The highest UK pub
The Highest pub in Britain the name suggest this route is going to be a little bit of a challenge, doesn’t it? Well it is a challenge and a fairly long way to go for a pint from Bournemouth on the south coast to the tan hill inn in the Yorkshire dales around 370 miles (600km) and also the highest pub. It’s a route that gets harder the further you get into the ride, naturally, as you are only ever heading to even higher points. The ride is mostly all off-road with the odd quiet country lane, and there are some nice easy sections along the canal to keep you away from the traffic in the built-up areas. If you take on this bikepacking route to the highest pub, you will get to ride some great trails. See some incredible views, struggle along the Pennine bridle way, and at the end get a pint at a pub in the middle of nowhere with a view.
Ride through the Salisbury plain amazing gravel, stop and enjoy the view of stone henge then take a quick ride along the Ridgway, before heading across the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, then there is a little bit of time to relax as you head along the canals through Birmingham, a much-needed break before you take on some of the Pennine bridle way, don’t worry I didn’t put too much of that gate riddled trail on this route, but I thought I better include a little bit. Then onwards an upwards (quite literally) to the Yorkshire dales and the highest pub.
As you can see this ride has a bit of everything but either a gravel bike 45mm tyres or MTB will do the job, the gravel bike will be slightly better earlier on in the ride whereas the MTB will be best towards the end and things get a bit rougher and steeper. Although this route gets harder as you progress through it, one thing does get easier… The wild camping. It’s actually not too bad for most of the ride as you find yourself in the countryside with plenty of places to set up camp for the night, but the middle section from Birmingham up towards Manchester can be a bit tricky. Plenty of hotels/B&B’s though if need be.
