Brighton Bound
Level: Red – Challenging
Gravel/CX/MTB | GPX Bike packing Route | Cycle paths & trails | 115km/71miles
A proper London to Brighton gravel ride.
Long, varied, and steadily building into the South Downs before dropping to the sea.
One of the best off-road routes from London, a full day out for experienced riders, or an easy-going two-day ride if you take your time.
Why ride this route
- 115 km point-to-point from London to the coast
- Woodland, gravel tracks and chalk climbs
- Progression from city to South Downs
- Option to split at East Grinstead
This is one of the best gravel routes from London to Brighton, with a downloadable GPX file for easy navigation.
Ride Description
Starting at Clapham Junction Station the route makes a bee line for the countryside, crossing Clapham and Tooting Commons before finally leaving the roads at Mitcham.
Riding up the Wandle Valley, past the ponds at Carshalton the ride gradually climbs towards Happy Valley and the ridge of the North Downs, on a fine day it’s possible to see the faint grey outline of the South Downs oh so far away.
It’s pretty much off road all the way to East Grinstead, the routes halfway point and a good place to stop if you’re planning to make a weekend of the ride. It’s possible to ride on the Bluebell Railway from here and pick the route back up again at Horsted Keynes.
Sadly those in charge of Ashdown Forest don’t like cyclists, the place is festooned with nasty little no cycling signs, so alas, you’re constrained to the road through here.
Fear not – you’re shortly back on trails and country lanes as the route meanders through the High Weald, enjoy the easy riding, the challenge of the South Downs is gradually drawing closer.
From Wivelsfield the route’s character changes, you’re on flinty trails now for most of the rest of the ride. It’s a steady climb out of the woods to the ridge of the South Downs. If the weather is fine, it’s big skies landscape across the chalk open lands, it’s hard to believe that you are in the densely populated southeast of England. The route gradually descends to the sea level at Rottingdean, before joining NCR 2 as it runs along the foreshore into Brighton.
Start and End Points
Start: Clapham Junction
Finish: Brighton Station
Ride Details
- Distance: 115km | 71 miles
- Climb: 1750m | 4730 ft
- Percentage off-road: 60%
- Trail surface: Natural |Gravel |Woodland Single Track | Cycle path
- Mudometer: medium with some muddy patches in wet weather
Places to visit
36 miles: East Grinstead and the Bluebell Railway
Places to stay
Loads of hotels and accommodation in East Grinstead
Is this ride for me?
Ideal for riders with some off-road experience and reasonable fitness. Fitter, more experienced riders can complete this route in a day.
Is my bike OK for this ride?
Recommend using a MTB or other Gravel/CX bike.