On the subject of gravel occasions, the UK has loads to supply, however there’s much more selection if you happen to look a bit additional east and west.
Here’s a checklist of occasions I extremely suggest making your selection simpler. I’m organising a few of these occasions myself or know the organisers. Others, like Mom North and QBC 500, have been a part of my travels in 2024.
And whereas this checklist doesn’t declare to be the ‘final checklist’, I can vouch that each one occasions included will offer you a terrific expertise. To information your selection, I’ve summed them up in a single phrase – make your decide and join 2025.
Reader Unique low cost
We’ve got kindly been given 20% off Filth Sprint occasions, unique to readers of our weblog. Merely enter YJ25Â Â when coming into and your low cost shall be utilized.
Dexshell Cateran Filth Sprint: 3 & 4 Might (Scotland)
Named one of many journey highlights within the Guardian’s 2024 picks, the Cateran Path is without doubt one of the finest long-distance routes in Scotland. The Dexshell Cateran Filth Sprint, now in its third 12 months, takes you on the most effective sections of the route by the gorgeous environment of the Cateran Ecomuseum within the Cairngorms Nationwide Park. The occasion has additionally attracted an equal share of ladies and men lately.
The idea of the Filth Dashes is similar for every occasion: Arrive in a pleasant begin location, cycle a scenic two-day gravel route which takes you previous some fairly good vistas, benefit from the social aspect of bikepacking on the campsite, the place good meals is served for dinner and breakfast, and make pals for future adventures. And if you happen to don’t have an acceptable bike, you’ll be able to rent adventure-ready bikes and luggage domestically from Alyth Cyclery and keep at Forillon, the house of Bikepacking Scotland.
In a single phrase: Spectacular
Price: from £90
Join at dirtdash.cc/cateran
There are two extra Filth Dashes in 2025 – the Yorkshire Coast Filth Sprint on 5 & 6 July in Whitby and the Dunoon Filth Sprint on 27/28 September in Dunoon – costs begin from £80 at dirtdash.cc.
Wild Wales Gravel Pageant: 16 – 18 Might (Wales)
Now in its fourth 12 months, the Wild Wales Gravel Pageant is a weekend of gravel using, tenting, stay music, fireplace chats, nice meals and firm. All of this whilst you take in the superb mountains of Wales. For biking, you can find 30, 45, 75 and 100 km route choices, all self-guided with the GPX recordsdata offered.
There’s a Sunday social group ride-out, and you may camp for 3 nights in a valley just under Afan forest, full with its very personal waterfall, wood-fired saunas and plunge pool. Two breakfasts and a dinner are included, with music on the Saturday night and if you happen to don’t have an acceptable bike, you’ll be able to rent one! On Saturday morning you’ll be able to be part of the solo’s rendezvous breakfast, meet trip companions and be part of teams. And there are discounted tickets for low-income earners out there.
In a single phrase: Healthful
Price: £165
Join at wildcycles.co.uk/wild-wales-gravel-campout
NEW The Gralloch Sportive: 18 Might (Scotland)
The Gralloch has made itself a reputation within the final two years as probably the greatest occasions of the UCI Gravel World Collection. This 12 months Crimson On Sports activities added a enjoyable choice to the occasion, the Gralloch Sportive. Going down the day after the UCI Gravel World Collection race, this enjoyable and non-competitive trip invitations cyclists of all ranges to discover the gorgeous landscapes of Galloway, quickly to develop into Scotland’s subsequent nationwide park, at their very own tempo.
It is a sensible choice if you happen to get pleasure from a completely marked route and would nonetheless like to match your time, however with out being ranked and rushed. And there’s a nice occasion programme that includes shakeout rides, stay music, meals, drink, tenting and a vibrant occasion village offering the bottom to fulfill different riders and occasion supporters.
In a single phrase: Vibrant
Price: From £59.50
Join at sportive.grallochgravel.com
NEW Selkirk Gravel Basic: 31 Might (Scotland)
The race is new, the organisers not – that is an occasion from the seasoned occasion professionals at Durty Occasions. With three distinct programs to select from, the Selkirk Gravel Basic provides one thing for extra seasoned gravel grinders and newcomers who actually need to take a look at their legs. The occasion definitely is a problem; the climbing concerned just isn’t precisely for newcomers – 900m on 35 km for the shortest, 52 km with 1,500m of climbing for the medium course and a whopping 1,950m on 65 km for the lengthy course will give your legs no trip!
In a single phrase: Steep!
Price: From £30
Join at durtyevents.com/our-events/selkirk-gravel-classic/
Grit of Dunoon: 5 July (Scotland)
Dunoon isn’t any stranger to gravel occasions, internet hosting the Dunoon Filth Sprint, Scotland’s longest operating gravel occasion, since 2019. If you wish to race although, then the second version of Grit of Dunoon options three thrilling trip choices – problem, discover and uncover. You may not know something about Dunoon, however from private expertise the small coastal city close to Glasgow has loads to supply – good gravel tracks, seashores, hills and dense forest, all packed into at some point of using!​
​In a single phrase: Gorgeous
Price: TBA
Join at outsiderevents.com/grit-of-dunoon
Outsider Occasions additionally organise the wonderful Muc N Mac Fest on 2 – 4 Might. Extra at mucknmacfest.co.uk.
Gravel Rocks: 11 – 13 July (England)
Yorkshire is quick creating right into a gravel hotspot with three new occasions popping up within the final 12 months – the Yorkshire Coast Filth Sprint, Dalby Grit and Gravel Rocks. It is a two-day, enduro-style gravel race, with a pleasant pageant environment. Positioned within the North York Moors Nationwide Park you get to trip trails usually closed to the general public. Gravel Rocks has seven levels, two of them at midnight on Friday evening. The twist – the levels stay a thriller till you uncover them on the route. And whereas the bikepacking occasions listed on this weblog are very chilled out, this occasion guarantees rock’n’roll.
In a single phrase: Loud
Price: From £75
Join at gravelrocks.cc
You may additionally be serious about Dalby Grit – a brand new 110km gravel occasion from the identical organisers at Dalby Forest on 28 June. Discover out extra at www.dalbygrit.cc
NEW The BÀ Sportive & Duathlon: 6 September (Scotland)
Scottish endurance bicycle owner Jenny Graham enters the occasion recreation with The Bà Occasion Collection in 2025, providing two challenges set on Scotland’s gorgeous Northwest Coast. Designed for seasoned athletes and adventurous souls, you’ll be able to select between two occasions: The Bà Sportive (previously The Bealach Mòr), a sportive on a 144 km street route that includes the legendary Bealach Na Bà , one of many UK’s hardest climbs, which is closed to site visitors for the occasion.
Or if you happen to like operating and biking, you may make historical past by turning into the primary individual to win the BÃ Duathlon, which mixes a 29 km mountainous path run with the second half of the BÃ Sportive trip.
In a single phrase: Gritty
Price: From £55
Join at www.theba.internet
Worldwide
Mom North: 2 – 9 August (Norway)
Norway has nice ferry, practice and flight connections to virtually in every single place in Europe – and beginning in Lillehammer you’ll solely have a brief practice journey to Oslo airport. You’ll be able to race head down, however I’d encourage you to take it straightforward. Mom North will present you a number of the most breathtaking Norwegian landscapes, traversing distant trails, historic forests, and pristine fjords. With 1,000 kilometres and 16,000 m of elevation achieve on blended terrain, this occasion is a take a look at of bodily endurance and a celebration of pure wonders, all whereas fostering a deep reference to the enchanting landscapes of Norway.
In a single phrase: Deep
Price: From £230
Join at mother-north.com
Off:Roader Norway: 19 – 24 Aug (Norway)
If you wish to discover Norway, this trip from the snow-capped mountains of Jotunheimen and Utladalen to the breathtaking Fjords is simply the ticket. Linking the historic routes of Mjølkevegen (the Milk Highway), Kongevegen (the King’s Highway) and the Rallarvegen (the Navvies Highway), that is a number of the smoothest and most spectacular gravel in Europe.
Included within the bundle are 5 nights in small resorts and mountain lodges, airport switch from Oslo Gardermoen and to Bergen, 4 totally supported rides with guides main small teams, van assist & common feed stops, meals and baggage transfers.
In a single phrase: Breathtaking
Price: From £2599
Join at gloriousgravel.com/offroader-norway
GBC 500: June (Quebec, Canada)
Quebec is superior for gravel using, and the Gravel Bikepacking Problem (GBC) 500 is a good occasion to mix with an extended vacation. June is the most effective month to journey, as you aren’t in peak season, and the temperatures are extra reasonable than in July and August, it will get scorching there! Primarily based in Magog, not too removed from Montreal and Quebec Metropolis, the GBC 500 provides a 250 km and 500 km choice. Be warned – the gravel roads listed here are distinctive!
In a single phrase: Adventurous
Dates and costs nonetheless to be introduced at gbc500.com/en
And if you happen to can’t make any of these occasions, you’ll discover loads of gravel inspiration in one of many gravel guidebooks from Vertebrate Publishing: Nice British Gravel Rides, Gravel Rides Scotland, Gravel Rides South West England, Gravel Rides Lake District, Gravel Rides Peak District, and shortly to return from me – Gravel Rides Cairngorms and Perthshire.
