Open skies to Cambridge

Ride Level: Red - Challenging 

Gravel/CX MTB | GPX Route | Traffic-free | Natural, Gravel and Single Track | 122 km/76 miles 

Here’s a decent bike-packing gravel challenge, London to Cambridge off-road on a wide variety of bridle and byways, finishing off with a memorable fast descent into Cambridge along the Roman Worsted Way.

There are many excellent stretches of gravel, balanced with a few sections, that, let’s say, aren’t that loved by the owners. Parts run aside ploughed fields so this is definitely a dry summer ride.

Any questions? Contact me 

Ride Description

Starting off at Tower Bridge the route follows cobbled Wapping High St to Limehouse before heading northeast to the Olympic Park at Stratford. 

Enter Epping Forest on the Wanstead Flats and ride the full length of the forest leaving by Gate 1 at Rye Hill just outside Harlow. Ride through Harlow on the bike paths before joining the River Stort navigation to Sawbridgeworth. There’s a decent cafe here- worth stopping for a proper breakfast! 

Discover the Hatfield Forest - a glorious 5 miles of parkland riding that’s absolutely nowhere near Hatfield town, circumnavigate Stanstead Airport, which is ugly before riding through the village of Ugley Green, which isn’t.

After Newport - which isn’t in Wales, the skies open up as you ride through or around vast fields of corn before climbing the last hill just after Linton. 

The approach into Cambridge is one of the best stretches of gravel riding in the southeast, 10 km gentle descent along an old Roman road - it's one to remember. 

Start and End Points 

Start: Tower Bridge

Finish: Cambridge Railway Station 

Ride Details 

• Distance: 122 km | 76 miles
• Climb: 1000 m | 3500 ft 
• Percentage off-road: 70%
• Trail surface: Natural | Gravel | Cycle Paths | Single Track
• Technical Grade: Red  - Challenging in places
• Mudometer - Difficult, stretches aside ploughed fields - definitely a dry Summer ride.

Places to Visit 

39 miles:          Hatfield Forest  

70 miles:           Worsted Road 

Places to Eat 

33 miles:           Sawbridge Mills 

Is this ride for me? 

Ideal for riders with decent off-road experience and reasonable fitness.

Is my bike OK for this ride? 

The route is best completed on the gravel/CX bike or a mountain bike.