Highlights
- Visiting historic Winchester and its Cathedral (and the King Alfred the Great Statue)
- Enjoying chalky hillsides and rolling countryside
- Riding short, technical ascents and soaring downhill on the South Downs and The Ridgeway
- Escaping from busy southern urban cities on ancient paths and rough tracks
- Biking a mix of undulating terrain on Salisbury Plain and South Downs Way
- Experiencing 10,000 years of history
- Marvelling at Stonehenge
Itinerary
Our journey along King Alfred’s Way begins in the charming cathedral city of Salisbury, Wiltshire, conveniently accessible by both road and rail.
Salisbury is a city worth exploring if you have some extra time on arrival. The magnificent 13th-century cathedral is a must-see, and there are also numerous museums, shops, restaurants, and bars to enjoy. Tonight, we’ll be staying in the heart of Salisbury, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet your guides and fellow travellers over dinner, a perfect start to our adventure together.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 635 Metres Approx.
We leave Salisbury to begin our journey around the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex, which was ruled by Alfred the Great over 1000 years ago. From our hotel, we weave our way through the city along the scenic banks of the River Avon. It doesn’t take long before we hit our first off-road trail, which leads us to the Iron Age fort of Old Sarum – an impressive multi-ring hill fort dating back to 400 BC. From there, we continue onward along bumpy farm tracks and some fun muddy single track bridleways, to one of the UK’s most renowned archaeological sites; Stonehenge. After a brief stop to marvel at this 10,000-year-old stone circle, we venture onto the criss-crossing chalk and gravel tracks across Salisbury Plain, entering an active MOD military firing range.
Navigating around the red flags and artillery zones of Black Heath, the terrain becomes more challenging as we follow rutted paths flanked by wildflower banks, passing through the village of Tilshead and down a fast grassy descent into Chirton. We conclude the day by pedalling along quiet roads and winding tracks into the historic market town of Devizes, Wiltshire’s “hidden gem,” where we’ll enjoy a meal at one of the town’s charming pubs before resting up at our hotel after a rewarding day’s ride.
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 725 Metres Approx.
We begin the day following a nice flat gravel path along the Kennet and Avon Canal, the perfect warm-up for our legs. Our first real challenge comes with the steep ascent of Tan Hill, where ancient earthworks surround us, and the climb rewards us with breathtaking views over the plains, and a long, fun descent down quiet rutted farm tracks to our morning coffee stop in Avebury, home to yet another remarkable historic site; The Great Henge. This stone circle, less famous but perhaps more significant than Stonehenge, is the largest in the world, boasting over 100 stones!
Leaving Avebury, we continue onto the rugged, tussocky track of The Ridgeway, which guides us for the rest of the day. Along the way, we pass landmarks like Barbury Castle and Ogbourne St George. After lunch, we maintain our elevation, skirting the villages of Bishopstone and Ashbury, before reaching White Horse Hill. Here, we can descend to admire the iconic Uffington White Horse from below before completing the final stretch to our accommodation for the evening.
It is thought that King Alfred was born in Wantage, and there is a statue in the centre of the town which makes a great photo opportunity before dinner!
Show Profile- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 580 Metres Approx.
We’ll need a hearty breakfast this morning, as we kick off with an early morning climb straight from our accommodation, ascending back onto the Ridgeway. From there, we enjoy one of the longest continuous off-road sections of the trip, as we pedal our way along 12 miles of chalk grasslands, rutted tracks and gravel byways, before descending to the River Thames and into Goring. We make our way our way through quintessential English countryside, passing charming locks, weirs, churches, and riverside cafes, before reaching the vibrant town of Reading.
Our route avoids the bustling areas and traffic, guiding us along the River Kennet — a tributary of the Thames — via cycle paths, forest tracks, and hidden back lanes. Before long, we leave the town behind and find ourselves on tranquil bridleways. Riding past Wellington Country Park on some surprisingly quiet forest tracks, we soon arrive at our destination in Heckfield, where we can unwind with a pint at a traditional pub and settle in for the evening.
Show Profile- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 900 Metres Approx.
There’s a bit of everything on today’s ride, which is the longest of the week. We start the day on some picturesque tree-lined country roads, then start twisting our way along a sandy singletrack section through Hazeley Heath before we come to Oldiham Common and the remains of WWII tank testing areas.
A short climb and descent take us to Farnham, and its impressive motte & bailey castle, before we hit more sandy heathland trails around Frensham and Thursley Common, and more Iron Age and post-Roman archeological remains. The toughest climb of the day is up onto Hindhead Common but the reward is an amazing view of the rolling Surrey Hills making it well worth it! (not to mention the 5 mile descent to Bramshott).
The final stretch of the day undulates along quiet trails to our accommodation near the bustling village of Liss, where we can relax in the knowledge that the longest and hilliest day is now behind us.
Show Profile- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 865 Metres Approx.
We’ll find ourselves this morning riding on forest tracks and singletrack trails across Rogate Common, crossing into Sussex before joining the South Downs Way at Torberry Hill Fort. From there, we tackle a series of short, steep off-road climbs and descents as we make our way to Queen Elizabeth Country Park.
Next, we ascend to stay high on The Downs ridge, following a mix of bridleways and back roads toward the more challenging terrain around Old Winchester Hill Fort. Our journey then takes us down the exhilarating yet technical descent of Wether Down, navigating steep chalk singletrack while carefully avoiding rare butterflies.
After reaching the Meon Valley railway line in Exton, we face our final significant climb of the day—an on-road ascent up Beacon Hill—before soaring down the aptly named ‘Wheely Down’ and ‘Gander Down’ trails, arriving at the natural amphitheater of Cheesefoot Head.
To reach Winchester, we depart from the South Downs Way, crossing the M3 via gravel tracks and bridleways to St. Catherine’s Hill. From there, a picturesque path leads us directly to Winchester city centre; we’ll ride past Abbey Gardens and the sculpture to commemorate King Alfred on route to our hotel. There should be time to explore Winchester and its spectacular cathedral before dinner this evening.
Show Profile- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
- Ascent: 455 Metres Approx.
Our final day is the shortest, allowing us time to explore Salisbury and unwind after a week of riding.
We begin by leaving Winchester, gently climbing out of the suburbs onto singletrack roads and ancient trails, passing by prehistoric earthworks and picturesque villages. We then descend into King’s Somborne and the scenic Test Valley, known for its shallow tributaries and tranquil ponds, as well as its muddy singletrack paths and rough byways which we follow before tackling a short but steep climb onto Broughton Down, where we’ll have a view of Danebury Hill Fort, one of the most extensively excavated hill forts in the UK.
After the climb, we‘re rewarded with a fantastic descent along gravel and dirt trails on the Monarch’s Way, an ancient Roman road that almost seems custom-built for our mountain bikes’ chunky tires! Weaving westward through fields and woodlands we head up onto Porton Down, an area rich in military history, which brings us back to Old Sarum, a familiar landmark from our first day’s ride.
The final 3 miles take us past Castle Hill and into the heart of Salisbury, where we’ll have time to explore this impressive cathedral city or simply relax after a week of adventure. In the evening, we’ll gather for a final meal to celebrate completing an epic 350km loop on the mountain bike!
Show Profile- Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, we all go our separate ways. For those travelling by train we offer a transfer back to Salisbury train station. For those extending their stay, there is plenty to explore in and around Salisbury.
Understanding Profiles
Use these profiles to see:
- Distance in Km (horizontal axis)
- Ascent / Descent in metres (vertical axis)
Click 'see gradient' to see:
- Distance in Km (horizontal axis)
- % Gradient (vertical axis)
Please check the scales on both graphs, and both axes as they both may differ from day to day.
White vertical lines indicate unpaved sections or slightly rougher terrain. Using both graphs, alongside the grading and terrain information provided, will give you a full picture of how flat, bumpy or steep the climbing on your particular tour is going to be. Please keep in mind this is an indicative guide and GPS units and software produce different statistical information.
Gallery
The Cycling
Terrain
King Alfred’s Way is best suited to those with good off-roading skills, and a good level of fitness, as there are a few steep climbs and descents, and daily distances vary between around 45 to 80 km (30 to 50 miles) a day. We recommend mountain bikes for this tour (hardtail or full sus) as they will make for more comfortable riding, particularly on the rougher and sometimes rutted descents, and in the event of adverse weather conditions.
The terrain is very varied, but as with any mountain biking trails, you can expect to come across loose surfaces, ruts and tree routes, grassy descents and some sections can be particularly slippery when wet, especially on the Ridgeway and Salisbury Plains. The vast majority of the route should be rideable, depending on conditions, but there are a few technical sections where you may have to get off and push.
It is possible to use an electric mountain bike on this holiday, which would be particularly beneficial to those wanting an extra boost to get up some of the tougher climbs.
Please note, e-bikes are generally heavier than standard mountain bikes, which is worth considering when handling the bike over some of the rougher and more technical terrain.
If you plan on hiring an e-MTB, it should not be ridden beyond your own technical ability level on a standard mountain bike. Chat to us if you would like to rent or bring your own. For more information about riding an e-MTB on our holidays please click here
The King Alfred’s Way uses one of Cycling UK’s seven long distance routes. Cycling UK is a charity organisation that campaigns for a cleaner, happier and healthier world. Their aim is to encourage people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to cycle safely, easily, and enjoyably throughout the UK. Public campaigns and route development are just a few of the ways that Cycling UK looks to support cyclists across the country.
When you book this holiday, you’ll have the option to donate to Cycling UK to help maintain this route and others like it. Additionally, Skedaddle will be making a 5p donation for every mile ridden on this holiday for each of our customers.
Mountain Biking Grade
Distances of 25-50 miles / 40-80 kms per day
Aimed at regular cyclists who have a degree of off road experience
Some moderate and difficult technical sections
Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!
For more information about our grading system click here.
Is this suitable for you?
If you have some experience of off road riding on a variety of terrain, and would like to do more, a grade 3 trip could be for you. These rides give you elements of our higher grade trips but at a manageable level with sections of singletrack (narrow trails wide enough for one rider) and shorter steep sections (both up and down) which require more bike handling ability. A day’s ride can see you on the trails for around 8 hours (with breaks) and covering between 25-50 miles depending on the terrain. If you’re generally fit and manage to ride regularly this could be the level for you.
For more information about the grading of this holiday in particular, please check out the terrain section which will give you some specifics of what to expect on this tour.
Dates & Prices
Secure Your Holiday With A Deposit
Book now with a $375 deposit and nothing more to pay until 60 days before departure. Choose a date to start your booking and see all prices, including bike hire and single room supplements.
Whats Included
A) Accommodation (shared twin / double en suite rooms)
B) Meals as itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
C) Full support service including a guide qualified in First Aid and a back up vehicle carrying spares, snacks and extra equipment not needed on your bike
D) GPX files available upon request
E) Scheduled train station transfers on arrival and departure days
F) Financial Protection through ABTOT
What's not Included
A) Bike and helmet rental (available if required)
B) Travel or flight costs or charges for travelling with your bike (if applicable)
C) Meals not stated in the itinerary
D) Single room (available if required)
E) Travel insurance
F) Personal clothing and equipment
G) Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills, hotel facilities etc)
H) Entrance fees to cultural or historical sites and visitor centres
I) Other optional activities
Private Departures
Are you keen to only travel with your family or friends? Struggling to find the right date? Well, we can organise a private departure for this tour and tailor aspects to suit your group's specific needs. Contact our friendly team and we'll help you turn your dream into reality.
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