OVERVIEW
Ride parts of the Purbeck Hills, Wareham Forest and Dorset, with coastal views, Hill Forts and castles along the way.
The all new Dorset Gravel X takes on varied terrain, surfaces and surroundings, really showing off the best the area has to offer.
The trails are generally easy going with flowy sections near Wareham Forest before some climbs around the Isle of Purbeck. A cracker of a ride with camping available on Friday to make a weekend of it.
RIDE 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
What to expect
A ride of three parts with a flowy first section, punchy climbs on more technical gravel before flatter trails on the way home.
Ride difficulty
The long route has a challenging middle 40km with 6 climbs back to back with a few sharp gradients. The medium route avoids most of the climbs with one 2.5km hill to get over in the middle of the route.
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 60% off road with a mix of surfaces. The gravel around Wareham Forest is mostly smooth. The first three descents are on tarmac before a more technical section on Purbeck Ridge with some chalky sections & a couple of steeper off road descents.
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
3rd April: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
5th April: 7.45am: Ride village near Wareham opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
5th April: 8am to 8,45amm: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
5th April: 6pm: Rider village closes.
5th April: 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
LONG ROUTE
A proper spring classic in Dorset on a route with loads of variety and some great gravel.
Starting just north of Wareham, we take in some smooth off road around Wareham Forest before heading south to the Isle of Purbeck where the climbing begins.
We head up onto the ridgeway at around 25km and then have 6 climbs back to back over the middle 40km of the route as we roll past Corfe Castle & along the Purbeck Hills to Studland Bay.
From here we stay on the ridge before descending north to the coast and a flowy section back to the finish.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 60%
Distance: 89km
Elevation: 1,300m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route splits from the long route at 24km and you can decide at this point which route you want to do.
This option skips two tough climbs on the way to Corfe Castle before the main climb of the day, a 3.5km onto the ridge before dropping down to the coast & finishing with a flat section back home.
A ride suitable for all abilities on a lovely varied route in Dorset.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 60%
Distance: 61km
Elevation: 600m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route splits from the long route at 24km and you can decide at this point which route you want to do.
This option skips two tough climbs on the way to Corfe Castle before the main climb of the day, a 3.5km onto the ridge before dropping down to the coast & finishing with a flat section back home.
A ride suitable for all abilities on a lovely varied route in Dorset.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 60%
Distance: 61km
Elevation: 600m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
SHORT ROUTE
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Percentage of Route Off Road: 40%
Distance: 104km
Elevation: 750m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes at Farmer Palmer’s just north of Wareham. 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 Dorset Gravel X starts at Farmer Palmers just north of Wareham.
There are plenty of hotels in Wareham or more options 7 miles away in Poole. There are also a number of great local pubs with accommodation in the area.
The nearest train station is in Wareham just over 3.5 miles from the ride start,
Make a weekend of it
With camping available on Friday night, this is a great chance to come to Dorset for the weekend.
The Tank Museum nearby at Bovington is worth a visit as is Corfe Castle and you can take the steam railway there from Swanage.
There are plenty of lovely beaches in the area including Swanage, Studland & Weymouth.
Make a weekend of it
With camping available on Friday night, this is a great chance to come to Dorset for the weekend.
The Tank Museum nearby at Bovington is worth a visit as is Corfe Castle and you can take the steam railway there from Swanage.
There are plenty of lovely beaches in the area including Swanage, Studland & Weymouth.
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
