OVERVIEW
A spring classic in the Hope Valley, one of the most spectacular parts of the Peak District!
Choose between the long 69km or the medium 52km route taking in a mix of gravel and back roads – ideal to give you something to train for over the long cold months.
The route takes in wild sections of the moors, the fun & flowing Monsal Trail, gravel tracks around the national park, back roads with epic views and some glorious secret local spots.
A beauty of a spring gravel ride.
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Flowing gravel on the Monsal Trail
- Get off the beaten track on some stunning sections over the moors and through rolling hills with amazing views over the Peaks.
- Ride through the historic "plague village" at Eyam
What to expect
For an early season ride this is pretty challenging with some tough climbs and a variety of terrain but it’s very rewarding as we get off the beaten track and see some stunning places in the Peaks. Expect the long ride to take 4.5 to 6.5 hours and the medium route to take 3.5 to 5.5 hours.
Ride difficulty
Both routes are challenging and the medium route doesnt cut off too much elevation. There is a tough climb at the start & a tough climb after the lunch stop but the views are worth it!
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
The route is 50/50 on & off road with the gravel being a real mix of terrain from smooth gravel, forest tracks to rockier sections and some narrow trails.
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 as if it’s wet you will want wide, knobbly tyres. In normal conditions, a slightly wider, all-rounder tyre (40-50mm) will be ideal.
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
13th March: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
15th March: 7.30am: Ride village in Hope opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
15th March: 8am to 8,45am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
15th March: 6pm: Rider village closes.
15th March: 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
LONG ROUTE
Starting in the beautiful Hope Valley, we start off with a tough climb up to the Broken Road on Mam Tor with some amazing views of the valley below.
From here we head south along back roads, farm tracks & doubletrack to the first feed stop.
After a waffle & biscoff sauce it’s onto the mostly flat & flowing Monsal Trail before climbing to the smooth gravel around the quarries and a sharp off road descent to lunch in Calver.
In the usual Glorious Gravel way, after the lunch stop we have a big climb through the historic village of Eyam and the final 20km takes us on a mix of backroads & gravel trails back to Hope.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance: 69km
Elevation: 1,400m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route takes off the bottom section on the Monsal Trail but still included the Broken Road, smooth gravel near the quarries & riding through Eyam.
While cutting 17km off doesnt save you from most of the climbing, it should take 1-1.5hrs off your ride time so is a good option for anyone looking for a slightly more manageable ride.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance: 52km
Elevation: 1,150m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route takes off the bottom section on the Monsal Trail but still included the Broken Road, smooth gravel near the quarries & riding through Eyam.
While cutting 17km off doesnt save you from most of the climbing, it should take 1-1.5hrs off your ride time so is a good option for anyone looking for a slightly more manageable ride.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%
Distance: 52km
Elevation: 1,150m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
SHORT ROUTE
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Percentage of Route Off Road: 40%
Distance: 104km
Elevation: 750m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes in Hope. 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.
LOCAL AREA
The Peak District Gravel X starts in Hope close to the famous cycling climbs of Winnats Pass & Mam Tor. It’s an hour from Manchester & Leeds, 2hrs from Birmingham & 30 mins from Sheffield.
There is a great bike & hiking hotel very close by which we love, check out Bike & Boot HERE.
There are a number of smaller hotels / b&bs in the area and the local villages have a number of great pubs and restaurants for Friday or Saturday night.
There is a train station in Hope with regular trains from Sheffield.
Make a weekend of it
The Peak District is a lovely place to come for a spring weekend. There are lots of other trails if you want a shake out ride on Sunday including the loop of Ladybower Reservoir or head further south for the Tissington & High Peaks trails.
Both Buxton & Bakewell are charming towns if you want a non active day and you can head to Chatsworth House.
The Hope Valley has some fantastic hikes in all directions and the area is one of the best places for climbing in the UK.
Make a weekend of it
If you are coming a few hours to this ride, we highly recommend making a weekend out of it and exploring this stunning area.
Within Skipton there is a castle and several nice restaurants.
The world’s best cheese shop is not far away in Settle (Courtyard Dairy) and must be visited.
Head to Malham Cove for a great hike and check out one of the waterfalls in the area like Janet’s Foss.
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
