The landscape, the curvy roads, a great place to pick yourself up. What makes a road special for a biker? In the opinion of Mike Carter, Guardian journalist, it’s the sense of excitement which pervades all the senses. And for Carter there are plenty of places in Europe that fit the bill.
1. England: “The Cat and Fiddle Road”
Nearly 20 km of bends connecting Buxton to Macclesfield through the marvellous views of the Peak District National Park. The A537 is a breath-taking road where full focus is a must. The low stone walls frame the spectacular views, while the road soars and plunges through the hills till it reaches the “Cat and Fiddle Inn” where you can get a great coffee and chat with the other bikers.
2. Italy: the Amalfi Coast
You don’t have to go abroad to enjoy your bike to the full. Just get along to Amalfi to absorb 50 km of bends between the hills and the sea. We advise that you go out-of-season – the 163 main road is invaded by tourists in the summer season. Enjoy the kiosks set up in the parking lots to store up with lemons and chili peppers.
3. Romania: the Transfagarasan
Built by Nicolae Ceauşescu, this road roams for many kilometres among the highest mountain peaks of Romania, passing through magnificent natural reservations and offering breath-taking views alternating between arid country and green valleys. The severity of the weather means that this road is only open in the summer months, however.
4. Norway: from Bergen to Geiranger
Take two days to best appreciate the spectacular scenario offered by the E39. The road runs along the jagged Norwegian west coast and is veined with many fjords. To do this trip you have to take the ferry a number of times – the ferries are actually considered to be continuations of the road. You will be surrounded by a wondrous scenario of iced valleys and high and magnificent rocky mountainsides.
5. Tukey: from Trebisonda to Şavşat
A coast road with unforgettable views that feels like crossing different continents. After a long time with the sea on your flank you arrive in Hopa, close to the border with Georgia, where the women wear brightly-coloured traditional shawls and where you will be immersed in a sea of luxuriant tea plantations. Leaving Hopa you will experience an immediate transformation: within one hundred metres the cool and moist air will be replaced by the humid heat of eastern Anatolia. But then, after Artvin, the greenery and coolness returns, with fields blooming with Alpine flowers and timber chalets reminiscent of Switzerland.
