Long Route
118km | 1600m
Medium Route
88km | 1050m
Ride Overview
Ride some of the best gravel in the South of England on the Salisbury Plain Gravel Epic!
Choose between the 86km medium or full 119km long route taking in a mix of road, singletrack through the woods and sweeping gravel trails on the Plain. The course is rolling throughout with a couple of fun climbs to get onto the top of the Plain. Easy to get to from all over the South of England & Midlands, both routes offer real escapism far away from towns and traffic.
Highlights
- Ride the best gravel in the South of England with long, flowing sections on the Plain.
- Varied route taking in singletrack through woods and epic views.
- Easy to get to from the South / Midlands but we quickly get into lovely, remote countryside in this unique part of the country.
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
27th April: GPX files and pre ride briefing video sent by email to each rider.
30th April – 7.45am: Ride village in Thruxton opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
30th April – 8am to 9.30am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
30th April – 6pm: Rider village closes
30th April – 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
Long Route
One of the longer rides in distance (119km) but most people are finished in 6 to 9 hours.
The route heads west from Thruxton onto the Plains. We start with some nice gravel through the woods before a quick feed stop and a section on a busy road to connect to excellent gravel further west. The route is rolling for most of the day with three major climbs getting onto the Plains – the first of these comes at 50km and the steepest (some over 10% gradients) is at 78km.
From here, we stay on the top of the Plains for 10km of epic gravel before descending back to the final feed stop & then an off road section to the finish.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 60%
Distance:
119km
Elevation:
1600m
Difficulty:
4/5
Medium Route
The medium route cuts out 30km on the far west of the course including a big descent & climb off and onto the Plain, taking out over 500m of elevation & the steepest climb of the day.
Typical finish times are 4.5 to 6.5 hours.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 70%
Distance:
86km
Elevation:
1050m
Difficulty:
3/5
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 60% off road on smooth gravel and a couple of bits of bridleway through the woods – these can be muddy / lumpy with rain. Either a gravel bike or mountain bike will work, 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 slightly wider (40mm plus) allrounder gravel tyre should be ideal for this varied 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: The route spends time on the top of the Plains which can be exposed to the elements so bring a lightweight windproof jacket and suitable layers. Helmets are mandatory, you will not be able to ride without one.
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes at Thruxton Motorsport Centre. 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.