Long Route
102km | 2200m
Medium Route
70km | 1500m
Ride Overview
A gravel epic in the heart of the greatest county in the UK. Set in the heart of the glorious Forest of Bowland, this ride takes you through woodlands, over climbs and into some of the most remote gravel roads in England.
Choose between the medium 70km or full 102km route starting & finishing on the smooth gravel of the Gisburn Forest and taking in picturesque back roads and the iconic 17km Salter Fell Road – one of the great gravel sections in the UK.
The gravel, particularly on the Salter Fell, is technical with some rocky sections and the route mixes in long sections of remote & glorious gravel with long sections of back roads.
Highlights
- Ride one of the most famous gravel trails in the UK – the historic Salter Fell Road
- Start & finish on smooth gravel in the glorious Gisburn Forest.
- Picturesque back roads in the best kept secret in England – the Forest of Bowland.
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
2nd May: GPX files and pre ride briefing video sent by email to each rider.
4th May – 7.45am: Ride village in Gisburn Forest opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
4th May – 8am to 9.30am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
4th May – 6pm: Rider village closes
4th May – 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
Long Route
Starting in Gisburn Forest, we kick off with 7km of smooth gravel round woodland trails before heading up a lovely climb on backroads with epic views across the moors. Bowland Knotts is 2.3km at 6.6% on roads where it’s very rare to see a car.
After a flat section we hit 15km of gravel on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales including a punchy 3.5km off road climb. As we head back into Lancs we enjoy a second feed stop before tackling the mighty Salter Fell – 17km of remote gravel with huge views.
Off the top of the Salter Fell it’s a quick descent down to Slaidburn for a last feed and a quick road section back into the forest trails in Gisburn before finishing with a beer. An epic day out!
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance:
102km
Elevation:
2200m
Difficulty:
4.5/5
Medium Route
The medium route splits from the long route at 18km off the descent of Bowland Knotts. We then head west to the Salter Fell and follow the long route again back to Gisburn Forest.
This is challenging (70km) with a nice split of gravel and back roads and ideal for anyone wanting to ride the Salter Fell.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance:
70km
Elevation:
1500m
Difficulty:
3.5/5
Short Route
The short route follows the medium for the majority of the day but cuts off a section in the middle and near the end to make this nearly 20km shorter. With some nice variety on the off road sections & very little climbing, this is ideal for riders of all abilities.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 55%
Distance:
47km
Elevation:
350m
Difficulty:
1/5
Bike Selection & Packing List
Bike Choice: The route is 50% gravel & 50% back road so there will be times when you want a hardtail MTB & times when you want a gravel bike. The gravel in Gisburn Forest while the Salter Fell is a real mix. Road bikes are not suitable. E-bikes are allowed on all of our rides.
Tyre Choice: We will send an update on conditions closer to the ride. A wider 40 – 50mm allrounder gravel tyre should be ideal for this route.
Packing List: Bring equipment to be self sufficient on the route (inner tubes, sealant, multi-tool, pump or CO2 etc). We recommend a bell to warn walkers / runners of your presence.
Clothing: Likely to be mixed weather in early May, bring layers, arm / knee warmers and a lightweight waterproof jacket etc. Helmets are mandatory, you will not be able to ride without one.
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes in Gisburn Forest. 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.