OVERVIEW
Escape the city and take on this two night / three day multi stage ride over the entire 350km King Alfred’s Way, the iconic off road route in the South of England.
Taking in parts of the South Downs Way, Ridgeway & historic sites from Wessex, the riding & the views are only matched by the cold post ride beers & social post ride evenings.
We ride in small groups with a guide (or ride at your own pace and regroup at the feeds), regular checkpoints, luggage transfer and a warm, social atmosphere both on the ride & in the evening, this is the perfect way to ride the most famous off road route in the south of England.
Book now: Ride Entry £199
Add Private Single Room & Food £399 per person
OR Shared Twin / Double & Food £299 per person
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- One of the UK's Most Iconic Rides: Ever since it's launch the King Alfred's Way has become one of the bucket list rides in the country, a must do for every off-roader.
- Glorious Gravel: The route takes in part of the South Down's Way, Salisbury Plain & Ridgeway in an epic 350km loop.
- Post Ride Socials: One of the best things on the ride is finding people of a similar speed to ride with over the 3 days and spending the evenings eating & drinking together.
What to expect
This is the UK’s most famous multi day gravel ride and its suitable for most riders, but don’t underestimate it. 350km over 3 days is a lot of riding & the surfaces are mixed from smooth gravel to back roads and some rutty & muddy sections.
Ride difficulty
The ride gets easier over the long weekend with a challenging first day with plenty of climbing in the South Downs, a long day with some sharp climbs around Salisbury Plain and an easier day to end with some fast rolling sections on The Ridgeway.
STAGE ONE ****
STAGE TWO ****
STAGE THREE ***
***** Reserved just for our hardest routes. Expect long distance & lots of challenging climbs both on and off road.
**** Typically longer rides with regular climbs which could be both steep & long. Suitable for regular riders with some training.
*** A mix of terrain & elevation. A decent day out with some tricky sections but still suitable for regular riders.
** Some harder sections but suitable for all regular cyclists
* Easy, suitable for all riders. Mostly flat route.
Technical difficulty
Conditions can vary considerably due to recent weather conditions and we do update by email closer to the time. Expect a bit of everything over 350km – sand, mud, champagne gravel, rutted sections, loose sections & more.
STAGE ONE ***
STAGE TWO ***
STAGE THREE **
***** A challenging route suitable only for experienced riders. Expect short hike-a-bike sections, a mix of terrain & loose climbs and descents.
**** Suitable for regular off roaders, the route may contain rockier sections, technical descents etc.
*** A mix of off road conditions with some more difficult sections.
** More typical UK gravel which may be muddy when wet but no challenging sections
* Smooth terrain suitable for all riders.
TYRE & BIKE RECOMMENDATIONS
This route is designed for gravel bikes but you will be fine on a hardtail MTB. We do send out tyre recommendations closer to the time based on conditions but generally you want your comfiest bike & 40-50mm all rounder gravel tyres.
Included in entry
Guided Ride
We will break you down into three smaller groups of similar ability riders. A guide will be leading each group, you can choose to stick together or ride on your own, regrouping at the feed stops.
Checkpoints with proper food
An epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30-50km
Accurate GPX Files
A few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs.
Mechanics Available
At the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 & more.
Rider Support Vans
We are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone call away.
Beer & Pizza at Finish Line
You will be greeted at the finish hotel with a beer & pizza. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.
Guided Ride
We will break you down into three smaller groups of similar ability riders. A guide will be leading each group, you can choose to stick together or ride on your own, regrouping at the feed stops.
Checkpoints with proper food
An epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30-50km
Accurate GPX Files
A few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs.
Mechanics Available
At the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 & more.
Rider Support Vans
We are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone call away.
Beer & Pizza at Finish Line
You will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & pizza. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.
EVENT PROGRAM
21st August: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
23rd August: 7.45am: Ride village in Farnborough. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
23rd August: 8am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups. Finish in Winchester at 4.30 to 6pm
24th August: 8am: Stage two start in Winchester. Finish in Swindon at 4.30 to 6pm
25th August: 8.30am: Stage three start in Swindon. Finish in Farnborough at 2.30 to 4pm
ROUTE DETAILS
Stage One
Day one starts in Farnborough. You will collect your ride number and roll out in small groups with a short section on the North Downs Way before heading south and our first big climb of the weekend – the Devils Punchbowl.
From here it’s a quick 30km before a rolling & lumpy final 50km on the South Downs Way 👊👊
Percentage of Route Off Road: 60%
Distance: 115km
Elevation: 1,900m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
STAGE TWO
Day two is in our opinion the highlight of the route taking in the smooth and fast gravel tracks of Salisbury Plain and some Wiltshire white roads.
Starting in Winchester riding passed the King Alfred statue, the terrain is rolling throughout with a couple of sharp climbs waiting for you in the final 10km before the finish near Swindon.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 70%
Distance: 123km
Elevation: 1.600m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
STAGE TWO
Day two is in our opinion the highlight of the route taking in the smooth and fast gravel tracks of Salisbury Plain and some Wiltshire white roads.
Starting in Winchester riding passed the King Alfred statue, the terrain is rolling throughout with a couple of sharp climbs waiting for you in the final 10km before the finish near Swindon.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 70%
Distance: 123km
Elevation: 1,600m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
STAGE THREE
The final day is the quickest of the three and a stage of two halfs. The first 50km from Swindon to near Reading is on rolling terrain over the Ridgeway – the oldest road in England.
After following the Thames for nearly 20km, the last 50km is quick and flat before a triumphant finish back in Farnborough.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance: 115km
Elevation: 950m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes at Cody Sports & Social Club in Farnborough. Parking is included for the entire weekend.
Yes, e-bikes are allowed on all Glorious Gravel ride. These must comply with UK law.
We have first aiders & mechanics at the feed stops. There will be a phone number on the back of your ride number – call this if you need collecting.
LOCAL AREA
The Wessex Gravel Epic starts at the Frome Cheese Show in Frome – about 30 mins south of Bath or 45 mins West of Salisbury.
The nearest town is Frome but Warminster is also nearby. These towns have plenty of accommodation options.
There is a train station in Frome approx 3.5 miles away.
Accommodation & Meals
Choose to book your own accommodation or book our package in the checkout. We stay right by the finish line and packages include:
– 2 nights accommodation in 4* hotels
– Evening meals all together
– Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
– Secure bike storage
– Ride briefing each evening with info on the next day’s stage.
Accommodation & Meals
Choose to book your own accommodation or book our package in the checkout. We stay right by the finish line and packages include:
– 2 nights accommodation in 4* hotels
– Evening meals all together
– Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
– Secure bike storage
– Ride briefing each evening with info on the next day’s stage.
Packing list
The route takes in some remote sections. We have support vans available but we recommend you are as self sufficient as possible including:
Bike spares
2 x inner tubes suitable for the size of your tyre
If running a tubeless set up, have a tubeless repair kit including plugs and spare sealant.
Multitool | Chain link specific for your bike chain
Small pump | Brake pads (especially in wet conditions)
Personal Medical kit
1 x crepe roll bandage | Gauze or similar absorbent dressing
Assorted plasters | Antiseptic (spray, cream or wipes) | Prescribed medication
