Gravel cycling continues to grow in popularity, as cyclists trade traffic and tarmac for more rugged adventures off the beaten track.
From fast and furious races to chilled weekend festivals of cycling, there's a gravel event for you. Here's our pick of some of the best UK rides to get in your diary for 2025.
1. Shackleford Turkey Burner - 11 January 2025
We love getting an early event into the calendar, and the Turkey Burner is an ideal way to kick-start your year after the festive break.
Choose from three courses ranging from 29km to 48km starting in the village of Shackleford near Guildford. Don't be fooled by the relatively short distances: the signed routes take you through some of the best trails in the Hangers and pack in plenty of punchy climbs!
The Trailbreak team will be waiting back at event HQ with hot food and drinks at the ready.
2. Dirty Reiver - 25-27 April 2025
The Dirty Reiver needs little introduction: it has established itself as probably the UK's best known gravel race, attracting hundreds of cyclists to Kielder Castle Forest Park in Northumberland each April.
Choose from the full 200km Dirty Reiver, the shorter Dirty One Thirty (130km) or the Dirty Sixty Fiver (65km). All routes feature plenty of ups and downs on forest gravel roads with regular feed stations along the way. Between checkpoints you're on your own, enjoying spectacular views of this remote region around the Scottish frontier.
The Reiver also welcomes e-bikes, with the Dirt-E-Reiver inviting riders to let rip on the 65km course.
Entries open on 1 December 2024.
3. Muck 'N Mac Fest - 2-4 May 2025
Muck n' Mac Fest is a weekend gravel riding festival staged at Traquair House in the heart of the Tweed Valley.
The festival features two fantastic days of gravel riding across some of Scotland's best gravel trails ('muck') and roads (that's the 'mac').
Both days riding start and finish at the festival Village at Traquair House with multiple Enduro-style timed stages. Alongside the riding, you'll be treated to an array of live music, family activities, yoga, introductory bike sessions for kids and much more throughout the weekend.
4. The Gravel Rally - 2-4 May 2025
The Gravel Rally is a new weekend event from the organisers of the Pan Celtic Race.
Running over May bank holiday weekend, the rally is set in Eryri National Park in North Wales. The programme includes a short night stage on Friday followed by a choice of long or a short stage on the Saturday.
Riders will race over timed sections (8 on the long course, 6 on the short) in an enduro-style battle to top the leaderboard.
Camping will be available on site, including hire of a bell tent for those looking for a touch of relative luxury, along with food, beer and a party atmosphere.
5. North London Dirt - TBC May 2025
Acclaimed by our friends at Gravel Union as their favourite event, North London Dirt is fast attaining cult status with entries last year selling out "faster than Glastonbury".
The 70-mile route expertly weaves together urban back lanes and paths into an unexpected treat - and the funds raised help support St Mary's Community Centre in Stoke Newington, so it's all in a good cause.
Follow the NLD instagram account for details of the 2025 edition.
www.instagram.com/northlondondirt
6. The Gralloch - 17 May 2025
Combining a race, a one-day gravel classic and the first UCI Gravel World Series event to be hosted in Britain, The Gralloch launched in 2023 and looks set to quickly establish itself at the heart of the UK gravel racing calendar.
Event HQ is in Gatehouse of Fleet in South West Scotland ("gralloch" is a Scots word for the guts of a deer) and the hilly route criss-crosses Galloway Forest Park in the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere.
It's also a qualification event for the UCI Gravel World Championships, with the top finishers earning the right to compete in the end-of-year champs in Nice in October.
7. The Tor Divide - 17-18 May 2025
Returning after a successful debut in 2024, The Tor Divide is a non-competitive, unsupported, single-stage, fixed-route event crossing the Peak District along trails, bridleways, singletrack and quiet scenic roads.
The name is inspired by the mother of all bikepacking events, the "Tour Divide" and the word "Tor" (hill or rocky peak) which you'll find in abundance in the Peak District.
Three routes are on offer, 250km, 150km and a less technical 225km route to suit different levels of fitness and skills. The routes will share the start/finish point as well as most of the highlights.
There's a 32-hour limit to be classed as a finisher, but riders are equally welcome to take their time and enjoy the scenery. Organiser Valerio Stuart has designed the event to showcase the rugged beauty of his local Peak District while also serving as a handy gateway into the world of bikepacking and ultra racing...
Could be a slippery slope - be warned!
8. Rebound Gravel - 31 May 2025
"It is time to (re)discover your own region, build your own route and crush as much gravel as possible. Together, we'll make this the largest and most famous gravel event in the world. And best of all: it starts at your doorstep."
This is Rebound, a DIY event that launched in 2024 with the aim to be the world's biggest gravel cycling extravaganza. The goal is to plot your own gravel adventure, from 25km to 320km, and register at the event website for a chance to win some great prizes - including entry to the daddy of all gravel races, Unbound in Kansas.
With no entry fee and few rules (post-ride celebration is mandatory) Rebound is a gravel challenge unlike any other - don't miss it!
9. Rapha Pennine Rally - TBC 2025
"Part long-distance audax, part multi-day stage race; half cross course, half hill-climb, the Pennine Rally is a mud-spattered mongrel of a ride," say organisers Rapha.
"But for those brave enough to enter, all manner of rewards lie in wait high on the fells and deep in the forests on our self-supported gravel adventure along Britain's mountainous backbone."
Having ridden the first edition in 2021, we can confirm all of the above is true. The route from Edinburgh to Manchester is a scenic feast taking in everything from gravel roads, byways, rocky drovers' trails and bridleways - with a generous dollop of quiet rural tarmac too for relief.
> Party pace with just a hint of race: Rapha Pennine Rally 2021 report >
Riders navigate their own way along the course using the GPX files provided; there are three check points en route, and the ride is self-supported - entrants must find their own food and accommodation along the way, with wild camping encouraged.
Entry is by application with typically just 125 places on offer. A 2025 edition has yet to be confirmed, but we'll update as soon as we hear news.
10. Frontier 300 - 7 June 2025
First held in 2020, the Frontier 300 shakes up the familiar coast-to-coast format with a tasty side order of gravel and bikepacking. Starting at sunrise on the west coast of Scotland, the 300km trail winds across country to finish in a brunch party on the east coast.
Terrain is a 50/50 mix of tarmac and offroad, with feed stations along the way - including the option to grab a few hours sleep at the 270km mark. With a fantastic weekend in prospect we can see this event selling out fast...
11. Gritfest - TBC 2025
Gritfest is a weekend-long event promising 125km of mixed terrain mayhem in Mid Wales. Open to all off-road bikes, the course is 70% off-road and split over two stages, each with enduro-style timed sections: a 65km / 1250m loop of the Upper Towy Valley on day 1, followed by a 53km / 1200m course on the Sunday.
Saturday night sees live entertainment in the event village and with kids' activities and a festive atmosphere it's very much a family friendly event - even if everyone's secretly turned up just to race...
2025 details TBC.
12. Grand Old Dukes Gravel Fondo - 15 June 2025
Grand Old Dukes is a long-distance challenge in Gravelfoyle on Sunday the 15th of June 2025.
At 111 miles long with over 10,000ft of climbing we're talking one of the biggest one-day gravel challenges in the UK. Run by the team behind the Dukes Weekender, you can make a weekend of this one too - there will be a Social Saturday which includes a shorter 50 mile Demi-G.O.D ride as well as food and films on the Saturday night.
"Inspired by the iconic Dukes Pass which takes you from Aberfoyle on the edge of the National Park into the very heart of the Trossachs we have created a brand-new monster route which is predominantly off-road," say the organisers.
"You'll be rewarded with open vistas and panoramic views of our iconic lochs and mountains...and of course excellent riding."
Looks like one to pop in the diary...
13. Stone Circle - 27-29 June 2025
"Like Unbound...but with Druids" (Francis Cade), the Stone Circle will return for a third edition with a route that takes in Stonehenge on the summer solstice.
Three options return: 220km, 130km and 80km. Expect a spectacular day of gravel riding with a festival vibe at the finish in Salisbury's historical Old Sarum.
> Hotchillee hit the gravel jackpot: Ekoi Stone Circle report >
While original organisers hotchillee are no more, the expertly designed course will likely stay true to the winning formula, with long sections of 'hero gravel' on the Salisbury Plains, a rolling landscape of forest, trails and back roads - with feed stations and mechanics on hand to keep you racing the sunset.
An epic day out and highly recommended. Entries open 21 November.
14. Yorkshire Coast Dirt Dash - 28-29 June 2025
Explore the rugged beauty of the Yorkshire Coast, the North York Moors National Park and Yorkshire Wolds with this new event for 2025.
Like its sister events the Dunoon Dirt Dash (TBC September 2025) and Cateran Dirt Dash (3-4 May 2025) expect a weekend of fresh air and adventure with a likeminded bunch of fun-seeking cyclists.
A scenic 91-mile (147km) course split over two days makes this an accessible intro to bikepacking, with dinner, a campsite and breakjfast included in the £95 entry fee.
From laying on a venison and goat grill-out or a "music taxi' to ferry your ukulele to the pop-up pub, these guys know how to party - there's a reason their events sell out each year.
15. CX Century: The South Downs Way 100 - 5 July 2025
CX Sportive run a series of excellent off-road challenges, but we've picked out the CX Century for our list as the route is a British classic. Riding the South Downs Way is a rite of passage in mountain biking circles, and completing the 100-mile course from Winchester to Eastbourne in a day is a feat to be reckoned with. MTBs are permitted but if you want the medal you'll need to do it on a fully rigid frame - suspension is cheating here.
There's a shorter 100km option on offer too (and trust us, that's plenty) but with route marking, mechanical support and feed stations laid on, you'll never get a better chance to tick off this iconic ride.
16. Gravel Rocks - 11-13 July 2025
Gravel Rocks returns for another three-day cycling festival hosted by Focal Events, organisers of The Dirty Reiver.
Taking place 11-13 July 2025 amid the rolling grounds of the Duncombe Park Estate, North Yorkshire, expect a weekend of epic riding and party vibes for all the family.
> Ride report: Gravel Rocks 2024 >
Friday night sees 'Gravel Rocks in the Dark' kick things off with two timed special segments in and around the estate. Saturday is race day: a single loop through classic North York Moors riding terrain with moorland trails, singletrack descents and further timed stages.
Sunday is a chance to kick back and enjoy some social riding. With free family & supporter events throughout the weekend there is plenty for everyone.
The event village includes food, showers, bar, camping and evening entertainment and a gravel expo where headline partners Crankbrothers will be joined by Ergon, Tifosi, Exposure Lights, Panaracer, Cliff and Spookton Brewery.
It all adds up to a weekend of Gravel that Rocks!
17. GBDuro - 9-18 August 2025
GBDuro is the UK's ultimate gravel ride: a 2000km "bikepacking enduro" from Lands End in Cornwall, all the way up to the John o Groats on the northern tip of Scotland.
The course follows the Racing Collective's GB Divide route and takes in road, gravel, singletrack "and everything in between". Past editions have seen the route divided into four timed stages, but in 2024 organisers The Racing Collective have shaken things up and the race is now one single, ultra-long stage.
While it is a race there are no prizes - simply completing is an achievement worth celebrating.
For an idea of what to expect, check out the excellent short film of Lachlan Morton's 2019 race on YouTube.
If that's a bit much to be starting with, The Racing Collective also run a series of similar but shorter events across England, Scotland and Wales: check out the programme of Trials at their website.
18. Devon Grit - 24 August 2025
If you're looking for something closer to a traditional sportive, but on gravel, then Devon Grit might hit the spot.
This one-day event from Sportiva offers a choice of four East Devon routes, with highlights including Woodbury Castle and some great singletrack on Woodbury Common, a section of the Exe Estuary path, a climb up for views of the sea at the top of Beacon Hill and also Mutter Moor.
The routes aren't fully signed so you'll need a GPS computer, but aside from that you'll find familiar trimmings including chip timing, feed stations, event t-shirt and a broom wagon - just in case you overdo it on the quiche and pie at the feed stops...
19. Raiders Gravel - TBC 2025
"Race or ride", it's your choice on Raiders Gravel which runs over three stages on some of the UK's best gravel trails in Scotland's Galloway Forest Park.
The event is named for the Raiders Road, a 16km gravel trail which features in each of the three stages.
The event is open to teams of two or solo riders, with separate starts each day for the racers and those looking to enjoy the scenery at a more leisurely pace.
With a social ride the day before the action begins, and a festival back at event HQ each evening, Raiders Gravel shoots for the "optimal mix of competition, adventure, exertion, culture and relaxation."
Details for 2025 are TBC, watch this space for updates.
20. Graean Cymru - 6-7 September 2025
Launched in 2024, Graean Cymru is the UK's second qualifying race (after The Gralloch) for the UCI Gravel World Championships.
It's organised by Glorious Gravel, the experienced team behind the UK's leading series of gravel sportives. Based on the shores of Llyn Brenig in north Wales, it looks set to establish itself as one of the country's top gravel events.
> Graean Cymru report: Eating dirt with the UK's elite gravel racers >
The 113km course is 99% gravel, with two laps of Llyn Brenig reservoir and then a long and rolling section in Clocaenog Forest. It features over 2000m of climbing which will test even the strongest riders.
Expect wide, fast gravel forest tracks with some sections of twisty singletrack mixed in to spive things up.
The finishing straight is a 1km sprint along the shores of the lake, which Glorious Gravel reckon is one of the most scenic event finishes to be found anywhere.
21. Struggle Borderlands Gravel - 14 September 2025
"At the Northern borderlands of the beautiful yet brutal Yorkshire Dales is the playground for our awesome gravel challenge," say organisers Struggle of their first off-road event.
"Borderlands boasts off-the-scale scenes with 360 degree views as you ride up and down dales. This is no blast along bridleways! With jaw-clenching climbs and testing terrain, Borderlands is your next test of fitness as you explore beyond the asphalt."
Sounds good to us - and there's a road version the day before, if you fancy making a weekend of it.
2025 details coming soon.
22. Lakelander Gravel Grinder - 4 October 2025 (TBC)
Ireland's premier gravel cycling event, the Lakelander Gravel Grinder takes riders on a gravel rampage through the forests of County Fermanagh.
The routes - Big Dog 100k and Little Dog 50k - sweep through seven UNESCO heritage forests with up to 1880 metres of elevation, while providing stunning views of countryside and even a Game of Thrones film set.
> Ireland's Premier Gravel Ride: Lakelander Gravel Grinder 2021 report >
> Ride report: Lakelander Gravel Grinder 2022 >
Gravel, cyclocross, MTB and eBikes are all welcome, with a laid-back atmosphere and first-class support making for a memorable day out.
Now firmly established as top dog on the Irish gravel scene, are you up for the challenge?
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