POSTED: 15/03/2021
This day trip ride route is a straightforward run with scenic views and historic sites along the way - the perfect way to enjoy the warmer weather! Starting from our Maidstone Harley-Davidson® store, simply take the A217 and A2 and follow signs for the Dartford Crossing - tolls are free for motorcycles!
Once you’re north of the water, keep an eye out for the A1306 exit and follow this towards the incredible Rainham Marshes. Protected by the RSPB, this is area is a haven for wildlife and birds. Whether you’re a keen nature enthusiast or just fancy stopping for a flask of tea, this is the perfect place to soak up some peace and quiet. You might also spot some of the former military heritage, such as pillboxes that are now used as bird hides!
Once you’re ready to jump back on your bike, follow the A13 back on yourself. The dual carriageway quickly opens out into a scenic road through Essex’s rolling hills and farms, past Stanford-le-Hope and the historic village of Pitsea (which predates the Doomsday book!), and up towards your next stop off at Battlesbridge.
Just in time for lunch? There are plenty of places to stop for a bite to eat and hopefully soak up some sun. The Barge Inn at Hawk Hill will be reopening its outdoor seating from 12th April, and you can even book your picnic bench in advance. Take a wander through the infamous Antiques Village and the Battlesbridge Motorcycle Museum, which houses an extensive range of vintage motorcycles and memorabilia. It’s also a well-known spot for regular bike meet-ups (when guidelines permit).
If you fancy extending your trip to a weekend break, there are plenty of campsites and guest houses nearby.
Heading back down the A125, you’ll join the historic Southend Arterial Road, famous for housing hundred of military vehicles prior to the D-Day landings in 1944. Follow signs to Leigh-on-Sea and take in the fresh sea air! A stones-throw from Southend, this formerly busy Victorian fishing port is full of unique character and charm, now modernised with shops, pubs and restaurants. There’s lots of parking nearby, so you can take your time to unwind with the picturesque sea views and a bag of chips in hand – especially worth the ride if you catch a sunset!
Manufacturer offers can not be redeemed in conjunction with any of the Laguna exclusive offers.
Laguna Motorcycles Limited (which include multiple trading names: Laguna Motorcycles, Laguna Performance Centre, Laguna Triumph, Maidstone Honda, Maidstone Harley-Davidson® and Kent Motorcycles) is an Appointed Representative of Automotive Compliance Ltd who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No. 497010). Automotive Compliance Ltd’s permissions as a Principal Firm allows Laguna Motorcycles Limited (which include multiple trading names: Laguna Motorcycles, Laguna Performance Centre, Laguna Triumph, Maidstone Honda, Maidstone Harley-Davidson® and Kent Motorcycles) to act as a credit broker, not a lender, for the introduction to a limited number of lenders, and to act as an agent on behalf of the insurer for insurance distribution activities only.
We are a credit broker and not a lender. We can introduce you to a carefully selected panel of lenders, which includes manufacturer lenders linked directly to the franchises that we represent. We act on behalf of the lender for this introduction and not as your agent. We are not impartial, and we are not an independent financial advisor.
Our approach is to introduce you first to the manufacturer lender linked directly to the particular franchise you are purchasing your vehicle from, who are usually able to offer the best available package for you, taking into account both interest rates and other contributions. If they are unable to make you an offer of finance, we then seek to introduce you to whichever of the other lenders on our panel is able to make the next most suitable offer of finance for you. Our aim is to secure a suitable finance agreement for you that enables you to achieve your financial objectives. If you purchase a vehicle, in the majority of cases, we will receive a commission from your lender for introducing you to them which is either a fixed fee, or a fixed percentage of the amount that you borrow. This may be linked to the vehicle model you purchase.
Different lenders pay different commissions for such introductions, and manufacturer lenders linked directly to the franchises that we represent may also provide preferential rates to us for the funding of our vehicle stock and also provide financial support for our training and marketing. But any such amounts they and other lenders pay us will not affect the amounts you pay under your finance agreement; however, you will be contributing towards the commission paid to us with the interest collected on your repayments. Before we propose you to a potential lender, we will inform you of the likely amount of commission we will receive and seek your consent to receive this commission. The exact amount of commission that we will receive will be confirmed prior to you signing your finance agreement.
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