OVERVIEW
Welcome to the stunning Lake District and the epic gravel it has to offer!
We have two route options for this glorious off road adventure around Coniston and the Grizedale Forest taking in a great mix of challenging climbs and fast, flowing sections through the forest.
The ride takes you into remote parts of the Lakes that most people never see. Pure escapism and one of the great rides gravel rides of the year.
Camping available in Coniston on Fri & Sat night for a glorious summer weekend break in the Lakes.
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Smooth gravel fire roads in the beautiful Grizedale Forest
- Ride over four Lake District fells with epic views from the top.
- Pure escapism on remote trails, bridleways & singletrack in one of the most stunning regions in the UK.
What to expect
A challenging route both in terms of the amount of climbing and the terrain which varies between smooth fire roads and rockier technical sections. The short & medium route are suitable for most riders ready for a big day, the long route is more suitable for experienced off-roaders.
Ride difficulty
Hawkshead Hill (2.3km at 7%) comes just 2km into the route and is a good indicator of what is to come! Particularly on the long route, expect a tough day with 9 climbs packed into the 90km course.
Long Route *****
Medium Route ****
Short 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
There is a real mix of terrain on this route but the tougher sections are challenging with rocky sections and small bits of hike-a-bike.
Long Route *****
Medium Route ****
Short 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 wider all-rounder gravel tyre (40-50mm) will be ideal for all three routes.
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
26th June: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
28th June: 7.45am: Ride village in Coniston opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
28th June: 8am to 8,45amm: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
28th June: 6pm: Rider village closes.
28th June: 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
LONG ROUTE
A beautifully varied 90km route between Coniston Water & Windermere with lovely flowing sections in Grizedale Forest.
From our start in Coniston we head around the Water and down into the Forest with a climb after just 2km (sorry!!). We stay on the ridge for about 10km of lovely flowing gravel before a descent and a lumpy 11km loop to the west.
The route then heads back north through the Forest with a tasty 3km off road climb to get over before we reach lunch near Hawkshead. From here there is just under 20km to go on a mix of gravel and road before arriving back in Coniston for a well earned beer!
Percentage of Route Off Road: 75%
Distance: 90km
Elevation: 2,150m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
This is a challenging but very rewarding medium route.
It follows the long route for the first 16km, then skips the tough 24km loop out to the west of the course saving you 1.5-2hrs and takes in all the best sections in Grizedale Forest.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 65%
Distance: 66km
Elevation: 1,500m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
This is a challenging but very rewarding medium route.
It follows the long route for the first 16km, then skips the tough 24km loop out to the west of the course saving you 1.5-2hrs and takes in all the best sections in Grizedale Forest.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 65%
Distance: 66km
Elevation: 1500m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
SHORT ROUTE
The short route follows the medium route all through the Grizedale Forest & then splits off at 43km in Hawkshead.
You can choose which route to do on the day so if your legs have had enough at this point, you can ride the 7km back to base or if you are feeling great, continue on the medium route.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 65%
Distance: 50km
Elevation: 1,150m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes at in Coniston. 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, there is camping for both tents & campervans at the ride village on Friday & Saturday night. You can book this in the checkout when you get your ride entry.
LOCAL AREA
The Lake District Gravel Epic starts in Coniston, about 40 mins west of Kendal & 50 mins west of the M6.
There are some hotels in Coniston and the surrounding villages or more options in Kendal.
The nearest train station is in Windemere, about 12 miles from the ride start.
Make a weekend of it
There is so much to do in this area for the weekend and with camping available on both nights, it’s a no brainer to stay over in this beautiful region.
Right out of the ride village is the classic Old Man of Coniston walk (allow 4-6 hours).
Alternatively, bring a MTB and head into nearby Grizedale Forest or head north to Whinlatter. Bring your road bike to take on some of the monster climbs in the area including the massive Hardknott Pass.
There are loads of things to do on the Lakes, a steam train, plenty of Beatrix Potter activities for the kids or Wordsworth stuff for the adults. You can’t go too far wrong for a great weekend in the Lakes.
Make a weekend of it
There is so much to do in this area for the weekend and with camping available on both nights, it’s a no brainer to stay over in this beautiful region.
Right out of the ride village is the classic Old Man of Coniston walk (allow 4-6 hours).
Alternatively, bring a MTB and head into nearby Grizedale Forest or head north to Whinlatter. Bring your road bike to take on some of the monster climbs in the area including the massive Hardknott Pass.
There are loads of things to do on the Lakes, a steam train, plenty of Beatrix Potter activities for the kids or Wordsworth stuff for the adults. You can’t go too far wrong for a great weekend in the Lakes.
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
