Ducati DRE UK Multistrada Experience review

There are few places in the UK better suited to an adventure bike than Mid Wales, with its roads that ripple across the landscape, gravel tracks, and predictably unpredictable weather. It’s exactly the sort of environment the Multistrada was built for, which is why the Ducati Riding Experience (DRE) has chosen it as the backdrop for its Multistrada Experience tour.

The concept is straightforward enough, with a two-day guided ride through some of the best riding terrain mid-Wales has to offer, mixing sweeping road sections with manageable light off-road trails. You turn up, get briefed, swing a leg over either a V2 or V4 Multistrada, and the rest of the weekend is handled for you.

And if that sounds suspiciously like a motorcycle holiday without the admin, that’s because it’s essentially what it is.

The region

I’ve ridden in Wales more times than I can count over the years. Bike launches, road tests, and group rides – if there’s a good riding road in the region, the chances are I’ve been pointed down it at some stage. That was until this trip, as it managed to unlock some of the region’s less travelled routes.

The riding takes place around the sweeping landscapes of the Cambrian Mountains and the stunning reservoirs of the Elan Valley, with the whole operation based out of the well-known off-road facility at Sweet Lamb Adventure Bike Academy. It’s a location that has hosted everything from WRC rally testing to adventure bike training days, and it makes a natural starting point for this sort of experience.

The riding itself blends scenic tarmac with light gravel and trail sections. The off-road sections are nothing extreme, but enough to remind you why adventure bikes like the Multistrada exist in the first place.

The format

The Multistrada Experience runs over two days and typically follows a fairly relaxed structure. Day one begins with arrivals in the morning, some introductions, and a briefing before the group heads out for the first ride. From there, it’s a mix of sweeping mountain roads, tighter single-track lanes, and gravel tracks, with a lunch stop somewhere scenic before more riding in the afternoon. After a full day on the bikes, the group heads to the hotel for the night -  but more on that later.

Day two starts with breakfast before heading back out for another full day exploring the surrounding roads and trails, eventually looping back to base at Sweet Lamb.

The routes themselves vary depending on conditions and group ability, but the structure remains basically the same, and gives those taking part plenty of seat time, good scenery, and a balance between faster sweeping sections and more tight, technical stuff.

Small groups will appeal to less experienced adventure riders

One of the biggest strengths of the whole experience is the way it’s run, with deliberately small groups making it all feel unintimidating and friendly. It also means the instructors can keep a closer eye on everyone and adjust the pace or route if needed. It also avoids the “giant motorcycle convoy” feel that can sometimes plague organised rides.

The instructors themselves, all part of the DRE UK team, are excellent. They read the group well, keep things flowing, and are quick to adapt the schedule if something unexpected crops up - such as a road closure due to an overturned articulated lorry…

The pace is brisk but sensible

If you’re expecting an adrenaline-fuelled blast across Wales, flat-out with the footpegs scraping the road, this might not be the event for you. The group sticks to speed limits, particularly through towns and villages, and the riding is deliberately kept controlled. You do get to explore the potential of the bike, though, but one of the key aims of the event is to ensure everyone arrives back at base with their bike and driving licence intact.

That’s partly because the bikes belong to the DRE, and the lead and tail riders are fully branded up, but it’s also simply the tone of the event. This isn’t about racing across the countryside, it’s about enjoying the ride. For me, it was quite refreshing, as most motorcycle launches quickly descend into a blur of villages and hairpins. The Multistrada Experience was different, and it allowed me to take in a bit more of the scenery, and made the whole trip feel much more relaxed and all the better for it.

Time on the Multistrada

The bikes themselves are, unsurprisingly, the latest Ducati adventure machinery, with riders able to get seat time on both the Ducati Multistrada V4 and the Ducati Multistrada V2, depending on availability.

It’s actually a great way to experience the bikes properly, instead of a quick dealer test ride, as you’re spending two full days riding them across varied terrain in just the same way an owner would. And if you’re considering buying a Multistrada, that extended seat time is arguably one of the most valuable parts of the weekend.

For those looking for a more in-depth look at the Multistrada or DesertX, the team at the DRE have a range of specific off-road courses, ranging from introductory rides for beginners to more extreme stuff. There is also the imminent arrival of Ducati MX and enduro bikes, giving punters the chance to test those in the incredible setting of Sweet Lamb.

The Elan Valley Hotel is well worth mentioning

The overnight stay is at the charming Elan Valley Hotel, just outside the small town of Rhayader. Calling it “world-class” might sound like marketing fluff, but it’s genuinely a lovely place to spend the night. The hotel has a boutique feel without ever drifting into the sort of pretentious territory that can sometimes come with that label.

The rooms are spacious and genuinely luxurious, which is a welcome sight after a full day riding Welsh roads.

And the food deserves a mention too.

Dinner isn’t included in the £799 price, but the restaurant serves excellent dishes, with solid vegetarian and vegan options alongside the usual fare. After a long day in the saddle, sitting down to a proper meal in a warm dining room overlooking the Welsh countryside is a pretty good way to end the day.

What the price covers

At £799 per rider for the weekend, the Multistrada Experience isn’t cheap, but when you break down what’s included, the value starts to make sense.

That price covers two days of guided riding, the use of Ducati’s Multistrada motorcycles, fuel, rider coaching, one night of hotel accommodation, and lunch during the riding days - you can even bring along a pillion for an additional £150.

Given that most motorcycle weekends involve booking accommodation, organising routes, fuelling bikes, and hoping someone in the group knows where they’re going, having all of that taken care of is a big part of the appeal.

Who is it for?

If you’re a seasoned tourer who already spends downtime crossing Europe by bike, you might not get much out of this particular tour. You probably already have the experience and the planning skills required to organise trips like this yourself.

Where the Multistrada Experience really shines is for riders who want to start exploring further afield but don’t quite know where to begin. It would also suit mixed riding groups who usually only meet up for the local bike night, and generally go no further afield. It’s also a fantastic option if you’re seriously considering buying a Multistrada and want more than a quick half-hour test ride.

You turn up, ride some excellent roads, enjoy good food, and spend a couple of days immersed in the Welsh countryside.

Sometimes, that’s exactly the sort of riding weekend you want.

You can find out more information on this and all the other courses available on the DRE website.

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