OVERVIEW
A glorious 91 or 65km gravel sportive in the charming Cotswolds.
Taking in sections of the Roman Fosse Way and off road tracks in the hills including the Cotswolds Way & Monarchs Way, this is a great day on the bike suitable to new & experienced gravel riders in a lovely part of the country.
Camping available on Friday night.
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Get into the Cotswolds Hills on the Cotswolds & Monarch Way.
- Finish with a fast, flat 20km section on the famous Fosse Way.
- Enjoy stunning views over the charming Cotswolds as we ride through picturesque villages and varied countryside.
What to expect
A punchy long & medium route with a challenging first half in the hills & a fast second half on the Fosse Way.
Ride difficulty
The first 40km on the long route is all up & down with on & off road climbs of all shapes and sizes including some a couple of very sharp ascents.
The second half is mostly flat – expect the ride to take 4.5 to 7 hours.
Long Route ***
Medium Route **
***** 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
The route is 50/50 on & off road with the gravel being a real mix of terrain from smooth gravel, forest tracks to rockier sections and some narrow trails.
Long Route ****
Medium Route ***
***** 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 as if it’s wet you will want wide, knobbly tyres. In normal conditions, a slightly wider, all-rounder tyre (40-50mm) will be ideal.
Included in entry
Fully Signed Route
Our team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride.
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 30-40km
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 at Finish Line
You will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.
Fully Signed Route
Our team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride.
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 30-35km
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 at Finish Line
You will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.
EVENT PROGRAM
24th April: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
26th April: 7.45am: Ride village in Didmarton opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
26th April: 8am to 8,45amm: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
26th April: 6pm: Rider village closes.
26th April: 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
LONG ROUTE
A ride of two halves taking in some of the best gravel & backroads of the beautiful Cotswolds.
Heading out of Didmarton, we head north west into the hills for a punchy first 45km packed with climbs of all shapes and sizes.
After a stop for a sandwich at feed two we head onto the Fosse Way – get in a good group and work together to smash through this fast 20km section. After this, its a quick 13km section on a mix of tarmac and gravel back to the finish line.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance: 91km
Elevation: 1,150m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route takes out a chunk at the start and near near the end but has the routes have the same shape with a tough first half in the hills and a quick second half on the Fosse Way.
For a medium route it does have challenging sections but is rideable for cyclists of most abilities.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance: 65km
Elevation: 950m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route takes out a chunk at the start and near near the end but has the routes have the same shape with a tough first half in the hills and a quick second half on the Fosse Way.
For a medium route it does have challenging sections but is rideable for cyclists of most abilities.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance: 65km
Elevation: 950m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
SHORT ROUTE
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 40%
Distance: 104km
Elevation: 750m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes at Didmarton. There is free parking onsite as well as toilets & refreshments. We will send the ride village address by email.
Yes, you can book your camping spot for tents or campervans at the ride village in the checkout when you book your entry.
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 Yorkshire Dales Gravel Epic starts in Skipton just off the A59 which connects the M6 & the A65 to Leeds 1hr away.
There are plenty of hotels in Skipton and some really nice country pubs in the Dales.
The nearest train station is in Skipton just over 1 mile from the ride start,
Make a weekend of it
If you are coming a few hours to this ride, we highly recommend making a weekend out of it and exploring this stunning area.
Within Skipton there is a castle and several nice restaurants.
The world’s best cheese shop is not far away in Settle (Courtyard Dairy) and must be visited.
Head to Malham Cove for a great hike and check out one of the waterfalls in the area like Janet’s Foss.
Make a weekend of it
If you are coming a few hours to this ride, we highly recommend making a weekend out of it and exploring this stunning area.
Within Skipton there is a castle and several nice restaurants.
The world’s best cheese shop is not far away in Settle (Courtyard Dairy) and must be visited.
Head to Malham Cove for a great hike and check out one of the waterfalls in the area like Janet’s Foss.
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
