OVERVIEW
An off road classic in the UK’s finest county.
Starting & finishing on the smooth fire roads in Gisburn Forest, this ride mixes long, rolling back road sections through the Forest of Bowland with some stunning gravel including parts of the Pennine Way with views of Ribblehead Viaduct.
The big draw is the legendary Salter Fell, a 17km old Roman Road and one of the most remote gravel trails in the country.
A stunning ride in a magical part of the country. Make a weekend of it with camping available…
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Ride the legendary Salter Fell across the remote middle of the Forest of Bowland
- Start & finish in Gisburn Forest with camping available for an epic Lancs weekend
- Ride past the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct

What to expect
This is a ride with a bit of everything. There is definitely no “right” bike setup with plenty of miles on back roads but then some quite lumpy gravel. Both routes have long climbs both on & off road so you will need to be in decent shape for this ride.
Ride difficulty
After a gentle start in Gisburn Forest, we have a 5km road climb up Bowland Knotts and then after lots of shorter climbs, there is another 5km climb / uphill drag on the Salter Fell. With some heavy gravel, this is a tough ride and expect to be in the saddle for 5.5-8hrs for the long 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
Just under 50% of the route is on tarmac and the gravel is a complete mix. Gisburn Forest is smooth fire roads, the Pennine Way section is a mix and Salter Fell has some chunky sections amongst smoother bits. One for more experienced off roaders.
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 nice wide gravel all-round tyre (42-50mm) will be ideal in most conditions.





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
11th Sept: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
13th Sept: 7.30am: Ride village at Gisburn Forest opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
13th Sept: 8am to 8,45am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
13th Sept: 7pm: Rider village closes.
13th Sept: 8pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
LONG ROUTE
Most of our routes switch in between gravel and tarmac regularly but this one has long off road sections followed by long stretches on the tarmac.
The first 7km is in the lovely Gisburn Forest before climbing Bowland Knotts and a quick road descent towards the Pennine Way and some beautiful off roading up to Ribblesdale Viaduct. This is the northern point of the route and we head south west to the final feed stop before hitting the Salter Fell.
This 17km gravel section starts with a long uphill drag and a couple of rocky parts where you may need to walk before a long descent and final loop in Gisburn Forest.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 55%
Distance: 112km
Elevation: 2,200m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:


Medium ROUTE
The medium route cuts out 44km on the north east section so avoids the Pennine Way & Ribblesdale Viaduct so you have one long gravel section in Gisburn Forest followed by a long tarmac all the way to the base of Salter Fell.
After the 17km off road, we have some tarmac back to Gisburn Forest for the last 7km of gravel. Expect tunning scenery and a nice mix of back road and gravel.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 60%
Distance: 68km
Elevation: 1,450m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route cuts out 44km on the north east section so avoids the Pennine Way & Ribblesdale Viaduct so you have one long gravel section in Gisburn Forest followed by a long tarmac all the way to the base of Salter Fell.
After the 17km off road, we have some tarmac back to Gisburn Forest for the last 7km of gravel. Expect tunning scenery and a nice mix of back road and gravel.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 60%
Distance: 68km
Elevation: 1,450m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:

SHORT ROUTE
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Percentage of Route Off Road: 40%
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:

FAQs
The ride starts and finishes at Gisburn Forest. There is free parking onsite as well as toilets & refreshments. We will send the ride village address by email.
Yes, you can book camping at Gisburn Forest in the checkout when you add your ride 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 Lancashire Gravel Epic starts and finishes in Gisburn Forest, just over an hour north of Manchester.
There is camping available at the ride village or several pubs with accommodation nearby. For a larger town, Settle is 20 mins away and Clitheroe is 30 mins away with more choices for hotels, restaurants and bars.
Its a tough ride to get to by public transport, the nearest train station is in Long Preston 6 miles away.


Make a weekend of it
This ride is in an absolutely glorious part of the UK. If you are staying for the weekend, among many other things we recommend:
– Hiking up Pendle Hill (more info HERE, allow 1.5hrs)
– Take on one of the lovely pub walks in the Ribble Valley.
– Eat at one of the many great gastropubs / restaurants (you will need to book) including the Inn at Whitwell, The Three Fishes, The Asherton Arms, Freemasons at Wiswell & The Aspinall Arms
– Go to the best cheese shop in the world at The Courtyard Diary (nr Settle). Fill up your cellar at D. Byrne & Co. Fine Wines Ltd, get some meat at Alpes The Butchers and bread at Mark’s Bakery (all in Clitheroe)
Make a weekend of it
This ride is in an absolutely glorious part of the UK. If you are staying for the weekend, among many other things we recommend:
– Hiking up Pendle Hill (more info HERE, allow 1.5hrs)
– Take on one of the lovely pub walks in the Ribble Valley.
– Eat at one of the many great gastropubs / restaurants (you will need to book) including the Inn at Whitwell, The Three Fishes, The Asherton Arms, Freemasons at Wiswell & The Aspinall Arms
– Go to the best cheese shop in the world at The Courtyard Diary (nr Settle). Fill up your cellar at D. Byrne & Co. Fine Wines Ltd, get some meat at Alpes The Butchers and bread at Mark’s Bakery (all in Clitheroe)

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
