Great rides of the North: Part 6

As recommended by MCN’s #ride5000miles members, we’ve got six of the best roads to ride in the North of Britain this week.

The number six road to ride is this short stretch of road in North Yorkshire. Yesterday’s was a long one from the Angel of the North to Fort Augustus and you can check out the start of our great rides of the South here.

A821 from Loch Achary to Aberfoyle, nominated by Ricky Hynd

Ricky says: “It’s a challenging road, with hairpin after hairpin and the occasional straight to blast pass dawdling tourists, as the road climbs up and then back down the forest park.”

Length:

7 miles

Love it because:

Starting in the small town of Aberfoyle, this road is a challenge for all who ride it. The A821 swoops past thick lines of trees as you climb towards the loch.

Take a picture at:

Stop for a photo at Loch Achray.

Stop for a cuppa at:

On such a short ride, there are few places to stop. One of the best is Loch Achray Hotel. Though not a café, food is available to help you recharge, ready for the ride back down. 

Watch out for:

Being a tourist hotspot, watch out for lines of slow traffic and lost visitors.

Best bike for the job:

A sports bike would be great for this route. It’s the perfect tool for scything through traffic and carving up the corners. 

For more from #ride5000miles visit MCN’s Facebook group.

Check out more great rides here.