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.
£90.00 (+tracker deposit)
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
What Makes The Wrecker Different
Plenty of rides are long. Plenty are hard. Fewer feel like a proper crossing.
The Wrecker starts where the land runs out and works its way back across Britain, linking terrain that feels right rather than terrain that’s easy.
Cornwall is tight and awkward. Exmoor is slow and physical. The Quantocks bring flow. The Mendips, Ridgeway and Thames corridor gradually pull the route back towards London.
It sits somewhere between a gravel race, a bikepacking route and a true UK gravel ultra. Navigation is yours. Decisions are yours. If something goes wrong, it’s yours to solve.
One of the few UK gravel ultras that starts at the far edge of Britain and finishes back inside London.
You don’t complete this by accident.
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 →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
The Wrecker runs from Land’s End to Herne Hill Velodrome, linking mining tracks, moorland trails, chalk ridges, canal paths and hidden routes back into London.
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.
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.
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 riders 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 very natural, though riders are responsible for choosing suitable and respectful locations.
How does tracking work?
Every rider carries a GPS tracker during the event. These allow friends, family and fellow riders to follow the ride live online as you make your way across the country. Expect a fair bit of “dot watching”.
The trackers also provide an extra layer of safety and help confirm riders have passed through the key checkpoints on the route.
There is a refundable tracker deposit, but this does not need to be paid when you enter. Payment can be deferred until rider briefings are sent out roughly two weeks before the event.
One tracker per rider. Deposits are automatically refunded once trackers are returned after the event.
Does it finish in London?
Yes. The route finishes at Herne Hill Velodrome in south London, making it a rare UK gravel ultra that ends inside the city rather than miles from transport.