The Hidden Wonders of Zone 6: Boundary Rides Gift Guide Book and All 10 Rides

Ten gravel rides. Thirty discoveries. One circle round London.

The Hidden Wonders of Zone 6 is a printed A5 gift guide book and the complete Boundary Rides collection in one: GPX routes and ride guides for all ten rides, from Rainham round the capital's outer edge and back again.

Most people only pass through the outer suburbs. These rides stop to look. Each one runs station to station by bridleway, byway and cycle path, past a church beside a factory, a medieval wall painting, a world garden dreamed up in captivity and a steel figure standing in the Thames.

A whole circuit to collect. Or simply your next good day out.

As featured in Cyclist magazine and recommended by the London Cycling Campaign.

What's in the Box

The guide book: 32 pages, A5, with an illustrated map of the whole circuit, a route map for every ride, three discoveries per ride, seven wonders to look out for, a discovery passport and a For and From page for gifts.
The downloads: a QR code and web address in the guide book open a download page for guide book owners, with the GPX file and ride guide for every ride.
The rides: ten rides of 22 to 37 km, around 306 km (190 miles) in total.
Includes: printed guide book, 10 GPX route files and 10 downloadable ride guides

The Ten Rides

1. Rainham to Harold Wood
2. Harold Wood to Enfield Lock
3. Enfield Lock to Mill Hill Broadway
4. Mill Hill Broadway to West Ruislip
5. West Ruislip to Feltham
6. Feltham to Cheam
7. Cheam to Whyteleafe
8. Upper Warlingham to Knockholt
9. Knockholt to Erith
10. Erith to Rainham

Ride them in order or in any order you like. Ride 10 crosses the Thames at Dartford by vehicle transfer.

Seven Wonders Along the Way

A church beside a factory at West Thurrock. A medieval wall painting at Chaldon. Redwoods in Havering Country Park. A garden imagined in captivity at Lullingstone. A steel figure in the Thames at Rainham. The wartime secret listeners of Trent Park. The landscape that changed Darwin's thinking at Downe. The guide book explains each one and leaves room for your eighth.

How the Downloads Work

Scan the QR code in the guide book, or type the web address printed beneath it, to open the download page. Choose a ride, download its GPX file and ride guide, then open the GPX in a phone app or load it onto a Garmin or Wahoo. Free apps such as Organic Maps and OsmAnd can display GPX routes. Download before you set out, as signal is patchy in places.

Questions

What are Boundary Rides?

A series of easy-going adventures exploring the edge of London, one gravel path at a time. Each ride starts and finishes at a railway station, linking together the hidden corners, green spaces and unexpected stories that make London's outer limits so fascinating.

Is there a cycle route all the way round London?

No, there is no official cycle route all the way round London. The Boundary Rides link ten gravel rides into a circuit of about 306 km (190 miles) around London's outer edge, using bridleways, byways, cycle paths, canal towpaths and parks. Ride 10 includes a vehicle transfer across the Thames at Dartford. Each ride starts and finishes at a railway station, so you can ride one at a time or collect the whole circle.

Is this ride collection for me?

The rides range from gentle riverside days to hillier outings on chalk and forest tracks. Every ride guide has its own grade and surface notes, so you can choose a day to suit.

Do I need the guide book to ride the Boundary Rides?

No. The GPX files do the navigating, and each ride is £5 on its own. The guide book adds the stories behind the route, seven wonders to look out for, a discovery passport and a For and From page for gifts. All ten rides with the guide book cost £35, which is £15 less than buying them one at a time.

Can I navigate the rides with the guide book?

No. The maps in the guide book are sketches and not to scale. Navigate with the GPX file on a phone or bike computer, and use the guide book for the story.

What is a ride guide?

A PDF for one ride. It gives the distance, climbing, grade and how much is off-road, with notes on what to look for along the way. Print it or read it on your phone.

How do I download the GPX files and ride guides?

Scan the QR code in the guide book, or type the web address printed beneath it, to open the download page. Download the GPX file and ride guide for each ride, or take all ten GPX files as one ZIP. The QR code is inside the guide book, so you can download once it arrives.

How do I load a GPX file onto my phone?

You need a free navigation app to display a GPX route. Organic Maps and OsmAnd are free, and Komoot and Ride with GPS can import GPX files. Then tap the GPX button on the download page and choose the app when your phone asks. If it shows text instead, use the share button and pick the app. iPhone and Android both work. Download before you set out, as signal is patchy in places.

Can I follow a GPX route without a Garmin?

Yes. A phone with a free app is all you need. If you do have a Garmin or Wahoo, load the files the way you would any other route.

Can I take my bike on the train in London?

Yes, outside rush hour. Bikes normally travel free on National Rail and you don't tend to need a reservation, but the rules vary by operator, so check with each one before you travel. As a rule of thumb, bikes are not allowed on rush hour trains on weekdays. On the Underground, non-folding bikes can't go on the deep Tube lines, but they can use the District, Circle, Hammersmith and City, and Metropolitan lines outside rush hour. The Overground, DLR and Elizabeth line also take bikes off peak. TfL rush hour is 07:30 to 09:30 and 16:00 to 19:00, Monday to Friday.

What is the Mud-O-Meter?

My mud rating for each ride, so you know what you're riding into. Chalk and clay change with the weather. Quick in summer, slow after rain.

Can I ride gravel in London in winter?

Yes. Each Boundary Ride is 22 to 37 km, so a short winter day is enough. Expect mud after rain, carry lights and plan to finish before dark.

What bike do I need for gravel riding in London?

A gravel bike is ideal. A mountain bike works too, and so does a hybrid with wide, grippy tyres, especially in summer, as many of the rides are not especially rough. Decent tyres matter more than the frame.

Are the Boundary Rides all off-road?

No. The rides use bridleways, byways and cycle paths, linked by quiet lanes and connecting roads. Each ride has a grade, explained on the ride grades page.

Do I have to ride the Boundary Rides in order?

No. Ride them in order or in any order you like.

How long does a Boundary Ride take?

Each ride is 22 to 37 km. Allow half a day to a full day, depending on how often you stop.

Can I buy the Boundary Rides one at a time?

Yes, at £5 each. Buying all ten with the guide book is better value at £35. Browse them in the Boundary Rides collection.