The Runaway King

Name: The Runaway King
Brand: Hidden Tracks Cycle Tours
Price: 5.0 GBP
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The Runaway King gravel GPX route title card, London to Faversham: an engraving-style illustration of a crowned king in a flowing cloak riding a gravel bike along a chalk track on the North Downs.

Gravel cyclist with a red bike at the edge of a poppy and wildflower field, framed by trees, on The Runaway King route to Faversham.

A herd of cows blocking a farm track, seen over the handlebars of a gravel bike, on The Runaway King route through Kent.

Cyclist on the riverside path along the River Medway at Peters Village, on The Runaway King gravel route from London to Faversham.

Three gravel cyclists riding a grassy downland track past grazing sheep and woodland in Kent, on The Runaway King route.

North Downs Way signpost near Hollingbourne, pointing to Harrietsham, with a National Cycle Route 17 marker, on The Runaway King gravel route.

A gravel bike leaning against an old washing machine dumped on the Pilgrims' Way, on The Runaway King gravel route to Faversham.

A gravel route from London to Faversham, along the foot of the North Downs.
In 1688 a king fled London for Faversham and didn't get away with it. This ride takes the same line, over Crystal Palace, out through the woods and along the Pilgrims' Way to an old Kentish town on a creek, with a brewery at the bottom of the street.

You'll do better than he did. Download the GPX and ride it in a day, then take the train home.

Ride Details

Ride Level: Red - Challenging (for the distance, not the terrain)
Distance: 117 km / 72 miles
Terrain: Gravel tracks, byways, country lanes and woodland paths (50% off-road)
Bike: Gravel/CX or mountain bike
Includes: GPX file and printable Ride Guide

The Route

The first 12km wriggle out of Victoria through South London and up to Crystal Palace. Then you drop into Shirley and the off-road starts: Spring Park and a string of woods, until the countryside opens out at Keston.

You join the Pilgrims' Way near Otford and follow it east along the bottom of the North Downs. It switches between quiet lanes and track, and the track is in better shape than you'd expect. At around 70km you cross the Medway on Peters Bridge, then follow the river down to Aylesford, the old crossing. Stop here for lunch.

After Aylesford you're back on the Pilgrims' Way. There's more road than I'd like on the way to Hollingbourne. Then it turns into fast, rough track that keeps you moving. Just short of Charing you turn hard left, climb the Downs and cross the top, through woodland and down into a long, empty coombe. I couldn't find a name for it on any map. From there it's downhill into Faversham.

The Runaway King

On the night of 11 December 1688, with William of Orange marching on London, James II slipped out of Whitehall in disguise and dropped the Great Seal in the Thames on his way out. He boarded a boat on the Swale, bound for France. Faversham fishermen stopped it, took him for a Jesuit priest on the run, went through his pockets and brought him ashore. The king of England was held in the town for several days before being taken back to London. He got away a fortnight later and made it to France that time. This ride leaves from about a mile from Whitehall and finishes where the fishermen caught him.

Along the Way

12 km: Crystal Palace

70 km: Peters Bridge over the Medway

Aylesford: The Chequers, a pub lunch overlooking the Medway beside the medieval bridge

Faversham: Shepherd Neame, Britain's oldest brewer, in the middle of town

Finish

Faversham is one of the prettiest towns in Kent. Take ten minutes to ride round it: the creek, Abbey Street, the Guildhall on its pillars. Then have a pint where it's brewed. Trains run direct from Faversham back to Victoria and St Pancras.

Start and End Points

Start: London Victoria
Finish: Faversham Station

Ride Details

Distance: 117 km | 72 miles
Climb: 1,350 m | 4,430 ft
Percentage off-road: 50%
Trail surface: Gravel | Byways | Country Lanes | Woodland Paths
Technical Grade: Red - long, but nothing technical
Mudometer - Good all year. Mostly well-drained gravel track, so a fair bet in winter as well as summer.

Is this ride for me?

Icon of cycle riding up hill surrounded by red border, indicating a Hidden Tracks Cycling Challenging or red grade ride or Gravel GPX Route.

Graded Red for the distance, not the terrain. Nothing on this route is technical and the tracks hold up in all weather, but 117km with 1,350m of climbing is a full day. Most riders will spend six to seven hours in the saddle, more with a proper lunch in Aylesford. If you've ridden 80km off-road and enjoyed the last 20, you're ready.