Alternative adventure motorcycles – Tiddler Tours!
Words and images courtesy TMR
Got a small capacity, classic motorcycle and fancy going on an organised, long-distance tour with like-minded folk?
2025 fun starts right here with four fabulous ‘Tiddler Tours’ organised by Russell Benney who knows plenty about endurance motorcycling with his Phase One Endurance road racing having just completed its 40th season of racing.
Russell’s ‘Tiddler Tours’ however are much more laid back, gentle back roads jaunts, based on the concept of the famous Giro d’Italia and for riders with small capacity classic machines. Russell’s original ‘Tiddler Tour’, the Giro South West, also known as the Three Moors Run, is now going into its sixth year.
Russell said:
“Firstly – a big thank you to all our competitors, for making the Tiddler events what they are. I think between us, we have the very best group of people in the classic world. I’ve witnessed camaraderie, sportsmanship, endurance and adventure like nowhere else.
“Now, we have four events for 2025. We can hardly believe it, but this will be the 6th Giro South West (Three Moors Run) and the 5th June Jaunt. In addition, we shall be running the 5th Trans-Iberian Challenge (Barcelona-Porto) and, a new event for 2025, the inaugural Paris –Madrid run (PA-MA).
“The 2025 Three Moors Run is for Tiddlers up to 175cc (with some agreed exceptions) and 31st Dec 1969 (anyone who has done it before on a pre-1973 machine will continue to be welcomed if on the same bike). Please note this eligibility date change, which we’ve introduced to maintain and improve the fantastic quality of our entry and to stay closer to the Giro concept which inspired the event. We are also continuing to limit the GSW TMR to 60 participants. This is the event in the ‘Tiddler’ calendar.
Our 2024 event was led away with 10 MVs, which was fantastic, but why haven’t we got 10 Morinis, 10 Gileras and 10 Terriers? As the leaders and doers in the Tiddler field, shouldn’t it be our challenge to encourage all those dormant owners out, those who keep their Tiddlers shed bound, never seeing the light of day?”
The June Jaunt, for Tiddlers up to 250cc and pre-1973, is this year running with a upped capacity to allow 45 participants, for the first time, to give the 250s a chance to get out across the West Country moorland.
The Trans Iberian Challenge is also for Tiddlers, but up to 175cc and pre-1973. It will include the new route revisions introduced last year, but will not miss out on the superb paradores. Six days in heaven!
Russell says:
“Our new even for this year is The Paris – Madrid 1903 route re-enactment (PA-MA). It’s also for Tiddlers up to 175cc and pre-1973. There’s already enough interest to fill two events so we have therefore decided already to run a 2025 and 2026 edition. The 5-day, 900-mile event will run in June and commence, as the original event did, at Versailles Park but unlike the original, will finish at the Jarama circuit in Madrid.
“We had a superb year in 2024 and next year should be even better. Keep on Tiddling.”
The 6th GIRO SOUTH WEST (THREE MOORS RUN)
Sun Sep 14 – Wed Sep 17
The sixth Three Moors Run (TMR) is a 500-mile tour on specially chosen roads suited to small capacity machinery and is the UK’s premier event for pre-1970* classic motorcycles of up to 175cc**.
The event is limited to 60 entries.
It will run through some of the most beautiful scenery in the country, starting and finishing in Somerset. All three moors: Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin, will be traversed, plus those essential ‘ticks in the boxes’ across the sights of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
The route will involve mainly ’B’ roads and little used ‘A’ routes together with many, slow narrow typical West Country lanes.
Three Hotels and dinners are included, chosen based on character and good food. Two back-up vans and a trail car will be provided (thanks to the team) to mop-up breakdowns and to carry cases/bags/tools and spares between hotels.
Daily ‘recommended route’ cards will be issued for guidance, but the route is non-prescriptive, you can vary it as you wish. The back–up van and trail car will follow the recommended route only.
The cost is £469 all-inclusive, (excluding drinks) based on a shared room. A small number of single rooms will also be available.
* In an effort to keep the high quality and interest of the machinery participating, a new cut-off date of 31st Dec 1969 has been introduced. Exceptions will be made for specific motorcycles that have previously been entered. These will be allowed.
**up to 200cc machines will be admitted in the cases of Mondials, Triumph Tiger Cubs, Velocettes, Ducati Elites and Villiers 197 powered machines. (others MAY be admitted, but by special agreement only.)
ITINERARY
Day 1 Sun, Sep 14. Start 13.00 hrs
Starting from Moxhill Farm, Bridgwater, Somerset. Meet up on Saturday evening/Sunday morning, park vans/trailers securely at the farm, get ready/fuel up. Welcome BYO BBQ on Saturday evening. Bacon rolls Sunday morning and compulsory briefing at 12.00. Leave the farm at 13.00 at one minute intervals. The route, approx. 100 miles, will involve the Quantocks Hills, Exmoor, some North Somerset lanes and the Devon coast. Overnight at the Imperial Hotel, Barnstaple.
Day 2 Mon, Sep 15. Start 09.00 hrs
Approx. 150 miles through Devon/Cornwall countryside – recommended route across south Devon and central Cornwall, plus inland to Bodmin Moor. Overnight stay at The Polurrian Hotel, on the Lizard peninsula, Cornwall.
Day 3 Tue, Sep 16. Start 09.00 hrs
Approx. 150 miles along the rugged north Cornish and Devon coasts, including Newquay and Boscastle before heading inland to Bodmin and then onto Dartmoor and the Passage House at Kingsteignton.
Day 4 Wed Sep 17. Start 09.00 hrs
Approx. 100 miles – Stiff morning ride only, Moorland canter through Devon/Somerset including Simonsbath, Minehead, and Bishop’s Lydeard, with the best of Exmoor, before heading back to Moxhill Farm, Bridgwater for mid-afternoon departure home. Cream Teas are available at Minehead and Stogumber steam railway stations.
Notes; For those travelling from far away, you will be welcome to drop off on Saturday afternoon, September 13. Bikes can be left securely at the farm. Hotels and B&Bs are available locally and camping is also encouraged at the farm. There is parking space at Moxhill Farm for vans/trailers for the duration of the ride. There will be a ‘bring your own’ BBQ at the farm on the Saturday evening.
The 5th JUNE JAUNT – GIRO SOUTH WEST 250cc
Sat Jun 14 – Mon Jun 16. (2 hotel nights)
The 2025 June Jaunt will be a true early-season test for man and machine on some of the best roads in the South West. The 300-mile route, over the Quantock Hills, Exmoor and Dartmoor, on carefully chosen roads, will be exclusively for small capacity machinery, pre-1973 up to 250cc*.
The run will start and finish Somerset. All the best sections of the moors will be included; Dartmoor and Exmoor will be traversed, and the famous Northwest Somerset coast road will be ridden. The route will involve mainly ’B’ roads and little used ‘A’ routes together with some, slow narrow typical West Country lanes.
The run is intended for a small group of around 45 participants, with selection preference given to 250cc riders, but all Tiddler owners may participate.
Two Hotels/Dinners are included, one in the heart of Dartmoor, the other alongside the banks of the river Taw, in Barnstaple.
A back-up van with capacity for six bikes will be provided (thanks to the team) to mop-up breakdowns and to carry cases/bags/tools and spares between hotels.
Daily ‘recommended route’ cards will be issued for guidance, but the route is non-prescriptive, you can vary it as you wish. The back–up van will however follow the recommended route only. The cost is £340 all-inclusive, (but excluding drinks) based on a shared room. Some single rooms will also be available, subject to a single supplement.
*For this event a ‘Tiddler’ is defined as up to 250cc (pre- 1973)
ITINERARY
Day 1 Sat, Jun 14. Start 13.00 hrs
Starting from Moxhill Farm, Bridgwater, Somerset. Meet up on Friday evening/Saturday morning, park vans/trailers securely at the farm, get ready/fuel up and attend at 12.00 AM sharp for the compulsory briefing. A snack lunch will be available at the farm. On the road start at 13.00hrs. Away at one minute intervals. The route will involve the Quantocks, Dulverton, Simonsbath, across Exmoor and overnighting at the Imperial Hotel in Barnstaple. (90 miles).
Day 2 Sun, Jun 15. Start 09.00 hrs
Approx. 150 miles through Devon/North Cornwall countryside – recommended route into Cornwall, down the North Cornish coast, then inland into darkest Devon before heading for Tavistock and the big climb onto Dartmoor. Overnight at the Moorland Hotel, Haytor, Dartmoor.
Day 3 Mon, Jun 16. Start 09.00 hrs
Approx. 80 miles – Stiff morning ride only, Moorland canter through Devon/Somerset including Lynton/Lynmouth, Exford and Minehead, with the best of Exmoor, before heading back to Moxhill Farm, Bridgwater for mid-afternoon departure home. Cream Teas are available at Stogumber station.
Notes; For those travelling from far away, you are welcome to drop off on Friday afternoon, 14th June. Bikes can be left securely at the farm overnight. Hotels and B&Bs are available locally and camping at the farm is possible and encouraged. Secure Parking at Moxhill Farm for vans/trailers whilst away on the run. Welcome BYO BBQ on Friday night.
The 5th TRANS IBERIAN CHALLENGE (TIC)
May 1 – May 7, 2025*
This is a six-day, 1100-mile, ride for Tiddlers**, starting from Barcelona on the Mediterranean to Porto on the Atlantic. A proper challenge, with planned stops and back-up, on a carefully chosen route, to grab the best riding that Iberia can offer. The route arcs north to encompass the Pyrenees, the Pamplona gap, the Picos d ’Europa and Cantabrian Mountains, before dropping SW to enter Portugal and on to Porto.
This ‘package’ includes bike transport to and from Somerset, recommended route cards, back-up and baggage transfer van and seven night’s hotel food and accommodation. The cost for the above will be £1295, based on shared rooms.
There will be six riding days, preceded by a travel/reception day on May 1. The pre-ride briefing will be at 19.00 hrs, before dinner that night. We shall start in Barcelona (Casteldefels), six miles south of Barcelona airport, close to the city and finish in Porto (Praia de Mindelo), ten miles from Porto airport.
The start hotel will be in Casteldefels, and the final overnight stop will be Casa Mindela, Porto.
ITINERARY
Barcelona – Boltana (200 miles)
The route strikes north-west across the narrow coastal plain and enters the Pyrenees proper, east of Lerida, before joining the classic south-side Pyrenean traverse, the N260 taking us to Boltana. The night will be in the marvellously restored Monastario, now a luxury hotel.
Boltana – Calahorra (145 miles)
We strike out north-west to Torla, past the entrance to the fantastic canyon of Ordessa, then descend into a 60 mile long valley, at Jaca. Continuing north-west we go into Basque country before overnighting at the marvellous Callahora parador, southwest of Pamplona.
Calahorra – Aguilar de Campoo (190 miles)
From Calahorra we cross the flatland gap towards Miranda de Ebro, via the Sierra de Cantabria. Continuing west, we rise into the Cantabrians and the Serra de Tesla to Ona, where we join the cliff top N232 before heading deeper into the hills to Pesquera do Ebro, then follow the Ebro valley to Aguilar de Campoo that night.
Aguilar de Campo – Corias (195 miles)
Continuing in the heart of the Cantabrian mountains, on minor roads, north-westwards to Potes and the southern part of the Picos de Europa National Park at Cistierna, passing La Robla and Riello, before reaching the Babia valley and Corias. A full day in the mountains.
Corias – Chaves (190 miles)
We climb westwards into the deserted hills of eastern Galicia. We include A Fonsagrada, Barilla and Pedrafita, mostly on newly restored mirror finish roads. Keeping the Montes Aqullanos to our south, we stay in the valley to Petri where we turn to due south and head for Verin and our overnight stay across the Portuguese border in Chaves.
Chaves – Porto (140 miles)
The N103 provides a beautiful onwards route past the lakes, then on the south side of the Serra do Geres, to take us west towards Braga. To avoid any congestion there, we skirt the city to the north via Amares and then take a beeline for Barcelos before dropping south to our Atlantic ‘dip in the sea’ at Praia de Mindelo, five miles from our final overnight stay and celebration dinner, at Helena’s place. Loading will take place that evening.
Having fun riding classic motorcycles on the best roads is the main objective, but a close second is the excellent accommodation and cuisine. These trips already have an enviable reputation for including some of the most characterful convent/castle/monastery/palacio centred hotels, always specialising in regional food and wine. This trip will be no exception, but will include some ‘transit style’ hotels dictated by the requirements of the route.
Every tour so far has attracted a most interesting group of like-minded people, all there to enjoy the delights of motorcycling and the challenge of long-distance Tiddler events and to share their experiences over excellent local food and wine.
*These are provisional dates and may change by up to 2 or 3 days depending on hotel availability. Dates will be firm by 1st Feb.
**A ‘Tiddler’ is defined as – a motorcycle of capacity up to 175cc, which is pre-1973. Some exceptions have been agreed; Villiers 197cc, Mondial 202cc, Ducati 200cc and Tiger Cubs.
The inaugural PARIS – MADRID 1903 ROUTE RE-ENACTMENT (PA-MA)
Jun 23 – Jun 28, 2025
Following the successes of the Trans-Iberian Challenge Tiddler runs from Barcelona to Porto, the Giro South West team have come up with another long-distance gem; the Paris to Madrid 1903 Route Re-enactment (PA-MA).
The original 1903 PA-MA race was a disaster, with several fatalities and its premature termination at Bordeaux, after the French Government intervened and stopped it. The well-heeled, chartered a train to take them and their machines overnight to the Spanish border, but after arriving at Bayonne, the news that the Spanish had cancelled too, scuppered it.
About 50 motorcycles and 300 cars participated. All were eventually returned to Paris by rail and French road racing was outlawed for more than a decade. This one will be different!
We know that the original event started in Versailles Park on May 21, 1903.
That’s also where the 2025 event will commence. Our PA-MA will follow the original route where possible, compromising to avoid the major roads and cities. We have worked hard to include some particular routes of interest, scenic spots and iconic hotels in the planning. Spain will be entered by crossing the Pyrenees in Basque country, close to the originally intended route and then on to Pamplona and Logrono, before terminating at the Jarama race circuit in the suburbs of northern Madrid.
The ‘package’ includes bike transport to and from Somerset, recommended route cards, back-up and baggage transfer van and six nights of dinners and hotel accommodation.
The cost for the above will be £1340 based on shared rooms. Some single rooms will also be available, with a supplement.
There will be five riding days, preceded by a travel/reception day on Jun 23. The pre-ride briefing will be at 19.00 hrs, before dinner that night. We shall start in Southern Paris (Montigny-le-Bretonneux), ten miles south of Versailles, with good links to the city. We shall finish at Alcalá de Henares, 11 miles from Madrid Airport.
Our start hotel will be in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, an old equestrian farm, and our final overnight stop will be in the Alcalá de Henares Parador, Madrid.
ITINERARY
Versailles – Buzancais (163 miles)
Firstly, we follow the route nine miles north into Versailles and formally start the run at the Versailles Palace statue. After photos, we then drop due south, quickly out of the suburbs, to Dourdan, Sainville and the Loire Valely. Still pushing south, the route takes us into the grounds of the superb Chambord chateau and then the forests of the gentry to Valencay and Buzencais. We overnight in a fawlty towers chateau.
Buzancais – Riberac (160 miles)
Continuing south along rural lanes and flat open straight roads, we pass St Savin, Confolens and Villebois Lavalette before overnighting in deserted, western, rural France. Our overnight stay in Riberac is basic, but we can expect excellent hospitality in a typically French working man’s restaurant opposite our hotel.
Riberac – Salies de Bearn (176 miles)
Dropping south from Riberac we quickly enter more interesting hilly country and then the Bordeaux wine region. The highlight of the morning will be the famous wine villages of Montagne and St Emillion. The Dordogne is crossed at La Branne. The route then skirts eastern Bordeaux (the recce confirmed the dangers and complication of entering Bordeaux, to be not worth it) and on to the Landes natural park, the Bordeaux forest, Mont-de-Marsan, St Sever and the Pyrenean foothills at the spa town of Salies de Bearn.
Salies de Bearn – Santo Domingo de la Calzade (175 miles)
Rising up through the foothills, south to St Jean Pied de Port and the border, will be another highlight. As will the drop down from the Pyrenees, through Basque country to Pamplona and on to Logrono and Santo Domingo de la Calzade, set in the heart of La Rioja.
Santo Domingo de la Calzade – Alcalá de Henares (199 miles)
Going south is impossible due to the mountains, so we first head east, then south. In the mountains all day, we rise and fall across Sierras and valleys, sometimes cresting 2000ms, west of Soria and past Burgo. This is the longest, highest and toughest day of the trip. Eventually we break out onto flat land just north of Madrid.
Having fun riding classic motorcycles on the best roads is the main objective, but a close second is the excellent accommodation and cuisine. These trips already have an enviable reputation for including some of the most characterful convent/castle/monastery/palacio centred hotels, always specialising in regional food and wine. This trip will be no exception, but it does include one ‘transit style’ hotel, due to the constraints of the route.
*A ‘Tiddler’ is defined as – a motorcycle of capacity up to 175cc, which is pre-1973.
Some exceptions have been agreed; Villiers 197cc, Mondial 202cc, Ducati 200cc and Tiger Cubs.