ancient and outstanding natural beauty in the rural communities worst blighted by a lack of access.
The UK benefits from the Trail Riders Fellowship which (along with other user organisations) exists to conserve public entitlements, champion sustainable use and facilitate co-existence with farmers, equestrians, cyclists and walkers.
The TET enters the UK through the ferry port of Dover and winds its way across the south of England through sunken ‘holloway’ lanes, quaint villages and the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge, where it emerges onto the rolling expanse of Salisbury Plain. Trails here typically have a hard dirt/stone surface though some make use of compacted chalk, which is very slippery when wet.
There is then a choice of taking the James Higgs Trail through the West Country Peninsula to Land's End and back or to head directly for Wales where trails become more testing.
From Wiltshire, the route heads north through Gloucestershire’s Forest of Dean before crossing the River Wye into Wales near the ruined Tintern Abbey, where the route becomes steeper and rockier. The remoteness and stunning beauty of Wales yield to industrial heritage where the route re-enters England near the Midland town of Whitchurch, before crossing stunning valleys flanked by dry stone walls in both the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks.
The mountains and clear waters of William Wordsworth’s Lake District precede the final moorland crossing of England’s watershed which leads to the North Sea port of Newcastle, where overnight vehicle ferries operate to Amsterdam and the Borderlands Trail begins.
The Borderlands Trail
Lindisfarne, Hadrian's Wall, unspoilt beaches, the Farne Isles, Hogwarts and Flodden. These are just some of the sites and scenes that await you on the Borderlands section of TET UK. Ridden in an anti-clockwise direction, it starts off offering a gentle introduction to the north as it wanders north on a mix of minor roads and trail before reaching the North Sea at Boulmer, Seahouses and Bamburgh. There are a number of fords along the route which can be easily avoided. After a visit to the medieval Holy Island, there is a tar section to the Scottish border via a number of scenic villages. There one ventures into Scotland finding a couple of green lanes. Turning one's back on the Scots, the TET becomes more rugged as it heads southwards skirting and venturing into the mountains where it reaches 322m before dropping down to Hadrian's Wall and the forts on the edge of the Roman Empire.
It's a route best followed on trail bikes - ones equally as happy on country roads as they are on the trails. At just over 26% unsealed trail, you'll value road comfort and the ability to push on but be grateful that you're riding something light and manoeuvrable when on the trail sections or fording the rivers. Sticking to a group size of 3 or more ensures that the gates don't become a pain.
The James Higgs Trail (formerly the Great Western Trail)
The James Higgs Trail is a circular, 810 mile (1,303 kilometre) recreational ‘green road’ route through England’s south-west peninsula. The route was created by the late James Higgs to address the needs of trail riding and adventure motorcyclists wishing to spend their leisure time and money in the region. The route is a trinity of sustainable trails, scenic roads and things to do throughout the region, which incorporates Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.
Although lawful for all road-legal motorcycles, the James Higgs Trail is best suited to lightweight, single-cylinder machines fitted with trail or dirt type tyres. Other users such as cyclists, horse riders and drivers of four-wheeled vehicles should recognise that they may encounter roads or terrains which are either unsuited or impassable to them.
The route features several one-way roads and is intended to be navigated in a clockwise direction. ‘James Higgers’ travelling anti-clockwise will need to re-route on encountering these, which are typically found in urban areas. The outward and inward sections of the route intentionally pass near to one another in several locations in order for riders to create shorter adventures if they wish.
Author Tips & Tricks
Traditional British pubs with live music and open fireplaces.
Draught beer & scrumpy cider.
Full English breakfasts, Sunday roast dinners, fish & chips & cream teas.
Swimming and surfing at beaches along the Devon & Cornwall coast.
https://www.trf.org.uk/; Streetmap.co.uk; https://www.campsites.co.uk/search/unique-campsites-near-the-trans-euro-trail; https://independenthostels.co.uk/trans-euro-trail
