Long Route
105km | 1200m
Medium Route
63km | 575m
Ride Overview
Ride parts of the Purbeck Hills, Wareham Forest and Dorset, with coastal views, Hill Forts and castles along the way.
The Dorset Gravel Epic takes on varied terrain, surfaces and surroundings, really showing off the best the area has to offer.
The trails are generally easy going, with the first half of the route having the bulk of the climbing included. The second half rewards you with flatter gravel trails and single track.
Highlights
See the stunning Jurassic coast with the best views in the Purbeck Hills.
- View Corfe Castle and Old Harry Rocks, then travel in-land to experience the gravel trails of Wareham Forest.
- Two route distances, with an easier option for those less keen on the bigger steeper climbs
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 - 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
5th Sept: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
7th Sept – 7.30am: Ride village at the Tank Museum opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
7th Sept – 8am to 9.30am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
7th Sept – 5pm: Rider village closes
7th Sept – 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email
Long Route
Starting with a gentle paved climb out of Wool, we skirt around the Lulworth Ranges before heading south into the Purbeck Hills.
We then have a feed stop before climbing and descending the hills around Corfe Castle, with views of Kimmeridge Bay and Swyre Head offering ample distraction from the inclines.
Travelling East over Ballard Down, there’s a thrilling descent with clifftop views ending at Old Harry rocks. A second feed stop then offers a chance to recharge, before climbing again for more views of Poole Harbour and Corfe Castle.
The route then mercifully flattens while we ride the trails near Arne, before moving inland through Wareham Forest and Woolsbarrow, its Bronze Age Hillfort.
The route finishes with a mixture of bridleways and quiet lanes around Bere Regis, before heading south to finish.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 45%
Distance:
105km
Elevation:
1200m
Difficulty:
3/5
Medium Route
The medium route follows the long route, before cutting some corners to Corfe Castle, avoiding the hardest of the climbing, but retaining as many views as possible.
It rejoins the main route in the Arne section, continuing alongside from here.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 45%
Distance:
63km
Elevation:
575m
Difficulty:
1.5/5
Short Route
The short route follows the medium for the majority of the day but cuts off a section in the middle and near the end to make this nearly 20km shorter. With some nice variety on the off road sections & very little climbing, this is ideal for riders of all abilities.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 55%
Distance:
47km
Elevation:
350m
Difficulty:
1/5
Bike Selection & Packing List
Bike Choice: The route does have some rougher sections, but these are kept to a minimum, using back roads where the going is tough so a gravel bike is ideal. There are a few short, punchy climbs so a good bike for climbing is recommended. E-bikes are allowed on all of our rides.
Tyre Choice: We will send an update on conditions closer to the ride. The gravel on the route can get a little rough, so a 35-40mm all rounder gravel tyre, with the spares to deal with any potential cuts will be ideal.
Packing List: Bring equipment to be self sufficient on the route (inner tubes, sealant, multi-tool, pump or CO2, foil blanket etc). We recommend a bell to warn walkers / runners of your presence.
Clothing: Likely to be nice at this time of the year but could be fresh in the morning so pack accordingly (arm & leg / knee warmers, gilet, waterproof jacket etc). Helmets are mandatory, you will not be able to ride without one.
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes at The Tank Museum at Bovington Camp. There is free parking onsite as well as toilets & refreshments. We will send the ride village address by email.
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.
Yes, we start between 8.30am and 9.30am and set people off in small groups so the off road sections are not too busy. Please come to the start line with anyone you want to ride with, we will give a short ride briefing and set you off.