The Wrecker
Lands End to London Gravel Ultra
460 miles 740 km | 10,000 m | 5 checkpoints | Self-supported
Start on the 27th August, finish by the 31st
Ride the Wild Line to the Capital
The Wrecker is a new ultra-gravel epic from the far edge of Cornwall to the heart of London. A route built from forgotten mining tracks, moorland cut-throughs, ancient byways and sweeping ridgelines.
This is long-distance British gravel at its purest—raw, rewarding, relentlessly beautiful.
A Journey Across Britain, Off the Beaten Path
The Wrecker doesn’t follow the easy line. It stitches together the most characterful off-road terrain in southern Britain:
The Lost Roads of Cornwall – mining tracks, moorland grit and coastal wildness
Bodmin & Exmoor – windswept highlands and fast open moor
The Quantocks – flowing ridges and silent forest climbs
The Mendips – limestone edges, woodland rollers and big views
The Ridgeway – 5,000 years of chalk, ruts and ancient footsteps
London Gravel Finale – a triumphant romp along the canals ands river into the the capital, finishing at the iconic Herne Hill Velodrome.
Expect variety. Expect adversity. Expect moments you’ll never forget.
The Challenge
This is a self-supported ultra. The clock doesn’t stop.
Distance: 740 km
Climbing: 10,000 m+
Checkpoints: 5 mandatory
Terrain: ~65% gravel & off-road
Support: None (commercial services only)
Tracking: Live GPS
Finish window: 4–6 days recommended
Ride it fast or ride it steady. Just ride it honestly.
The Spirit of the Wrecker
The Wrecker is for riders who believe in the purity of moving through a landscape under their own power.
For those who feel most alive under a sunrise sky.
For people who want their stories earned, not bought.
Checkpoints
Five checkpoints anchor the route:
CP1 – Bodmin
CP2 – Exmoor Edge
CP3 – Quantock High Point
CP4 – Cheddar Gorge
CP5 – Avebury
Minimalist. Functional. Proof you’ve made it this far.
Finish in London
After hundreds of miles of wild terrain, the final kilometres guide riders through London’s hidden gravel—woodland tracks, river paths, and quiet dirt ribbons threading toward the city.
Your journey ends at the iconic Herne Hill Velodrome, one of the oldest cycling venues in the world.
Who This Event Is For ?
Ultra-distance gravel riders
Bikepack racers
Adventure cyclists seeking a benchmark challenge
Riders who love events like GBDURO, Badlands, HT550
If you see a diagonal line across Britain and think: what if it was mostly dirt?—you’re in the right place.
Rules (Ultra-Gravel Standard)
No outside support or sneaky train rides.
Ride the official route unless detours are posted.
Mandatory tracker on at all times.
Respect the Countryside Code.
Be prepared for the English Summer.
Read This Before You Enter
The Wrecker is a self-supported ride across real terrain.
There’s no course marking, no rolling road, and no safety net. You’re expected to be self-reliant, capable, and comfortable making good decisions when conditions change.
You’ll ride a mix of gravel, singletrack, and rough UK byways. A gravel bike with 40–45 mm tyres, good puncture protection, and reliable kit is strongly recommended. Comfort, control, and durability matter more than outright speed.
You must carry appropriate tools, spares, lights, navigation, and clothing for long, remote days and unpredictable weather. Pack light, but pack like no one is coming to save you.
Riders are expected to respect the Countryside Code at all times. Slow down when required, be courteous to other trail users, and leave no trace. The route only works if riders do.
Your safety starts with your decisions. If you need to stop or reroute, do so. If you scratch or DNF, let us know and return your tracker. Your ride will still be recorded on the website.
This isn’t a sportive. It isn’t guided.
If that sounds like a problem, this probably isn’t the ride for you.
If it sounds like an invitation, we’ll see you at Land’s End.
FAQS
How do I get to the start?
The Wrecker begins where the land runs out. Getting there takes a bit of thought.
We strongly recommend arriving the day before and staying in a local B&B or camping at a nearby campsite. The nearest train station is Penzance, around 30 km from Land’s End, with frequent services throughout the day. Getting yourself and your bike there is very doable with a bit of planning.
What’s the terrain like?
A lot of the route runs on solid enough gravel tracks. Then again, this is the UK.
Expect singletrack, rough edges, weathered lanes, and the occasional stretch that asks more of you and your bike. Nothing unexpected. Nothing sanitised. That mix is exactly what gives the route its character.
What bike should I ride?
A gravel bike is right at home on The Wrecker.
The full route will be recced on a gravel bike, and that’s the plan for the event itself too. Comfort, reliability, and clearance matter more than outright speed. Choose the bike you trust when the surface stops being polite.
Will I be riding with other trail users?
Some sections will be busier than others, especially on bridleways and byways.
Riders are expected to respect the Countryside Code at all times. Yes, that may mean easing off and taking your time in places. These sections are usually short, and they’re part of riding properly through wild, shared spaces.
What kit should I carry?
This is a self-supported ride. What you carry, you carry for a reason.
At a minimum, you should be equipped to deal with mechanicals, changing weather, and long stretches between resupply. That means spares, tools, lights, and enough layers to stay warm when things slow down or go wrong. Navigation, charging, and sleep systems are your call, but they need to work when you’re tired and out of options.
Pack light. Pack smart. Pack as if no one is coming to rescue you.
What tyres should I run?
Tyres matter more than speed.
We recommend gravel tyres in the 40–45 mm range, with enough tread to cope with loose, wet, and rough surfaces. Fast slicks will be faster right up until they aren’t. Puncture protection and reliability will pay you back far more than marginal gains.
Tubeless strongly advised. Comfort and control win here.
Is there a finish time limit?
The finish window is a guideline, not a hard stop.
It’s there to help with planning, not to exclude anyone. Completing the route is the achievement, and every finisher will have their time recorded and celebrated, whether you’ve gone all-in and finished in four hard days or taken a steadier line and rolled in after six days or more.
Ride your ride. Finish well. If you reach the end, you’re a finisher.
What if I need to scratch or don’t finish?
Sometimes the smartest decision is to stop.
If you need to scratch or DNF for any reason, please let us know as soon as you reasonably can. This helps us keep track of everyone out on the route.
If you stop riding, your tracker must be posted back to us once you’re home. Full instructions will be provided. The tracker deposit is returned in full as soon as it’s safely back with us.
DNF riders are still part of the story. Your ride will be recorded on the website as a DNF. No asterisks, no judgement. Knowing when to stop is as much a skill as knowing how to continue.
How do the trackers and deposits work?
All riders will be issued with a GPS tracker for the duration of the event.
There is a £150 refundable tracker deposit. You can choose to pay this either at the point of entry or up to two weeks before the start of the ride. Full instructions and payment details will be sent out ahead of time.
The deposit is returned in full once the tracker has been safely returned to us after the event.
Simple, fair, and keeps everyone accounted for.