London - Oxford - Cambridge - London, 4 days of gravel travel adventure

London to Oxford, then on to Cambridge before returning to London, 270 or so miles in 4 days, 70% of which is off-road on bridleways and tracks, yeah, you’ll be Universally Challenged all right. 

This is a 4-day tour, A day riding

with a maximum of 8 riders led throughout by Gravel nutter and map guru Charlie. We’ll ride between 60 and 80 miles per day, at a sustainable pace with stops for lunch at pubs en route and staying in smaller independent hotels or pubs each night. 

The ride is fully supported by Charlie's magic elf in a van, who will transfer your baggage from hotel to hotel and can be summoned to your aid should the need arise! 

All riders will have a GPX of the route and are free to ride at their own pace or ride with Charlie and the rest of the group. 

Route distance: 253km/157 miles

Day 1 London to Wallingford

Distance: 109 km | 67 miles 

Highlights: Windsor,  Chiltern Hills Grims Ditch 

Ride along the Thames Valley past Windsor, crossing the river at Sonning before climbing across the Chilterns to join the ancient Grimm’s Ditch to Wallingford. 

Day 2 Wallington to Wolverton

Distance: 106 km | 66 miles 

Highlights: Oxford and Stowe.  

There’s an optional purposely circuitous route around the dreaming spires, visiting must-see buildings passing the Ashmolean, All Souls College, and the Bridge of Sighs amongst others. We may even have time to cram in a stop for coffee, before heading off across toward more culture at Vanburge’s Stowe Park, the ride finishing in a local pub in Wolverton.

Day 3 Wolverton to Cambridge 

Distance: 96 km |  60 miles 

Highlights: Just decent riding on bridle and byways. 

No culture today, just a great day's gravel riding through the heart of England, stopping off for a pub lunch before riding into Cambridge

Day 4 Cambridge to London 

Distance: 102 km |  73 miles 

Highlights: Worsted Way, Hatfield Park and Epping Forest. 

Leaving Cambridge on the Worsted Way, an ancient Roman road, today’s ride runs through farmlands and the absurdly pretty medieval market town of Saffron Walden. 

In time we join River Stort, before Harlow, a brief, unavoidable reminder of the modern world! One to the last stage as the ride enters Epping Forest art Rye Hill and follows the well-made gravel paths down to Forest Gate, just outside Stratford. 

Price £800 per rider 

(Single room supplement - additional £240)

Guide and support fees include

• Guided by Charlie throughout
• GPX Route files
• Back up support vehicle following the ride
• Luggage transfers
• All accommodation in 4-star rated hotels/pubs - based on 2 riders sharing a room

What's not included 

• Meals and snacks (estimate £60/80 per day per rider)
• Entrance fees to Attractions (optional)