The Ludlow Tour 2021
The Ludlow 2021 tour (16/17/18 July) was blessed with three wonderful dry sunny days. It was hot during the day but that just added to the pleasure to be having fun on wonderful Welsh roads.
For about half of the group, the tour got underway at Millies Diner and Motel near Faringdon on Friday 16thwhere we had morning coffee. From there we made our way to Newent for lunch at the Good News Centre, a charming community bistro/library with a lovely range of light meals and coffees. We were able to sit outside under the umbrellas and chill out.
Everyone assembled at the Cliffe at Dinham just outside Ludlow, for 15:00 when we had access to our rooms.
The most popular bike by far was the GS with one RT, one Triumph Tiger 1200, one K1100 and one 1200 RS
There were some serious discussions about the various bikes before we had our evening meal which was a very nice multiple course taster menu in the Cliffe.
Entertainment was provided by our club President.
On the Saturday morning, we set off more or less on time at 09:45. It was beautifully sunny, about 18 degrees Celsius and very little wind, perfect weather for wearing my Klim Marrakesh.
But not before there were some ride instructions given by the run leader and identification of the back marker.
We got to Rhayader and then took the valley road north west out to the top of the Elan Valley and then came back south to our first stop, the Elan Valley Tourist Information centre.
From there we took the wonderful B4518 to St Harmon and then Llanidloes and then a quick group photo at a very lovely viewpoint overlooking Clywedog Reservoir.
We stopped at the Wynnstay Hotel in Machynlleth for a light lunch, in the hotel garden under parasols, chilling out as best we could for by now the temperature was about 28 to 30 celsius!
Back on the bikes to Newport and then south down the wonderful A483 to Crossgates for a brief stop at the Service Station and then back to the hotel at Ludlow. The route was 175 miles long. An amazing thing was that we were not slowed down once by motor homes or caravans but on several occasions we came across tractors, with tedders on the back moving from hayfield to hayfield.
We had some very welcome refreshments at the end of a great days ride and before the evening meal.
We said our goodbyes on the Sunday morning. I headed north to do some camping and walking in the Derby Dales while a group visited the gardens and orangery of Hampton Court Castle.
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