SEASON STARTER 2026
2026 will be the third running of the Season Starter event. It's held at the Bike & Boot Peak District hotel in Bamford in the Peak District from 17-19th April 2026.
What is the Season Starter?
The Peak Motorcycles Season Starter is a motorcycle weekend in the Peak District National Park, held in April each year. It's an opportunity to get your biking year started if it hasn't already.
It is a three day event, with an optional trail ride on the Friday, two nights at the hotel with breakfast both mornings, a longer ride out on the Saturday with lunch in Holmfirth, and dinner in Hathersage.
We aim to improve year on year and for 2026 there will be a few changes:
- The routes for 2026 will be more like 2025, with with more riding roads and fewer town crossings, but they will change. There are some limitations on the possible roads to and from the lunch stop, but there are still some we have yet to explore.
- After two years of Season Starter shirts, the regulars may be filling their wardrobes, and to offset an increase in the hotel costs, they have been excluded to keep the price increase to a minimum. Shirts will still be available for those that want them, but they will need to be ordered in advance.
The hotel was brand new in Autumn 2023 and is on the site of the Rising Sun pub between Bamford and Hope which had been derelict for several years.
The hotel rooms all have king size beds. The 'Small' rooms look like this and they are only available as with one king bed.
For twin rooms, the rooms are the larger 'Medium' rooms to allow for space between and around the beds. This is why the twin room is more expensive than the double. There is a residents lounge with all day tea and coffee with cake at 4pm and there is a bar and restaurant on site.
The plan is for folks to arrive Friday and depart Sunday. The two on-road organised rides will take place on Saturday all day, and Sunday morning finishing around 1pm so that even with lunch, people can be on their way home by 2 or 3pm at the latest.
If we are a smaller group (fewer than 20 bikes) it will be run as a guided tour with the drop off system. If more than that, I have the route as .gpx/.itn files which I'll send out ahead of time so that people can navigate at their own pace, but still have the same stops as everyone else for the shared experience. This is how it's been run in previous years, and it works rather well, especially on roads where overtaking is difficult, and people ride at different speeds.
If anyone would be interested in riding some of the Peak District trails there will also be a small group trail ride on the Friday. This will be leaving late morning on the Friday and returning to the hotel by 4pm. Luggage can be left at the hotel if you wish. The trails are suitable for dual sport or Adventure motorcycles with at least 50/50 off-road tyres. There will be nothing extreme, but some trail or off-road experience is required. Please ask if you have any questions.
Prices are per room and include the following:
- 2 nights Bed & Breakfast at the Bike & Boot Peak District Hotel
- Tea, Coffee & Cake in the Hotel Lounge each day
- Saturday Lunch at the Carding Shed (Bowls of chips, plates of sandwiches and a hot or cold drink)
- Saturday Dinner & Transport to Maazi in Hathersage (Mixed starters, choice of 4 dishes, rice, naan)
- 10% Off Voucher for Sportsbikeshop.co.uk
- 10% Off Voucher for AdventureSpec
| Room | Deposit | Balance | Total | Extra Nights |
| Small King (Single Occupancy) | £100 | £189 | £289 | £115 |
| Small King (Double Occupancy) | £100 | £289 | £389 | £135 |
| Medium Twin (Single Occupancy) | £100 | £209 | £309 | £125 |
| Medium Twin (Double Occupancy) | £100 | £309 | £409 | £145 |
Payment terms are for a non-refundable deposit of £100 paid at the time of booking with the balance to be paid one month before the weekend.
Cancellation policy is that the balance is refundable up to 7 days before. In practice, if I am able to fill the rooms then I would also refund the deposit. There were three late cancellations in 2025 and a full refund was provided to all.
Finally, I have to mention is that riding a motorcycle is dangerous. Anyone who comes on the weekend must ensure that their bike is safe to ride and be responsible for their own safety. The routes will have been ridden and checked prior to the event, but neither myself nor anyone supporting the event can accept any liability for the participants and it is up to each individual to accept the responsibility for their own riding safety. I hope this doesn't come across as overly cautious, but I would like to ensure people are clear on what to expect.
If you think this might be your sort of thing, click here to request further information.
Thank you.
