Universally Challenged

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

"I've started, so you'll have to finish"

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, no passes allowed. 

This is a 4-day tour, 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! 

So there'll be "no passes" this round. 

Route distance: 253km/157 miles

Itinerary

Day 1 London to Wallingford

Distance: 109 km | 67 miles 

Highlights: Windsor,  Chiltern Hills Grims Ditch 

A day riding 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 a 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 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 damn decent gravel riding through sleepy middle England, with plenty of time for a relaxed pub lunch before riding on 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)

What's Included

Guide and support fees include

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

What's not included 

• Dinner and lunch 
  
• Entrance fees to Attractions (optional)

Is this ride for me? 

With daily distances of 70+ km, this is a ride for cyclists with a degree of fitness and some off-road riding ability - if in doubt, email Charlie for advice.

Is my bike suitable 

This ride is best completed on a gravel, mountain or cyclocross bike.

Hire bikes 

We can arrange for you to hire a suitable gravel bike from Cyclefit for this ride