Could anyone please tell me where I can find the route/GPX file for this? especially the section between Swindon, Salisbury and Winchester. Many thanks K
This is the best I've managed to find so far: King Alfreds Way - not very helpful, but I guess work has been delayed by . . . you-know-what . . .
In the meantime, this recent STW thread might be of interest: Salisbury to Devon offroad
Cycling UK have recently sent a group of well known bike packers around the route to check it out. Should appear on Pannier CC, Katherinebikes or Adventure CC soon.
Update from Cycling UK:
King Alfred’s Way coming soon
We know a lot of you are keen to get out and ride King Alfred’s Way, a new 350km circular trail around historic Wessex. Unfortunately the coronavirus lockdown delayed things a bit, but we’ve now been able to fully test-ride the route and are finalising the route guide, to launch in late August with full maps and gpx files. If you want to be the first to get your hands on a copy of the guidebook, which delves into the rich history and archaeology along the route and includes the full route on 1:50 000 Ordnance Survey maps, it will be available to pre-order soon so keep an eye out for an email alert.
(Wonders if Jobro was one of the riders?)
I've done my own version of this route and its great fun. Took 22 hours of riding and I had to have a snooze just above Old Sarum and rode downhill and the mist/fog over Salisbury Cathedral was something I will remember for a very long time.
I just built a version linking bridleways and small lanes that went in the right direction.
The chippie in Goring was very welcome, as was finding the taps on the Ridgeway.
The only bummer was having to ride to the start and home afterwards.
King Alfred's Way launched today - full route files and downloadable guide by Guy Kesteven (doesn't come with OS maps like hardcopy book) all available at: www.cyclinguk.org/kingalfredsway
Rode it with the recce group from Cycling UK mentioned in the thread, and it's a world of fun so long as the rain stays off the chalk!
I am really very interested in this...
It is great news for cycling, but the name of the route is meaningless, since it misses the birth place of King Alfred by three miles, avoids the site of his greatest triumph in battle by around one mile and misses his Somerset Levels retreat by nearly 50. It also heads in the general direction of Westbury and manages to avoid Edington by a handful of miles. So, apart from starting and finishing in Winchester and visiting Farnham, a battle fought by Alfred's son, what is the connection with the King of Wessex exactly?
Crap I might have stumbled onto my mini adventure for next year!😳😁👍
@onthebummel do you know elevation gain for the route? Thanks matey.
Looks great tbh, thanks Cycling UK and all those involved.
Adventure awaits!🚵😁
Edit: Just ordered the book, will cheer me up as autumn and Winter set in.
isn't that when you put a piercing through your bob-end?
isn’t that when you put a piercing through your bob-end?
That’s a Prince Albert - a King Alfred is when you confuse your chamois cream with your Deep Heat and ‘burn your cakes’.
Looks like a decent route. I'll buy the book and make plans for a long weekend next year I think!
@Poopscoop,i think the gpx file was on the website to download. Should have elevation there.
Thinking of riding the route in three days later in September.
Probably going to go fast and light and stay in premier inn’s.
Question is do I use my Ti hardtail or gravel bike, they weigh about the same, I’m leaning towards the hardtail as it will be way more fun on the downs but only slightly slower on the road.
Question is do I use my Ti hardtail or gravel bike
looks at the 2021 calendar and starts planning...
“it misses the birth place of King Alfred by three miles, avoids the site of his greatest triumph in battle by around one mile and misses his Somerset Levels retreat by nearly 50. It also heads in the general direction of Westbury and manages to avoid Edington by a handful of miles.”
So it’s really quite close to a few Alfred themed things then?
ditch_jockey
isn’t that when you put a piercing through your bob-end?
That’s a Prince Albert – a King Alfred is when you confuse your chamois cream with your Deep Heat and ‘burn your cakes’.
lived in Shaftesbury until was about 9...vaguely recall a cafe that claimed to be where Alfred burnt his cakes....much prefer this explanation (as in find amusing..no preference for trying...need to make that clear)
Probably goes past the statue of king alfredo, the king of pizzas in Winchester, a pert from that, nah nothing to do with king Alfred at all
Should have called it billie jean king way instead, or the elvis way
Some good riding on that route, but the connection is a bit tenuous. I actually put together an Alfred-themed trip a few years ago - the Levels, Alfred's Tower, Edington, Chippenham, Wedmore. Good riding on that, too.
You could ride from Eastbourne on the SDW do the loop then back to Eastbourne if you wanted a longer route.
as it turns out, I did it the wrong way round the other month, so I am plotting to give it a clockwise spin in about a weeks time - there will be no time to look at Alfred's bits.
Video link for those who can't see videos any more.
Starting the King Alfred Way on Monday near Liss. Decided against wild camping on this route as it's quite a built up area. So I'm treating myself to a bit of luxury. Staying at Premier Inn Reading, The White Horse, Woolstone and a guest house in Crookham Village. All are very close to the route. Taking a gravel bike, GPS, battery, change of clothes and credit card and that's about it.
Completed a clockwise version of it 2 weekends ago, starting and finishing near Reading.
Well, the version was about 90% compared to the 'official GPX' released the week before last
A really nice route. We completed over 4 days with 3 nights wild camping. A couple of notes/suggestions:
1) Well worth learning where the taps are on the Ridgeway
2) Take the detour over to Stonehendge - i'd only ever seen it from the road before - stunning
3) Its gonna get very wet & slippy when the weather deteriorates - not a winter loop!
Just ordered the guide from CyclingUK and downloaded the GPX files. It’s a planner for this winter with next summer as s target. I’ll need to get some miles in my legs before hand though.
Riding it this weekend, forecast was good so why not. Started in Goring on Fri eve and a few miles past Old Sarum now. Bivi tonight under a huge oak tree where a loud owl seems unhappy with my presence. Great riding, decided on the 29er over the gravel bike and very happy I did. There's some nice gravel sections but most of it so far is classic old school XC with some fun byway downhills.
Have a great time mate, looking forward to some pics!👍
Riding it this weekend, forecast was good so why not. Started in Goring on Fri eve and a few miles past Old Sarum now. Bivi tonight under a huge oak tree where a loud owl seems unhappy with my presence. Great riding, decided on the 29er over the gravel bike and very happy I did. There’s some nice gravel sections but most of it so far is classic old school XC with some fun byway downhills.
Good luck with the route, good to hear you’re on a 29’er as that’s what I was planning to use too.
King Alfreds Way - South Downs Way - Downs Link - Norht Downs Way - Kent Coastal Route - South Downs Way - Tea and Medals as thats going to hurt as its 300 miles
That would be an epic ride mate.👍
It's nice to have some big routes being mapped in the South East isn't it. Long drives to other parts of the country often render a trip impractical for me.
Singletrackmind. Do you reckon leaving the North Downs way at Canterbury and joining the Viking Trail at Whitstable then following the coast all the way round to Eastbourne would work? Most of the coast from Broadstairs to Eastbourne would have a promenade wouldn't it?
Not my local patch so unsure of terrain and surface. I do know my math is way out . 465 miles If you miss out the Downs Link and jump off the KAW and onto the NDW , that route might get you 1000km though. . . . .
Dover to Eastbourne would be Sustrans route #2 so lanes mostly
Would be a great way to spend a week . Start in winchester 350km KAW , then 240km NDW to Dover, then Dover to Eastbourne 110km, then SDW back to Start 160km. 860km so 7 days riding for mere mortals with overnight gear, maybe 5 days if supported / hotels/ your are fit and fast
Next weekend I'm planning Greensand way from Sevenoaks to Oxted, NDW to Guildford (via Peaslake village stores of course), Downslink to Steyning, SDW to Eastbourne then home vis the Cuckoo trail and quiet country roads (evil hills mind you).
Should be around 2 x 8-10hr days. Fingers crossed it happens.
Going for a wander on Tuesday from QECP.
If there is info about taps between Avebury and the tap on the Ridgeway above Idstone, I'd love to know ASAP!
Amesbury, not Avebury.
Hi all
I was looking for a bit of tyre advice:
Am Planning to do this end September over 4 days. Looks great!
Was gonna take my gravel bike (Genesis CdF 10) for its first off road(ish) trip.
I Don’t really know the terrain - I am used to MTB riding the hills of W Yorks/lakes etc with my Salsa full-sus and using the CdF as a tourer so far on lanes/NCNs etc.
I am currently running the original Clement X'Plor USH 700x35c. With tubes
I was thinking of a 40c tyre & lower the psi a bit for a good compromise but need something that can cope with the ?mud ?sand ?flint rock
My wheels are not tubeless ready and I’ve never run tubeless so don’t fancy experimenting with that.
The genesis website suggests 38c is max but I have read lots of folk stick 40c on without problem (will remove my mudguards).
Any recommendations for tyres or setup ideas?
Cheers
Book marking as i fancy this next year. Might need a rigid mtb for it though. My gravel bike tops out at 40mm tyres. Intrested to know how other get on tyres wise
This route looks good to me and something a friend and I would like to do next year in the spring / summer.
I can’t stand camping so it will be a hotel / B&B. Just wondering if it would be a hard ride over two days or ‘okay’? Would doing it over three days be a better option.
I’ve done the SDW in a day and wouldn’t fancy doing it again the day after....... but much prefer the SDW in a day than doing it over two days.
I really think it's best not to worry too much about bike and tyre choice. I've ridden the SDW on 32mm cx tyres and whilst it was rattly on the fast descents it was nice at other times. My fastest bike for this is my racey ful sus but I'll be using a rigid mtb as it's a much loved friend. If you're forced to slow down a bit it just gives you more time to enjoy the moment.
Re tyre choices (@Gniffer). I know the SE corner of the route very well (the SDW part) and the Ridgeway. My tuppence: I'd keep your 35c tyres and tubes as they are. This isn't the roughest section of the SDW but if there's a bit of moisture the mud can be quite sticky so I'd go for the extra clearance over the extra comfort. And IMO the greatest chance of a puncture is from a flint cut not a thorn so going tubeless isn't necessarily a great advantage. I've ridden the SDW section and others on 35c GravelKing SKs and been fine (if careful).
I thought it was a great route, Reading and about 30km after was a bit hey-ho though. It just gets better as you go clockwise from there and I liked how it linked the trails and had a sense of continuity in general.
I think 35mm tyres would be OK if you're taking your time, on a loaded bike though imho it's a 29er job if you want to actually ride the faster sections rather than pick your way down/along. Depends on how long you're riding for each day I suppose, for me a couple of 10hr days on a 29er is comfortable but the same distance/pace on a gravel bike wouldn't be possible - one of those routes where the heavier bike is faster overall.
Lovely open country in the western half / 5pm to 1pm part of the loop. Will go back next year to ride a variation on it I think - plenty of singletrack diversion possibility (some I rode as they're so close to the marked route anyway) and some bits marked as map pins as I rode past. Good work Cycling UK.
Also thinking about this next summer with B&B/hotel stops. Would probably drive over to Devizes or nearby and start clockwise from there. Not sure how to break it up though, just go even split on distance or leave more time for the harder bits? e.g. on paper the south/west looks harder than the north/east parts. Is that the case?
I'd say the SDW is the 'hardest' part. There's some slower-going on the sandy trails of the Goldalming/NDW area and the Ridgeway can be tiring to ride fast. Felt like a fairly even split to me with a section of flat lanes and tracks for ~40km past Reading, that was the easiest bit.
A friend of mine is aiming do do the full loop in under 24hrs, this month. SDW (East-West) this weekend as a tester. Has anyone tried the full loop in one hit and if so, how was it?
Probably looking to do this next year now, but on my gravel bike. Pair of 50mm 650b pirelli cinturato's incoming just in case I get the opportunity to do it earlier. I live fairly close to Avebury so was tempted to go clockwise from there, though sounds as if best ridden clockwise from Winchester...we'll see if I succumb to the call for a 29er in the meantime!
...and definitely not in 24hrs...fair play to those that try!
@caspian, I'd be careful what time you hit the Reading river path section if TTing it and food / water needs research but it seems a very doable under 24hrs if you're capable of the SDW in a day or a Ridgeway double in a reasonable time.
@Gniffer - re tyres, Ive ridden the section between Avebury and Reading on my Whyte Dorset, (disc commute/road bike) with 33mm Racing Ralphs over the summer months. The Ridgeway section is chalky, or grassy, it was super dry when I did it. I was going reverse direction, last section into Avebury beat me up quite a lot!
Not a single puncture, but a lot of razor like flint slices to tyre. I tend to run relative high pressures.
I'd not fancy trying it after several days of rain.
33mm tyres, is that an unloaded bike or with overnight gear on? That makes a big difference ime
Yeah totally, that was an unloaded bike. Just rode that section as a day ride.
EDIT - Might be worth adding. I'm sort of planning to ride same bike to do the loop. Likely split over two weekends though (due to work/availabilty of mates) - Im really not sure how suitable it'll be for the southern section... but in an effort not to procrastinate over it, I might just give it a go before wetter weather arrives.
I think that's where CyclingUK's promotion of the route will catch a few out, they talk about gravel bikes to newer riders and though it's fine on a cx bike for day rides, overloading them us so easy and might make it a bit of a handful for some.