Why the ABR Festival Should Be on Every New Rider's List

I went to the ABR Festival this year on a press invite, fully expecting a good weekend. I came back thinking something different: this is one of the best events in the entire motorcycling calendar, and it might be the single most useful weekend a new or young rider can spend.

Let me explain why.

The riding is unlike anything else in the UK

I spent the weekend riding the trails on my Ténéré with mates on their adventure bikes. Over 50km of private off-road trails laid across the Ragley Hall estate, open only during the festival.

That number doesn't really land until you're out there. You can ride that length of proper off-road, with no tarmac anywhere, and you simply cannot do that anywhere else in the UK. Land like this is locked up the rest of the year. For one weekend it's yours.

It's a genuinely special thing. I got stuck in the mud. I got stuck in a bog. I loved every second. You can see the videos over on our instagram..

The festival itself is just brilliant

The weather was roasting, but it was glorious. And everything around the riding was as good as the riding.

The food was excellent. The atmosphere was warm and easy, full of like-minded people who'll happily talk bikes with a total stranger. The music in the evenings was great across the stages. There's a huge amount of space for camping, so you're never on top of anyone.

And the facilities. I don't say this lightly: the toilets and showers were some of the best quality I've seen at any festival, including the big mainstream ones. They've earned the "Glastonbury with posh toilets" nickname.

Here's why it's perfect for new riders

This is the part I want any new or young rider to hear, because the festival is quietly built for you.

Every manufacturer is there. Triumph, BMW, Ducati, KTM, Yamaha, Honda, the lot. Hundreds of bikes, all in one field. If you've got the right licence you can test ride them on the road, and crucially, off-road too. It's basically the only place in the country where you can actually test an off-road bike off-road before you buy. No car-park demo lap. Real terrain.

You don't have to throw yourself in the deep end. There are off-road riding schools running free skills sessions in a beginners' zone. So if you fancy trying your hand at off-roading, you can get proper tuition first. You don't have to jump straight in and get stuck in the bog like I did. Worth knowing: the main 50km trails do need a full A2 or A licence, so if you're newer, the beginner skills sessions are your way in. Start there, build the confidence, work up to the rest.

There are guided road rides out into the Warwickshire countryside if you'd rather stay on tarmac, which is a lovely low-pressure way to ride somewhere new with other people.

The talks are genuinely inspiring. Round-the-world adventurers, professional athletes, the names you've watched on telly. Sitting in a tent listening to someone describe crossing a continent on two wheels does something to you when you're at the start of your own riding journey. It plants a flag.

You can try on loads of kit. Stalls everywhere, every brand, so you can actually feel a helmet or a jacket on before you commit, instead of guessing online.

And the most important point of all: you really, truly do not have to be a hardcore adventure or enduro rider to belong here. Whatever you ride, whatever your level, you're welcome. The bikes are just the glue.

The summit for everyone

The ABR Festival is the summit for absolutely everyone, and one of the best events on the motorcycling calendar full stop. If you're getting into riding, it's a must, regardless of what bike you've got or how long you've been at it.

If the festival lights the spark and you haven't started yet, the first step onto the road is simpler than you'd think. Getting your CBT is a single day that unlocks a 125, and from there the whole thing opens up. You can find CBT training near you and book it in a few minutes.

We'll be going back for sure. Loyalty tickets are on sale now - hope to see some of you there!