Any advice on touring Britain? Places to sleep?

Guys, as some of you know I'll be over to your island next July. I'll be travelling for 12 days on a rental SV650S from London to Scotland and back taking numerous detours to lovely places such as wales and the lakes.

I've been scanning sites for the best biking roads to take and at what places to stay for the night. I've got some time to plan this but I'm having a bit of a worry on leaving the bike unattended for the night. It's difficult to find B&B's with a bike shelter of some kind. I am also looking at the option of sleeping in campsites, only I've got to find sites which can rent me a tent as I won't have enough space for a tent and sleeping bags.

The wife will be coming along you see, so the rear seat will be taken. I've bought saddle bags and a tank bag. These will be holding our essentials but they can't handle the sleeping gear. The bike rental company don't supply a luggage rack as an option and I can't afford a 'proper' touring bike even if I'd want to ride one, which I don't.

As I've said before, my biggest concern is theft. Any thoughts or suggestions on this regard?
How would you travel the UK if you were in my shoes?

I think you might need to bring a chain and a disc lock, maybe some locking cables for the luggage.

There are biker friendly B&B options once you're North of Watford. I reckon with some planning you could find cheapish B&B places. Dunno about the camping, I don't camp.

If you cant take the camping kit, some campsites do caravans or cabin hire. Alternatively I would do Bed & Breakfasts. I think there are guidebooks about that list these.

Check if the bike shop can hire a chain and padlock with the bike. Then when you are trying to find a place just make sure there is something to chain the bike too.

If you ask around on here you may get some recommendations on places to stay and visit.

Yes a disc lock is small and light so a definite yes. The chain is heavy and takes a bit of space but I think its essential with the crime rate rising like hell. Thanks for the advice Raze. If you have a list of biker friendly places post it please. It'll be a great help. I'll be riding in a big circle along the UK, Wales and Scotland so any place under 50 sterling for a double bed B&B you recommend for the night I'd take into consideration.

Zunkus Do yourself a favour and join the Youth Hostel Assoc and you will not need to hump camping or sleeping gear There are hostels all over and in major cities average price about £12
per night[Have a quick look at the site] Advantage is you can book your bed for the next stop-over before you leave the one you are in,find out about parking and eating,rooms etc

I use them all the time when touring ,they get a big thumbs up from me


What you save in the YHA you can have a couple of "special nights"in a posh hotel

[Blue Flame]

I used this website as a ref source when i went away for a week last year.

http://www.bike-stay.net/index.html

A lot of the accommodation was cheap and a couple of the places were run by peeps that had bikes themselves and was good for the banter.

The B&B's I stayed at through this site more than accommodating at letting me utilise there garages etc. but take a chain as well as there were a couple that didn't have a shelter (although one was a sheep farm in the middle of nowhere and another had a private car park at the rear with its own 'bike friendly' lamppost.

The landlady at one of the B&B's even drove me to a pub and came back for me after three hours cos the local pub in the village was shut for refurbishment. (FOC as well :P )

Very useful site in my opinion

Have fun

Originally Posted by Dicky Ticker

Zunkus Do yourself a favour and join the Youth Hostel Assoc...

OK. It seems to be a good idea. I've looked into their website http://www.yha.org.uk/ and found out that membership for two adults is £22.95. However there's this offer for non members, "non-members can now stay at Youth Hostels by paying a £3 supplement to the normal overnight price per night (£1.50 for under 18s)." I might not find their guesthouses everywhere along my route so this seems the wiser choice. I did have trouble finding the location of their guesthouses though. Only the hostels seem to be given thier exact location and address. I presume the difference between a hosel and a guesthouse is how many people actually sleep together in one room right?
Can you give me some locations you've been to in your travels Dicky Ticker?

Originally Posted by Blue Flame

I used this website as a ref source when i went away for a week last year.
http://www.bike-stay.net/index.html

Thanks for this Blue Flame. Seems great!! Can you list me the places you went to that had a garage. If they're near enough to where I'm passing through I'll make them a target destination. Thanks mate.

[Blue Flame]

Hiyah,

This one just two miles from the M6 up near the lakes

http://www.barnhouse-orton.freeserve.co.uk/

and this one at the foot of the Peak Distict. The guy there will talk bikes until your late in leaving

http://www.cairngrove.co.uk/index.html

There are lots of others on the site that have garaged accomodation as well though !!

Thanks BlueFlame, now that's what I'm talkin about. Keep them coming guys. If you've stayed in a good B&B especially if they had good shelter for the bike let me know please. Thanks again Blue Flame.