RALEIGH CENTENARY RIDE - July 2026

Two members of Salisbury Motorcycle and Light Car Club are planning a 1100 mile ride on their 100 year-old motorcycles this summer. Mike Tizard and Mark Goulding will be riding their Raleigh motorcycles following the same route that was ridden exactly 100 years ago.   

On 5th July 1926 Miss Marjorie Cottle set out on a journey from London to Edinburgh following a convoluted route which when viewed from above spelt out the word Raleigh . The publicity stunt was devised to promote their new model 17, a 174cc side valve machine. 

To mark the centenary, Mike and Mark will be re-enacting the epic journey. The ride will start 5th July 2026 at the Mansion House in London, and all being well, will finish on the 15th July 26 in Edinburgh. Just as in 1926, they will be taking a letter of introduction from the Lady Mayor of the City of London and will deliver it to the Lord Provost in the City Chambers in the City of Edinburgh. Over the past 100 years the road network has seen massive change, but where possible the original route will be followed, but using A and B roads.  The planned daily routes have been calculated, and the overnight stops will remain the same as Miss Cottle’s.

The daily schedule will look something like: 

Day 1. London to Salisbury, via Southampton - 111 m


Day 2. Salisbury to Swindon, via Bath, Bristol, Gloucester and Cheltenham - 117 m


Day 3. Swindon to Birmingham, via Oxford, Buckingham, and Northampton - 122 m


Day 4. Birmingham to Buxton, Leamington Spa, Leicester and Nottingham - 122m


Day 5. Buxton to Derby, via Manchester, Chester, and Stoke-on Trent - 111m


Day 6. Derby to York, via Sheffield, Leeds and Bradford – 117m


Day 7. York to Appleby, Harrogate and Alston - 128m


Day 8. Appleby to Newcastle, via Durham, Stockton and Darlington - 119m


Day 9. Newcastle to Glasgow, via Hexham and Carlisle - 142m


Day 10. Glasgow to Edinburgh, via Paisley and Biggar - 88m

Total… 1177miles.