Trail riding is one of the great secrets of UK motorcycling. Threading through the countryside is an ancient network of unsurfaced routes, thousands of miles of them, that you can ride legally on a road-legal bike. It offers adventure, solitude and some of the most beautiful scenery in Britain, often just a short ride from home. This guide covers what trail riding actually is, where to do it, and how to get started the right way.
Off-tarmac, not off-road
The first thing to understand is a distinction the UK trail riding community takes seriously. Trail riding is done off-tarmac, not off-road. The routes are all public highways with vehicular rights of way, which means every rider and machine must be fully road legal. This isn't pedantry: the difference matters, because it's what separates legal trail riding from illegal off-roading, and it's central to protecting the right to ride these lanes at all.
"Off-road" means riding on private land with the owner's permission, such as a motocross track, and that's the only setting where a non-road-legal machine belongs. On the green lane network, your bike must be taxed, MOT'd, insured and registered, and you must hold a licence and wear a helmet.
Where trail riding happens
Trail riding uses two types of legal route: Byways Open to All Traffic (BOATs) and Unclassified County Roads (UCRs). These are unsurfaced public roads, often ancient routes that have existed for centuries. Other unsurfaced paths, restricted byways, bridleways and footpaths, are not open to motor vehicles. We cover this fully in the guide on which routes are legal to ride.
One practical reality: the network is fragmented. You won't ride seamlessly from lane to lane, you'll link them using minor tarmac roads. That's part of the charm, taking you through corners of the countryside most people never see.
The best areas to ride
The UK is rich in trail riding, but a few areas stand out:
The Peak District. One of the most popular and accessible areas, with a fantastic network of trails and famous lanes, lending itself to superb circular routes through rolling countryside. Some trails are peppered with rocks, so proper protection matters.
North Wales. Around Llangollen in particular, there's a fantastic network of legal trails, from easy forest tracks to challenging rocky climbs. The variety and the wild, remote scenery make it a favourite for many riders. Wales's highest green lane, the legendary Wayfarer, is here.
The Yorkshire Dales offer a strong selection of trails further north, and there are good routes scattered from Norfolk's Peddars Way (a straightforward way into the sport) to the wilder corners of the country. Wherever you are, the key is an OS map and knowing what to look for.
Getting started
The best way into trail riding is not to go it alone. The Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF), established in 1970 with nearly 6,000 members, exists to protect this network and promote its responsible use. Joining connects you with a local group that runs regular ride-outs, introduces you to legal routes in your area, and teaches the skills and etiquette that keep lanes open. For most newcomers it's the single best first step, and we cover it in detail in the getting started guide.
If you'd rather build skills first, professional training schools such as off-road centres run by the major manufacturers let you try trail and adventure riding on their bikes before you invest in your own.
For those who catch the bug and want more, the Trans Euro Trail (TET) is a legal, 55,000km dirt-road adventure route across Europe, created by motorcyclists for motorcyclists, starting right here in the UK.
Riding responsibly
Trail riding in the UK exists under constant pressure, with legal lanes decreasing over the years. Every rider is a custodian of the network. Follow the TRF code of conduct: keep to the route, leave gates as you find them, and when you meet horses, walkers or dogs, slow right down or stop and turn off your engine, even removing your helmet to reassure a nervous horse or its rider. Keep noise and speed low near livestock and homes. Respect every lane closure, they protect the trails and wildlife, and respecting them protects our right to ride.
Navigating the trails
Because the network is fragmented and lanes can be hard to spot on the ground, most riders now navigate with GPX files on a phone or dedicated device. A word of caution the TRF itself gives: some shared GPX routes may include roads or paths where it isn't legal to ride, so the route you follow must be one you've confirmed as legal.
With WildTrack you can load a verified GPX track, download offline maps of the area, and follow the route even with no signal, with an off-route alert if you stray from the intended line. Given how much staying on the legal route matters in the UK, that's genuinely useful, letting you focus on the riding and the scenery. It works on iOS and Android.
In summary
Trail riding opens up thousands of miles of the UK's most beautiful countryside on a road-legal bike. Remember it's off-tarmac, not off-road: stay legal, ride only BOATs and UCRs, and keep your machine road legal. Explore the Peak District, North Wales and the Dales, join the TRF to learn and find routes, ride responsibly to protect access, and navigate with confidence. It's adventure that's been waiting on your doorstep all along.