Autumn is, for many, a season to retreat at home and be as cosy as possible. But this is not true for everyone, as many people like to explore nature and the landscape to take in all those beautiful autumnal colors and vibes. There are many routes that give their best during this time of the year, as trees change from green to orange and evenings get chilly. If you feel the need to take a trip in nature and want to explore the UK territory, we have some advice for you.

In this article, we propose a series of routes in the UK to explore during this time of the year. So, if you are looking for more itineraries to try out this year, this short article is a great place to start looking. Continue reading to find out more about some of the best autumnal routes in the UK.

South West Coastal 300 and North Coast 500 (Scotland)  

Let’s start out with the South West Coastal 300, which begins in Dumfries. This fantastic route is perfect for admiring the views of the Ayrshire coast. While heading inland to explore the Southern Highlands, you can get to the Mull of Galloway and even see the highest village, Wanlockhead. This route is considered one of the best UK routes to do during this time of the year if you want to surround yourself with amazing coastlines and seaside locations.

The North Coast 500, on the other hand, starts and ends in Inverness, which is often considered to be the Scottish equivalent of the famous ‘Route 66’. If you want to surround yourself with the very best of the Scottish Highlands, this is the right route for you. 

Usually, this route takes five days, but if you are looking for a longer trip, you can simply take a week off and enjoy 500 miles of scenery and pubs that often broadcast major sporting events like the Champions League. If you are lucky and plan your trip right, you could even find a fellow sports enthusiast to discuss the Champions League odds with over a dram of Scotch whisky. There is no point in rushing this route if you have the chance to take your time.

Honister and Hardknott and Wrynose Pass (Lake District)  

The Honister Pass is perfect if you want to start in an urban and busy setting and then dive into a scenic motorcycle route. This itinerary starts in the busy town of Keswick and then passes by the Slate Mine, which is a popular tourist attraction. Be careful, though, as this road can be challenging for many due to its steep and narrow shape, as well as a gradient of 1 in 4. On the bright side, there is no traffic. 

Hardknott Pass develops between Eskdale Road and Duddon Valley. It starts at Santon Bridge, cruises through Wrynose Pass, and continues to Ambleside. It is often described as one of the most challenging riding routes in Britain and the steepest road in Britain, with a gradient of 1 in 3. This route is perfect for autumn, as, due to its popularity, summer days are often particularly busy with traffic and tourists, so take that into consideration when planning your journey. 

These were just some of the most amazing autumnal routes in the UK, but we are sure there are many more to consider all over this territory. Autumn is a wonderful time to explore nature and to ride surrounded by beautiful landscapes and scenery. So grab your favourite jacket and all the needed gear, and hop on your bike for a beautiful autumnal ride.

article supplied

MAVERICK INVOLVED IN CONTACT ON THE FIRST CORNER

The Sunday Motegi MotoGP race was certainly not easy on the nerves for fans, teams, and riders. After the rainfall in the morning, the out lap to set up the starting grid was done on a dry track, but under alarming dark clouds covering the Japanese skies. In fact, the rain arrived just after the start, forcing all the riders (some earlier, some later) to return to pit lane for a bike change.

The perfect timing of Aleix, who was already recovering positions, actually shot him into the race lead, backed by a tyre choice which ensured traction and confidence. Only the diminishing water on the track caused him to lose ground, which he promptly recovered when the next rainfall came. The track conditions worsened gradually, especially in terms of visibility, until the red flag came out during the twelfth lap. At the second start, the riders were only able to do their out lap before the conditions of both water on the track and visibility determined the final suspension of the race with Aleix classified in fifth place.

Maverick’s race was substantially compromised on the first corner. After starting well, Viñales was forced to go wide, ending up crashing in the gravel on the escape lane. Back in the saddle – obviously in last place and more than a lap behind – he changed bikes and drew attention in the wet for his decidedly fast pace. The cancellation of the second start, where he would have been starting from pit lane, put an end to any ambitions he may have had of a comeback ride, leaving him understandably frustrated.

ALEIX
"All told, a positive day with perhaps my best performance in the wet. After the bike change, we had chosen the soft rear tyre, counting on the fact that when it rains it pours here in Motegi. Instead, on the first laps it was difficult. With not much water on the track, the soft tyre overheated and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to finish the race. However, when the rain increased, I began to feel increasingly better. I was making up ground on the riders ahead of me and could have aimed for something higher than fifth place. Unfortunately, visibility was really low and it got even worse after the red flag and the restart. The decisions taken by Race Direction today were impeccable."

MAVERICK
"My race was over on the first corner when I was forced wide into the gravel, crashing and restarting last with a huge gap. After the bike change, to be honest, my pace in the wet was extremely good, but with so much distance to make up, it would not have been an easy race. I was hopeful for the restart after the red flag. Even though I would have started from pit lane, at least I would have had another chance."

MAVERICK BATTLES TO FINISH NINTH, ALEIX STOPPED BY A TECHNICAL PROBLEM

It was not a Saturday to remember for the Aprilia camp. Although the third row on the starting grid could be considered respectable, the 12-lap Sprint Race did not bring the results that were hoped for. Maverick struggled with an annoying vibration at the rear of his RS-GP which kept him from doing any better than ninth place.

Aleix, on the other hand, had to retire during the eighth lap just as he was battling with Bezzecchi, Marquez, and Zarco for fifth. A disappointment that the Spanish rider hopes to forget quickly. In fact, the Aprilia riders have the full-distance race ahead of them tomorrow.

ALEIX
"This Sprint Race didn’t go as expected either. To be honest, my pace wasn’t bad and we could have aimed for a decent result. Unfortunately, it was all in vain due to a technical problem. I’m also disappointed because the Sprint Race is important in view of the race tomorrow. Data can be collected to understand bike and tyre performance."

MAVERICK
"Obviously, I can’t be satisfied. In this Sprint Race, as has happened recently, I struggled particularly with the chattering at the rear that kept me from pushing. Tomorrow we need to make up for it. I feel a bit better on the medium tyre, but above all, we need to understand what is triggering this problem that limits us tremendously."

Finally, Fabio Di Giananntonio has arrived. On opening day at Motegi, the Italian rider – the sole standard bearer for Team Gresini Racing MotoGP at this event – carried the whole team on his shoulder and set an excellent sixth quickest time in today’s FP sessions, a result that opens the door to Q2 for the #49. 
 
The Rome-born rider, who is still dealing with some leftovers of the injury to his right shoulder, immediately showed how comfortable he was around the Japanese track. He was the first to lap under the 1’43s barrier and the last one to do so on the timesheets, as he will now be able to keep working knowing he already has a spot in the key qualifying session. 
 
6^th - FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49 (1’43.947s)
“We were quick from the get-go, and I was feeling really good on the bike. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting these lap-times, but everything came out pretty naturally so I’m really positive ahead of tomorrow. Unfortunately, there’s still pain in my shoulder which won’t be an issue on the single-lap performance but could make things more complicated in both the sprint race and the full encounter. We’ll fight the pain, too!”