OVERVIEW
An epic gravel point to point ride fitting for one of our six Monuments of the year!
Take on the Downs Divide on a glorious route starting in the Surrey Hills and finishing on the coast at Beachy Head. On the way you will ride parts of the North Downs Way, the Downs Link & finishing on the amazing South Downs Way.
Choose between the 102km route or the full 162km with a punchy first 60km in the Surrey Hills & North Downs.
Transfers available to get you back to the start line in the evening…
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- One of the great point to point gravel rides in the UK
- Ride the gravel trails & back lanes of the Surrey Hills
- Finish with punchy climbs & epic views on the South Downs Way
What to expect
The epic route takes in hilly terrain at the start and then the last 60km is the toughest on the South Downs Way. In the middle (and the first 40km for the long route), the Downs Link is flat and flowing.
Ride difficulty
You can break this ride into three parts. As ever, miles in the legs will make the ride more difficult as you will hit the steepest climbs near the end. The first 60km on the Epic has 1,000m of elevation in the Surrey Hills before 40km of easier riding but the bulk of the elevation comes in the last 60km.
Epic Route *****
Long 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
75% of the route is on gravel. The off road is a mix of some well kept gravel trails in the hills and some bumpier farmtracks which can be rooty and rutted if dry and muddy when wet followed by chalk & grassy trails in the South Downs.
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. A slightly wider gravel 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
12th August: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
15th August: 7.45am: Ride village at Cranleigh Showgrounds opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
15th August: 8am – Epic ride starts. 8am to 9am – Long route starts. We will give you a short ride briefing before you go.
15th August: 6pm: Transfer from Beachy Head back to Cranleigh departs (arrive back at 7.30pm)
15th August: 8pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
EPIC ROUTE
One of the best point to point routes in the country!
Our ride starts in Cranleigh and heads straight into the Surrey Hills for some with 30km of rolling terrain in the North Downs and then 30km of back to back climbing.
Circling back into Cranleigh we then jump on the Downs Link for 40km of relatively flat & flowing trails before turning east onto the South Downs Way as we get close to the South Coast.
With 100km in our legs, we hit the toughest part of the day – 60km of ups & downs on the South Downs Way on a mix of chalk & grass with sweeping views of the coast and rolling hills before finishing at Beachy Head.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 75%
Distance: 162km
Elevation: 2700m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
LONG ROUTE
The long route is exactly the same as the Epic but misses the first 60km in the Surrey Hills.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 85%
Distance: 102km
Elevation: 1,700m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
LONG ROUTE
The long route is exactly the same as the Epic but misses the first 60km in the Surrey Hills.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 85%
Distance: 102km
Elevation: 1,700m
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 Cranleigh Showgrounds and finishes in Beachy Head, close to Eastbourne. There is free parking onsite as well as toilets & refreshments. We will send the ride village address by email.
The finish is in Beachy Head close to Eastbourne. There are regular trains from Eastbourne to London Victoria. We also operate a transfer back to Eastbourne for you & your bike at 6pm. This is £75 and available to book in the cart when you add your entry. The transfer takes approx 1.5hrs so you should be back at the ride village in Cranleigh for 7.30pm.
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 Surrey Gravel Epic starts at Cranleigh Showgrounds.
If you are looking for somewhere to stay, there are a number of nice hotels in Cranleigh or Dorking has a few more options.
The nearest train station is 9 miles away in Dorking.
Make a weekend of it
Complete your day with a visit to the Secret Nuclear Bunker itself. This is a fascinating place, designed to protect up to 600 people including the Prime Minister whose job was to “organise the survival of the population in the awful aftermath of a nuclear war.”
On the site is a high ropes course and the area is packed with lovely country pubs perfect for a post ride pint or Sunday roast if you are staying overnight.
Make a weekend of it
Complete your day with a visit to the Secret Nuclear Bunker itself. This is a fascinating place, designed to protect up to 600 people including the Prime Minister whose job was to “organise the survival of the population in the awful aftermath of a nuclear war.”
On the site is a high ropes course and the area is packed with lovely country pubs perfect for a post ride pint or Sunday roast if you are staying overnight.
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
