OVERVIEW
The 5th edition of this classic Dales gravel ride in early May.
An absolutely stunning route through one of the most picturesque regions of the UK. Our ride starts in Skipton & heads into the heart of the Dales with some thrilling descents, glorious flowing sections & punchy ascents including one of the climbs of the year out of Settle.
RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:
- Stunning & remote off road trails around Malham
- Ride parts of the famous Pennine Way, one of the great long distance off road trails in the UK.
- Take on one of the best climbs in the UK - 6km on & off road out of Settle & into the heart of the Dales.
What to expect
A super tough long route & a fairly tough medium route! This ride includes some big climbs (on & off rides) and some rockier off road sections along with some glorious rolling gravel / grass.
Ride difficulty
Not quite our hardest ride of the year but definitely a very challenging route. The medium route includes 4 climbs (2 road, 2 off road) & the long includes a section around Settle which is glorious but very tough.
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
This route is about 60% off road & 40% on road with long sections rather than constant chopping and changing between gravel & road.
The off road can be quite technical with rocky climbs & descents but these bits are relatively short. More of the off road bits are on good gravel or hard packed mud / grass which can be muddy when wet.
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. A wider all-rounder gravel tyre (40-50mm) will be ideal for both routes.
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
8th May: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.
11th May: 7.45am: Ride village in Skipton opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.
11th May: 8am to 8,45amm: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.
11th May: 6pm: Rider village closes.
11th May: 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.
ROUTE DETAILS
LONG ROUTE
An absolute classic Yorkshire Dales gravel route!
Starting in Skipton, we ride on the road through town, past the castle and up into the Dales where the gravel begins.
After a short gravel climb and longer descent (rocky), we have a feed stop and then head around to the stunning Malham Tarn and then head out to Settle via some super flowy gravel.
Out of Settle we hit a very steep road climb which becomes a very steep off road climb with incredible views of the Dales. We then descent on the road to Malham before another big gravel climb and then we retrace our routes back to Skipton.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 60%
Distance: 82km
Elevation: 2,050m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
This is a challenging but very rewarding medium route.
It follows the long route from Skipton to Malham Tarn & cuts out the punchy Settle loop. From the long route split, you have a steep road descent into Malham and then the routes join together again.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 60%
Distance: 65km
Elevation: 1,500m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
Medium ROUTE
It follows the long route from Skipton to Malham Tarn & cuts out the punchy Settle loop. From the long route split, you have a steep road descent into Malham and then the routes join together again.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 60%
Distance: 65km
Elevation: 1500m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
SHORT ROUTE
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Percentage of Route Off Road: 40%
Distance: 104km
Elevation: 750m
Difficulty:
Technical Difficulty:
FAQs
The ride starts and finishes at Craven Cattle Market in Skipton. 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 Yorkshire Dales Gravel Epic starts in Skipton just off the A59 which connects the M6 & the A65 to Leeds 1hr away.
There are plenty of hotels in Skipton and some really nice country pubs in the Dales.
The nearest train station is in Skipton just over 1 mile from the ride start,
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.
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
