OVERVIEW
Ride The Ridgeway National Trail, the most famous gravel road in the UK on this gravel epic! The Ridgeway has been used for centuries by travellers, herdsmen, soldiers, trailers and now gravel cyclists taking in this stunning and remote part of Southern England.
Choose from 50 to 110km of glorious gravel riding in Berkshire, Oxfordshire & Wiltshire with beautiful scenery and gentle rolling hills in all directions.
Stay over the night before with camping available at the ride village.
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Ride the best sections of the famous Ridgeway, widely regarded as Britain’s Oldest Road.
- Lovely views throughout the ride on the back roads and gravel trails of Berkshire, Oxfordshire & Wiltshire.
- See ancient White Horses in Uffington and famous race horses around Lambourn.
What to expect
A rolling route on Britain’s oldest road. Expect climbing throughout & some sharp descents (mostly off road) and a mix of terrain from grass, dirt trails & plenty of old school gravel on the Ridgeway.
Ride difficulty
All three routes are rolling with mostly off road climbs but this ride is suitable for riders of all abilities.
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
Conditions on The Ridgeway can vary a lot based on weather. After rain, this can be slippy & muddy. When dry, it can be dusty & rutty in places but a lot of the off-road sections roll really well.
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. If dry, a slightly wider all-round gravel 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
21st August: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
23rd August: 7.45am: Ride village at Newbury Showgrounds opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
23rd August: 8am to 8,45amm: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
23rd August: 6pm: Rider village closes.
23rd August: 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
LONG ROUTE
A rolling route along the Ridgeway, gravel roads and back lanes in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire. Starting in Newbury, we head north for nearly 20km over a couple of climbs before following the Ridgeway for 50km. We then head into the backlanes and gravel roads of Wiltshire.
The route is lumpy throughout with a quick & mostly downhill finish.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 65%
Distance: 110km
Elevation: 1,500m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route follows the long route but cuts off around 20km of the Ridgeway and some of the lumpier terrain in Wiltshire.
Lots of variety and great views await on this lovely 70km route.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 60%
Distance: 70km
Elevation: 900m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
The medium route follows the long route but cuts off around 20km of the Ridgeway and some of the lumpier terrain in Wiltshire.
Lots of variety and great views await on this lovely 70km route.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 60%
Distance: 70km
Elevation: 900m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
SHORT ROUTE
A short but varied ride which can be broken into three parts. First we head north on mostly gravel trails on rolling terrain. Then, the middle section is on The Ridgeway before a quick last third on a mix of backroad and gravel trails back to Newbury Showgrounds for a beer.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 65%
Distance: 50km
Elevation: 600m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes at Newbury Showgrounds. 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, book your spot for either a tent or campervan in the checkout when you add your ride entry.
LOCAL AREA
The Wessex Gravel Epic starts at the Frome Cheese Show in Frome – about 30 mins south of Bath or 45 mins West of Salisbury.
The nearest town is Frome but Warminster is also nearby. These towns have plenty of accommodation options.
There is a train station in Frome approx 3.5 miles away.
Make a weekend of it
Camp at the ride village on Friday night (book your spot in the checkout when you book your entry).
Frome is the gateway to a number of cool places to visit nearby including:
– Longleat (safari park)
– Bath
– Glastonbury
– Wookey Hole (the UK’s largest show caves system)
Make a weekend of it
Camp at the ride village on Friday night (book your spot in the checkout when you book your entry).
Frome is the gateway to a number of cool places to visit nearby including:
– Longleat (safari park)
– Bath
– Glastonbury
– Wookey Hole (the UK’s largest show caves system)
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
