Pennines Tour -3 Days of Riding Bliss Jul '25
Pennines Tour – 3 Days of Riding Bliss
Three days. Seven hundred miles. Endless sweeping bends, moorland vistas, and a group who knew how to make every mile count. The BAM Pennines Tour wasn’t just a ride -it was an adventure packed with spectacular roads, big laughs, and moments they’ll remember long after they remove their helmet.
Here’s how our club president, Neil Loxton, summed it up:
I’ve just returned from a fantastic 3-day tour with BAM and some truly great riders.
Day 1 kicked off with meeting the fellow riders we’d be spending the next three days with, before setting off on 220 miles of safe, clean, and thoroughly enjoyable riding (well, what else would you expect from BAM?). The roads on the way to our stop for the night, the Bannatyne Hotel in Darlington, were a real treat.
Once checked in, we freshened up after a day in the saddle and gathered for the evening. A couple of drinks beforehand set the tone, and then we all sat down to enjoy each other’s company. The atmosphere was electric-a mix of excitement, laughter, and good-natured chat. Then it was off to bed, ready for an early start on Day 2.
Day 2 began with a hearty breakfast and plenty of smiles as we looked forward to a full day of riding challenges ahead. Wheels rolled at 8:30, and we headed out across the moors. The roads on our way were stunning but when we got to the hills the speed came right down, as it was time to take in the view WOW!
There were plenty of photo opportunities, and riding through the clouds was a new experience for most of us. Between reduced visibility (clouds), stray sheep, and trying to admire the view and watch where you’re going, was a challenge in itself -but worth every second. We made regular stops for fuel, coffee, and lunch, throughout the day, before heading back to the hotel for another shower and well-earned evening meal.
We covered 240 miles on day 2, but it seemed to pass by so quickly (perhaps even quicker for some…).
Day 3 started with breakfast and packing the bikes for the ride home. At 8:30, we said goodbye to the hotel. Some riders headed north into Scotland for their own extended adventure (fair play to them), while the rest of us enjoyed another cracking ride back, again on some amazing roads. After 210 miles, we ended up at McDonald’s — nothing like a McFlurry or milkshake to end the trip.
If you haven’t been on a BAM tour yet, I can’t recommend it enough. Tour leader Dave “Jobbers” Jobling put hours and hours of preparation into the tour, on MRA / Google Maps and then going out and completing the routes himself, checking that the hotel is suitable for us i.e. parking and facilities.
It’s hard to put into words just how good this tour was —the combination of great company, fantastic level of riding, spectacular roads, unforgettable views, and flawless organisation made it something really special.
Huge thanks to all BAM members who came along, to Dave J for leading us, and to Dave Saunders for being a rock-solid tail-end Charlie.
In total, we covered around 700 miles.
What – a – three – days!
