The Wrecker 26 is done — see who made it from Land's End to London.
See the 2026 results →The Wrecker
Land's End to London | UK Gravel Ultra
27th to 31st August.
A self-supported gravel ultra, gravel race and bikepacking route across the UK.
The Wrecker runs from the far edge of Cornwall to Herne Hill Velodrome in London. 740 kilometres. Around 10,000 metres of climbing. A route built for ultra-distance cycling in the UK, using mining tracks, moorland roads, chalk ridges, ancient byways, canal paths and hidden routes back into the city.
Not a loop. Not curated for comfort. Just a line across the country.
No shortcuts. No easy days. Just a line across the country.
Start at Land's End. Finish at Herne Hill Velodrome.
The Essentials
- 740 km across southern England
- Approx. 10,000 metres of climbing
- Self-supported gravel ultra
- Land’s End → London
- Gravel, byways, moorland, chalk, canal paths and small roads
- Finish at Herne Hill Velodrome
- Live GPS tracking for every rider
- Typical completion: 5 to 6 days
The Wrecker is a long route, but a deliberately small event.
The ride is capped at 50 riders. That's enough people to share the experience with, but not so many that the start becomes frantic or the event loses its friendly, welcoming feel.
It also means I can keep organising it the way I want to. I don't want squads of helpers, layers of staff or a big event machine between me and the people riding it. I want to know who's out there, meet you at Land's End and, once the trackers are handed out and the admin is done, I'll probably get on my bike and join you.
The riding will be intimidating enough. The event shouldn't be.
You don’t complete this by accident.
It Seemed Like a Good Idea
Charlie designed this route. In August 2026 he rode it himself — Land’s End to Herne Hill Velodrome, 740km, on her own bike, alone on the trackers for most of it.
“The riders were often physically alone, sometimes for hours, but the trackers, WhatsApp messages and brief encounters created a strange, fleeting community.”
Ready to find out for yourself?
The Ride
The Wrecker is a long-distance gravel ride across southern England, starting at Land’s End and finishing at Herne Hill Velodrome in London.
Cornwall sets the tone immediately: rougher, slower and sharper than expected.
From there, the route crosses Bodmin Moor, Exmoor, the Quantocks, the Mendips and the Ridgeway before finding canal paths, Thames-side gravel and quieter lines back into London.
The western half is slower and rougher. The eastern half begins to release, but only once the miles are already in your legs.
The Wrecker is not just hard. It changes.
Route Map & Live Tracking
Every rider carries a GPS tracker during the event. Friends, family and fellow riders can follow progress live online as riders move across the country. In ultra-distance cycling this is known as dot watching: following the small GPS “dots” as they slowly work their way across the route.
It becomes strangely addictive. You can see riders stop for food, bivvy in the hills, push through the night, or crawl back into London running on caffeine and stubbornness.
During the event this map will become live, showing every rider moving across the route in real time.
Riders must pass through six key checkpoints along the route:
- King Harry Ferry, near Truro
- Millook, near Bude
- Dunkery Beacon, Exmoor
- Black Down, Quantocks
- Barbury Castle, Ridgeway
- Thorney Country Park, west London
Cornwall, coast, moor, chalk and finally London.
Read the Route Before You Ride It
The Wrecker is being ridden into shape. These recce notes show how the route changes as it crosses the country.
Cornwall fights. Exmoor resists. The Ridgeway finally lets you move.
Recce One
Tin Mines & Bodmin
Cornwall sets the tone early. Mining tracks, coastal climbs, Bodmin Moor and the first reminder that this UK gravel ultra is not trying to be convenient.
Read the recce →
Recce Two
Exmoor & Quantocks
Exmoor slows everything down. Gates, bog, Dunkery Hill, then the Quantocks finally let the bike run.
Read the recce →
Recce Three
Ridgeway & Home
The route starts to move: Mendips, canal paths, Avebury, the Ridgeway, the Thames and the final onslaught into London.
Read the recce →What Is A Gravel Ultra?
A gravel ultra is a long-distance self-supported cycling event ridden across mixed terrain: gravel tracks, bridleways, small roads, trails and whatever else the route finds.
Unlike a sportive or fully-supported bikepacking trip, riders manage their own navigation, food, pacing, sleep and mechanicals.
Some riders race. Others simply aim to finish.
The Wrecker sits somewhere between a gravel race, a bikepacking route and a crossing of the country.
Who This Is For
Riders comfortable with long distances, self-supported riding and making decisions when tired.
Riders coming from gravel races, bikepacking trips, audax, trail rides or ultra-distance cycling events in the UK will feel at home here.
You do not need to race The Wrecker. Some riders will push for time, others will simply aim to keep moving and reach London. For many, it will be their first gravel ultra.
If you’re searching for one of the best gravel ultras in the UK, or a self-supported gravel challenge that starts far from London and finishes in the city, The Wrecker is built for you.
If you’re looking for a supported sportive, this isn’t it. If you’re looking for a raw, route-led, point-to-point gravel ultra in the UK, it might be.
If this makes sense to you, you already know.
FAQs
Is it self-supported?
Yes. No outside support. You manage your ride, navigation, food, stops, sleep and mechanicals.
When do entries close?
Entries close on 27th July. This isn't an arbitrary cutoff: trackers need to be ordered after that date, so the list has to be final.
If you miss the deadline, email us anyway. Riders do drop out, and a place may come up.
Is there a limit on entries?
Yes. The Wrecker is capped at 50 riders.
What bike should I use?
A gravel bike or mountain bike. The most important thing is that it is reliable, recently serviced and suitable for long mixed-terrain riding.
What tyres should I run?
Conditions will matter. Expect mixed terrain: gravel, byways, moorland, chalk, canal paths, small roads and some rougher sections.
How long does it take?
The sharp end may go faster, but for most riders 5 to 6 days is a more honest target. The western half is slower and rougher; the later sections move more quickly, but by then fatigue, food, sleep and judgement matter more.
Can I bivvy or camp?
Yes. Riders are responsible for managing their own stops, accommodation and sleep strategy. Some will use hotels, some will bivvy, some will mix both depending on weather, pace and how broken they feel.
The route passes through remote sections where bivvying feels natural, though riders are responsible for choosing suitable and respectful locations.
How does tracking work?
Every rider carries a GPS tracker during the event. Mostly, it's a bit of fun: friends, family and fellow riders can follow your dot live online and share in how you're getting on. Expect a fair bit of dot watching.
There's a safety benefit too, and trackers help confirm riders have passed through the key checkpoints, but that's not really the point of them.
There's a refundable tracker deposit of £150. It isn't due when you enter; it's collected two weeks before the event, at rider briefings, since asking people to part with that much money months out felt like a lot. One tracker per rider, refunded automatically once trackers are returned after the event.
Does it finish in London?
Yes. The route finishes at Herne Hill Velodrome in south London, one of the oldest cycling tracks in the world, and a proper finish line rather than a layby somewhere off the M25.
FAQ
Is this actually self-supported, or is that marketing?
Genuinely self-supported. You get a GPX file and a live tracker. There's no support vehicle, no luggage transfer, and nobody re-stocking you with inner tubes. Whatever's on your bike at the start line in Brussels is what you've got.
What's included in the £140 entry fee?
The route, live GPS tracking, and a start line in Brussels. It doesn't include your DFDS ferry crossing (budget roughly £35–£45 each way), travel to Brussels, accommodation, food, or insurance.
How does the tracker work, and what's the £150 deposit for?
You're issued an individual live GPS tracker at the start in Brussels, which shows your rough position for the duration of the ride. It's there so someone knows where you are if you genuinely need help — not to talk you out of quitting at the second café, or to help the group chat find the good waffles. The £150 deposit covers the tracker itself and is refunded once you return it in working order after you finish.
How do I book the ferry crossing?
Separately and yourself, direct with DFDS, as a foot passenger with your bike. Book online in advance, go through a booking agency, or just turn up on the day and buy a ticket at the same price, plenty of riders do exactly that. DFDS runs the Dover–Calais route many times a day, so there's no need to lock in a sailing weeks out; book or change whichever crossing suits your pace.
How many riders take part?
Fifty. That's the whole field, fixed — no waitlist, no scaling up if it sells well.
When do entries close?
One calendar month before the event.
When does it start, and how long does it take?
The event window is 23–26 July 2027. Most riders start on the Friday or Saturday and take three to four days to finish — there's no fixed daily schedule, so you set your own pace within the window.
Can I camp or bivvy along the route?
Yes.
Where does it start and finish?
Brussels to Herne Hill Velodrome in London. Exact start venue details go out to entrants closer to the date.
What bike should I use?
[PASTE YOUR EXISTING BIKE-RECOMMENDATION TEXT HERE]
What tyres should I run?
[PASTE YOUR EXISTING TYRE-RECOMMENDATION TEXT HERE]