Landrace to Waterloo
28TH MAY TO 1ST JUNE.
Cyclocross Roots, Flanders Fire
Cyclocross and Flanders are the forebears of gravel. This point to point crossing honours that lineage with a route built unapologetically around chalk tracks, towpaths, sand, broken lanes and bone-rattling cobbles. It is less sightseeing, more substance.
You will ride fast where you can and grind where you must. The shadow of the Tour of Flanders looms over the bergs. The spirit of Koksijde Cyclocross lives in the sand. WW1 front-line gravel strips the ride back to effort and focus, raw and unfiltered.
The finish carries weight. You roll along Wellington’s front line at Waterloo, where history sits close to the surface and legs remember every metre.
This is a guided gravel ride for strong, self sufficient riders with confident off-road handling and durable engines. Hotels are booked. Luggage is minimal. Everything else is earned.
You bring fitness and resolve. We bring the line.
Day 1 – London to Calais
Chalk, Towpath, Coast
Out of London on the Thames Path. Out of London on the Thames Path. Hardpack, mud, gates. No warm up.
The North Downs arrive quickly with chalk ramps, flint and wooded lanes. The pace is steady but the ground keeps changing. After a brief stop we settle onto the Pilgrims’ Way, long and exposed, legs turning for hours.
Folkestone bites with a savage climb to the cliff tops and the old coastal defences. Wind. Broken tarmac. Big horizons.
Dover rolls straight into the ferry. Day one done properly. No easing in.
Day 2 – Calais to Nieuwpoort
Homage to Cyclocross
Flat does not mean easy. Farm gravel, coastal lanes and constant wind define the morning. The surface keeps changing and concentration never drops.
Crossing into Belgium, the heartland of cyclocross, the dunes take over. We ride straight through the Koksijde CX course: sand, short climbs, off-camber lines. This is bike control, not sightseeing. Momentum matters.
Nieuwpoort arrives via canals and harbour roads. Legs are loaded, arms feel it too. Tomorrow turns inland and gets heavier.
Day 3 – Nieuwpoort to Ypres
Front Line Gravel
Straight gravel. Long canal paths. No shelter. The riding is physically simple and mentally demanding.
We stop at the Trench of Death near Diksmuide. Narrow, low, brutal. Then it’s back onto farm tracks and broken lanes past memorials and cemeteries. Tyne Cot hits hard. Polygon Wood rolls silently, shell craters softened but never erased.
We enter Ypres tired and quiet, rolling past the Menin Gate at the end of a day that doesn’t need embellishment.
Day 4 – Ypres to Oudenaarde
Cobbles - Flanders Classics
Easy kilometres early. Canal-side, controlled pace. Then the road turns hostile.
We enter the terrain of the Tour of Flanders, the crucible of cycling legends. First the long drag of the Oude Kwaremont, cobbles stretching ahead, rhythm hard to hold. Then the punch of the Paterberg, steep and uncompromising. The Koppenberg follows, savage and technical, traction everything. After that, the grind of the Oude Kruisberg and the jagged ramp of Steenbeekdries keep the pressure on.
We regroup, roll on, and finish in Oudenaarde knowing we’ve ridden the core of Flemish cycling the hard way.
Day 5 – Oudenaarde to Brussels
Belgian Gravel & Waterloo
A full Belgian gravel day. Farm tracks, forest roads and rough connectors stitch the countryside together. Minimal traffic. Maximum surface. This is Belgium at its best, not the postcard version but the backcountry where rhythm matters and efficiency wins.
The terrain rolls steadily south before the landscape begins to open. You approach the fields of Waterloo, where Napoleon met his defeat and Wellington held the line. The route passes Hougoumont Farm, scarred and fortified, once the anchor of the British defence.
From there we track along the old British front line, the land rising toward the Butte du Lion, watching over the battlefield. It is open, exposed ground, fitting for the scale of what happened here.
Then the road smooths and the city returns. We roll north into Brussels, legs heavy, tyres worn, the crossing complete.
Day 6 - Getting Back to London
The ride finishes in Brussels, with a straightforward return to London on the Eurostar.
Eurostar allows fully assembled bikes on selected services between Brussels and London, meaning no box, no dismantling and no stress. You roll your bike onto the train and travel home as you finished: intact.
We’ll provide guidance on suitable departure times and booking options, but each rider books their own return ticket. Trains run regularly and the journey takes just over two hours.
After six days on gravel, sand and cobbles, it’s a civilised way to close the line.
Ride in. Roll home.
At a Glance
Dates: 28th MAY - 1st JUNE
Distance: ~700 km
Duration: 6 riding days
Daily Distance: 95–130 km
Elevation Gain: ~6,500–7,500 m
Surface: Approx. 60% gravel, sand & cobbles / 40% tarmac
Terrain: Chalk tracks, canal paths, dune sand, farm gravel, cobbled bergs
Start: London
Finish: Brussels (via Waterloo)
Difficulty: Expert
Ride Style: Guided, point-to-point, self-supported
Luggage: Minimal kit carried by rider
Accommodation: Hotels (booked for you, paid directly)
Arrangement Fee: £400 *
(* see FAQ's for estimated total cost)
Before You Book
Please read this carefully.
This ride is demanding and designed for capable, self-sufficient cyclists.
You are comfortable riding 100–130 km on mixed terrain for consecutive days.
You have solid off-road handling skills, including gravel, cobbles and sand.
Your bike is properly set up for rough surfaces and long-distance riding.
You are self-reliant, able to manage nutrition, hydration and minor mechanical issues.
You understand this is a guided ride, not a fully supported tour.
There are no support vehicles, no luggage transfers and no shortcuts around the hard sections. You carry minimal kit and ride the full route.
If that sounds like your kind of week, you’ll fit in perfectly.
What you'll need
Bike Setup
Bike:
Gravel bike with clearance for 40mm+ tyres recommended. A robust all-road setup will work, but tyre choice matters.
Tyres:
40–45mm tubeless advised. Durable casing. You will hit chalk, flint, cobbles and sand.
Gearing:
Compact or sub-compact gearing strongly recommended. The Koppenberg does not negotiate.
Brakes:
Disc brakes are advised for control on cobbles and in variable weather.
Fitness
You should be comfortable riding 100–130 km on mixed terrain on consecutive days.
Skills
Confident off-road handling. Comfortable riding cobbles, sand and loose gravel in a group.
Kit and Clothing
You carry everything you need for the week. There are no luggage transfers. Pack light and pack smart.
Each day is long and varied, so your setup needs to be efficient and minimal. A small saddle pack and/or compact frame bag setup is ideal. Keep weight low and balanced.
Recommended clothing approach:
1 full riding kit
1 spare set of bibs and jersey
Lightweight packable waterproof
Arm and leg warmers
Minimal off-bike clothing:
1 pair lightweight shorts or trousers
1 simple tee
Lightweight shoes or sandals
That’s it.
Hotels mean you can wash kit in the sink and rotate. Keep it simple. Every extra item becomes noticeable after 100 km of gravel and cobbles.
Other essentials:
Basic tool kit and spares
Charging cables and compact power bank
Chamois cream
Small toiletries kit
This is not a fashion tour. It’s a long-distance gravel ride. Travel light, ride better.
Know the Score
What's the expected final cost of the trip?
In short budget on £1500-£1700, made up from.
Here's a breakdown of the key expenses:
- £40.00 - Ferry - Dover- Calais (purchased on the day)
- 4 nights hotels 3/4 star single room - allow - £ 480 (I'll book these on your behalf)
- Eurostar London - Brussels from £40 + £50 for a bike
- 5 days food allow £500
- Hidden Tracks Arrangement fee £ 400
What does the £400 arrangement fee include?
Full route design and curated GPX files
Daily briefings and guided ride leadership
Hotel reservations for the group
Logistical coordination throughout the trip
What is not included?
Accommodation costs (paid directly by you to the hotels)
Ferry crossing and Eurostar ticket
Food and drink
Travel insurance
Mechanical support beyond shared assistance
Is this a race?
No. This is a guided gravel ride. Strong pace, but not competitive. The focus is on completing the route well.
How much luggage do I carry?
Minimal. Enough for riding kit and evening essentials. Hotels mean no camping gear.
What happens if I can’t keep the pace?
This ride is designed for strong, experienced riders who can maintain steady progress over long, mixed-terrain days.
There is no support vehicle and no safety net. We need to move consistently to complete each stage safely and within daylight, so I ask that you assess your fitness and ability honestly before booking.
If you’re unable to maintain the agreed pace over multiple stages, I may ask you to make alternative arrangements to return home. That’s not a judgement, it’s a practical decision made for the safety and experience of the group as a whole.
If you’re unsure whether this level suits you, I strongly recommend joining one of our monthly Landrace rides beforehand. They’re the best way to test your fitness, pacing and comfort on long gravel days.
Come prepared, come realistic, and you’ll thrive.