OVERVIEW
One of the highlights of the UK gravel season.
A mix of dense woodland and open moorland is in store for you on this gravel epic taking you through one of the most sparsely populated & beautiful areas of England,
All three routes take you way off the beaten track into a glorious, remote part of the Moors. The gravel is excellent and smooth making this a perfect ride for anyone looking for a massive day on the bike.
Camping available on Friday night at the ride village.
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Ride parts of the ancient Cleveland Way.
- The route varies between stunning woodland & heather filled moors with huge views in all directions.
- Start and finish at the beautiful Duncombe Park – the route involves about 10km of private gravel roads on the estate.
What to expect
Any way you look at it, this is a massive day! Over 123km, you are going to get a lot of variety and there is some rockier terrain in places but in general the off-road riding here is great with plenty of climbs in between epic, rolling sections.
Ride difficulty
Amongst our toughest rides of the year. All three routes involve plenty of climbing of all shapes and sizes (mostly off road). The long route is massive so expect a very full day on the bike.
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
The gravel here is a mix of smooth trails through the forest and wide open sections through the Moors. There are some rockier sections and some technical descents but most of the off road here is great and suitable for most riders (that can handle tough climbs!)
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. For some sections, you may want wider tyres but in general, an all-rounder, 38-45mm tyre will be fine.
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
5th June: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
7th June: 7.30am: Ride village at Duncombe Park opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
7th June: 7.45am to 8,30am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
7th June: 6.30pm: Rider village closes.
7th June: 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
LONG ROUTE
Starting in Duncombe Park, we take in some smooth gravel within the private estate before heading out past Rievaulx Abbey onto the Cleveland Way. From the 7km mark we are on a long false flat / gentle climb for 15km before a long and fun descent on both gravel & tarmac all the way to our first feed stop in Swainby.
From here we climb up to the Moors with a very short hike a bike section and then a glorious 6km descent with sweeping views of the area.
As we drop into Hawnby we go up onto the smooth gravel on the Hawnby Estate for a brilliant 10km loop before getting to our second feed stop at the 62km mark.
From here, the route heads South West onto our final main gravel section with a short punchy climb and then lovely long ride on the tops before descending down into Helmsley before turning north for a very punchy 37km loop up into the Moors (just on the long route).
After a final feed stop, we turn back into Duncombe Estate and one final test – a super punchy 200m gravel climb up to the finish straight.
A delightful and mixed ride in one of our favourite spots in the UK!
Percentage of Route Off Road: 60%
Distance: 123km
Elevation: 2,600m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The long route is super tough making the medium route a more realistic option for a lot of riders.
This is a classic Moors route taking in great variety. It follows the large route exactly except for the final 37km loop near the end.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 55%
Distance: 85km
Elevation: 1,800m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The long route is super tough making the medium route a more realistic option for a lot of riders.
This is a classic Moors route taking in great variety. It follows the large route exactly except for the final 37km loop near the end.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 55%
Distance: 85km
Elevation: 1,800m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
SHORT ROUTE
A challenging but cracking short route. This option takes the top section off the medium route which realistically reduces the ride by just over an hour.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance: 69km
Elevation: 1,400m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes at Duncombe Park in Helmsley. 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.
Camping is available at the ride village on Friday night. Book your spot in the checkout when you book your entry.
LOCAL AREA
The North Yorkshire Moors Gravel Epic starts at the Duncombe Park in Helmsley – about 45 mins north of York.
Helmsley is a decent size town with plenty of restaurants and a few hotels. There are some bigger hotels in Thirsk and plenty more options in York.
The clostest train station in Thirsk, 14 miles away.
Make a weekend of it
If you’ve not been to the North Yorkshire Moors before, we would highly recommend a weekend at least in this beautiful region. There are lots of options for road & MTB with some great trails nearby in Dalby Forest and plenty of bucket list road climbs.
If you want some time off the bike, Castle Howard is worth a visit. You are 50 mins away from the coast with some great sandy beaches and charming towns like Whitby & Robin Hood’s Bay.
York is 45 mins away and is one of the best British towns for a weekend break with an excellent Viking Museum & a brilliant Train Museum as well as the famous Cathedral.
Make a weekend of it
If you’ve not been to the North Yorkshire Moors before, we would highly recommend a weekend at least in this beautiful region. There are lots of options for road & MTB with some great trails nearby in Dalby Forest and plenty of bucket list road climbs.
If you want some time off the bike, Castle Howard is worth a visit. You are 50 mins away from the coast with some great sandy beaches and charming towns like Whitby & Robin Hood’s Bay.
York is 45 mins away and is one of the best British towns for a weekend break with an excellent Viking Museum & a brilliant Train Museum as well as the famous Cathedral.
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
