Long Route
93km | 1900m
Medium Route
73km | 1600m
Short Route
59km | 1200m
Ride Overview
Welcome to the stunning Lake District and the epic gravel it has to offer!
We have three 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.
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.
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
13th July: GPX files and pre ride briefing video sent by email to each rider.
15th July – 7.45am: Ride village in Coniston opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
15th July – 8am to 9.30am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
15th July – 7pm: Rider village closes
15th July – 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
Long Route
A beautifully varied 93km route between Coniston Water & Windermere with lovely flowing sections in Grizedale Forest.
The ride heads north to start with and after a quick first 20km, there is the first big climb of the day directly after the feed stop in Skelwith Bridge.
We then ride to the shores of Windermere before turning south into the Grizedale Forest for a mix of backroads and gravel. We finish along Coniston Water with a fast & flat final 10km. In total there are 4 main climbs on the day but the route is rolling throughout making this a big day on the bike.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 55%
Distance:
93km
Elevation:
1900m
Difficulty:
4/5
Medium Route
The medium route follows the long route for the first 60km and then cuts across the forest back to Coniston Water. You won’t avoid any of the 4 major climbs of the day but the 20km cut out of the long route is quite up and down so this is a slightly easier option.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 60%
Distance:
73km
Elevation:
1600m
Difficulty:
3.5/5
Short Route
The short option follows the other routes for 50km to Hawkshead and then heads straight back to Coniston over a cheeky road climb. You will skip 2 of the climbs on the other route but add in a road climb making this a punchy but rewarding 59km ride.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance:
59km
Elevation:
1200m
Difficulty:
3/5
Bike Selection & Packing List
Bike Choice: The route is about 60% on gravel and 40% on back roads. Most of the off road sections are smooth but there are a couple of chunky sections in the first half. Either a gravel bike or mountain bike will work depending on whether you want to trade off on speed or comfort. E-bikes are allowed on all of our rides.
Tyre Choice: We will send an update on conditions closer to the ride. For the short rougher sections, a wider (40 to 50mm) all rounder gravel tyre will be ideal.
Packing List: Bring equipment to be self sufficient on the route as we go into remote areas without phone signal (inner tubes, sealant, multi-tool, pump or CO2 etc). We recommend a bell to warn walkers / runners of your presence.
Clothing: This is the third edition of the Lake District Gravel Epic and so far we have had sweltering heat (over 30 degrees) one year and heavy rain the other year so pay close attention to the forecasts. A lightweight rain jacket will be useful even on a hot day as we go high and onto exposed sections. Helmets are mandatory, you will not be able to ride without one.
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes 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, we start between 8am 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.