Revealing the UK’s Most Beautiful Gravel Biking Trails

The summer season season and early autumn months provide the most effective local weather circumstances for gravel biking — an exhilarating, off-road experience for the adventurous bicycle proprietor. Initially gaining repute throughout the US, due to undisturbed patches of powerful terrain that stretch for miles, gravel biking is a relatively new phenomenon proper right here throughout the UK. 

With the sport being such a modern addition on our aspect of the pond, you could be questioning the place it’s possible you’ll give gravel biking a try. Thankfully, we’ve come prepared — bringing you most likely essentially the most gorgeous gravel biking trails all through the nation. 

Using a seed document of gravel trails from throughout the UK, we analysed Instagram hashtags to search out out which trails are most likely essentially the most intently photographed, being shared on-line for his or her picturesque environment and thrilling packages. So, with out further ado, let’s take a look at quite a lot of essentially the most scenic gravel bike trails!

The UK’s Prime 10 Instagrammable Gravel Trails

1. South Downs Hyperlink, Winchester, South East England – 413,825 hashtags 

In first place is the South Downs Hyperlink path, located in South East England. This gravel path comprises 37 miles of off-road monitor by the attractive Sussex countryside, following an abandoned railway line. As a relatively fast path, the Downs Hyperlink is true for a day throughout the Good Exterior. 

Starting in St Martha’s Hill, near Guildford, and ending in Shoreham-by-Sea on the West Sussex coast, this path takes you via open terrain that covers largely flat ground — making it acceptable for cyclists of all experience ranges. In entire, there have been over 413,825 hashtags promoting this gravel path on Instagram.

2. North Yorkshire Moors Ramble, Yorkshire, North England – 200,875 hashtags

Subsequent in our breakdown of the UK’s most Instagrammable gravel trails is the North Yorkshire Moors Ramble, located throughout the North of England. This looping monitor is right for prolonged weekends, spanning 199 miles of blended terrains — along with inclines, open stretches, and mediaeval flagstone paths. This path is designed with expert cyclists in ideas and is anticipated to take spherical 4 days to complete. 

The ramble begins and ends throughout the historic fishing port metropolis of Whitby, providing nice hospitality to get you in your technique. We found 200,875 Instagram hashtags for this gravel path — and it’s not troublesome to see why. Alongside the route, you’ll experience breathtaking views of the surrounding Jurassic cliffs and the North Sea shoreline, making this a journey to remember. 

3. Cannock Chase, Rugeley, West Midlands – 162,159 hashtags

This subsequent gravel path is right if high-speed endurance biking is additional of your forte. Cannock Chase is a short 74 km gravel monitor located throughout the Midlands. Mixing scenic forest paths and quiet nation once more roads, this path matches all experience ranges. It presents an excellent different for these looking for to place collectively for bigger, tougher tracks later throughout the season. Proper right here, you’ll uncover a healthful combination of open flat stretches and thrilling inclines, making for an exhilarating journey fitted to those with busier life. 

For individuals who’re in quest of a weekend away, the shut by Tackeroo Campsite presents free tenting on Friday nights, making the Cannock Chase path wonderful for transient biking breaks with household and buddies. We found that, in entire, 162,159 Instagram hashtags have been used for this path, proving its repute amongst cyclists and budding photographers alike.

4. The West Highland Technique, Milngavie, Scotland – 152,524 hashtags

In fourth place is one among Scotland’s most beloved gravel biking routes — the West Highland Technique. This 96-mile monitor stretches between Milngavie and Fort William and takes you via the Scottish highlands, offering a great deal of troublesome terrain and scenic views. 

Designed for the additional expert cyclists, this path will take you all through many landscapes — along with loch shorelines, open moorlands, steep mountains, and open countryside. We found 152,524 Instagram hashtags for this location, proving its continued repute with cyclists yr after yr.

5. The Ridgeway, The Chilterns, South East England – 98,123 hashtags

The fifth most Instagrammed gravel biking path is The Ridgeway, current in Chiltern throughout the South East of England. Spanning all through Britain’s oldest road, The Ridgeway covers over 87 miles of scenic open countryside that takes you earlier historic hill forts and presents unrivalled panoramic views. 

For educated riders, this path will likely be lined in merely in some unspecified time in the future. Nonetheless, for a lot of cyclists, this could should be conquered over a two-to-three-day journey at a additional leisurely tempo. In entire, The Ridgeway has 98,123 Instagram hashtags — with many choosing to share this path’s magnificence on-line.

6. Elan Valley Loop, Elan Valley, Wales – 66,259 hashtags

Subsequent is the Elan Valley Loop, located in its Welsh namesake, the Elan Valley. This 50-mile loop presents attractive views of the native landmarks — along with Devil’s Bridge, the Claerwen reservoir and the Victorian dams near Rhayader. You’ll start and finish the trail at Llangurig, near the head of the river Wye. You’ll cross Cambrian mountains and big, open terrain alongside the route, providing a novel journey. 

Due to the hilly nature of this path, freshmen are steered to proceed with warning and unfold the journey over quite a lot of days if wished. These with earlier experience will uncover the Elan Valley Loop troublesome nonetheless not troublesome. We found 66,259 Instagram hashtags for this path in entire, which isn’t a shock — considering the rich panorama surrounding the gravel pathway!

7. Kielder Forest, Hexham, North East England – 41,800 hashtags

In seventh place is Kielder Forest, located throughout the Northumberland Nationwide Park and easily north of the village of Alwinton. This forest path is the correct setting for a weekend of adverse time trials and rugged terrain. The monitor runs by England’s largest forest, comprising 90% off-road routes. Choose between the 159 km path for expert riders or the shorter, barely easier 59 km for these newer to gravel biking. 

Flip your path proper right into a weekend journey merely, due to its prime location, which provides entry to quite a lot of native inns and tenting decisions. We found 41,800 Instagram hashtags for this path, undoubtedly on account of picturesque woodland setting.

8. The Taff Path, Cardiff, Wales – 19,256 hashtags

The eighth most gorgeous UK gravel biking circuit is The Taff Path, stretching for 55 miles between the attractive Welsh metropolis of Brecon and the stylish metropolis of Cardiff. In your route, you’ll traverse all through a mixture of riverside paths, forest roads, and railway aspect tracks. Due to its numerous terrains, sturdier bike fashions are steered — considerably these with a strengthened suspension system. 

There’s heaps to see alongside the easiest way to Cardiff, from sprawling Welsh countryside to castles which have jumped straight out of a fairytale. We found 19,256 Instagram hashtags for this bike path, demonstrating its repute with cyclists of all experience ranges.

9. The Hebridean Technique, Isle of Vatersay, Scotland – 13,160 hashtags

In ninth place is the second Scottish entry on this document, The Hebridean Technique. Located in Scotland’s rural Outer Hebrides, this path is definitely in distinction to each different. Spanning 297 km all through ten Scottish islands, this troublesome route is true for a bikepacking journey with buddies. You’ll start your journey on the Isle of Vatersay, ending throughout the Butt of Lewis. Alongside the easiest way, you’ll use ferries and causeways to island-hop as you head in route of your final trip spot. On frequent, this path takes between 5-6 days to complete, counting on experience stage. 

Due to its extended and troublesome terrain, The Hebridean Technique is de facto useful for expert gravel cyclists in quest of their subsequent journey. Complete, we discovered 13,160 Instagram hashtags for this distinctive cycle path, which isn’t surprising, with such breathtaking environment to be cherished at every stage of your journey.

10. Pennine Bridleway, Derbyshire, North England – 4,433 Instagram hashtags

Ultimate nonetheless under no circumstances least is the final word gravel path on our document, Pennine Bridleway. This 186-mile behemoth will carry you via the long-lasting Pennine Hills, situated throughout the North of England. You’ll be dealt with to historic ruins and quaint, picturesque cities alongside the easiest way. The route takes a imply of 5 days to complete, making it the correct downside for an extra-long weekend with household and buddies. 

Whereas this route is way from beginner-friendly, these with some prior experience in gravel biking will profit from the twists and turns of this path as a result of it guides you via quite a lot of essentially the most gorgeous environment throughout the nation. We found 4,433 Instagram hashtags for this route, with many cyclists determined to share the sights with others on-line.

5 Expert Concepts for Biking on Gravel

For individuals who’re new to biking on gravel and undecided the place to begin out, there’s no should panic. We’ve gathered our prime solutions from our resident gravel biking educated — Joe Holden, Showroom Supervisor at Merlin Cycles — that can aid you take pleasure in this thrilling sport whereas prioritising your safety.

1. Preserve relaxed

Staying relaxed when gravel biking is important for every safety and delight. In the event you’re tense, your reactions can become jerky, rising the prospect of dropping administration on the unpredictable terrain. By staying calm and relaxed, you protect increased steadiness and are additional attuned to the altering circumstances beneath your tyres. This allows for smoother navigation by gravel and totally different uneven surfaces. Moreover, a relaxed mindset will present assist to protect vitality, enabling you to journey longer and with additional focus. That’s notably crucial for gravel trails, as many embrace sharp turns, inclines, and totally different troublesome choices.

Joe explains, “by way of gravel biking, staying relaxed isn’t nearly comfort; it’s moreover about administration. Holding a relaxed method permits riders to adapt to the ever-changing terrain with finesse and confidence, guaranteeing a safer and additional nice journey.”

2. Flip collectively along with your weight, not the handlebars

Utilising your physique weight to impress turns whereas gravel biking presents an a variety of benefits over relying solely on the bike’s handlebars. Chances are you’ll protect increased traction and stability by leaning your physique into the flip, notably on unfastened gravel surfaces the place sudden actions may end up in lack of administration. 

This technique permits for smoother transitions and additional atmosphere pleasant cornering, as a result of it engages your full bike and makes use of pure momentum physics to your profit. Furthermore, using your weight helps to chop again stress on the bike’s steering components, prolonging their lifespan and reducing the prospect of mechanical factors mid-ride.“In gravel biking, mastering the paintings of using your physique weight to navigate turns is essential. By leaning into the corners, riders can protect administration and circulation by numerous terrains with precision,” says Joe. “This ensures that you simply’ve a additional nice and exhilarating experience on the gravel roads and minimises your chances of skidding uncontrolled — which has the potential to result in injury.”

3. Ease off the doorway brake

In the event you’re gravel biking, exercising warning with the doorway brake is vital to maintain up administration and stability on unpredictable terrain. In distinction to on paved roads, the place the doorway brake will likely be utilized additional aggressively for quick stops, gravel surfaces require a gentler contact. Using an extreme quantity of entrance brake on unfastened gravel may trigger the wheel to lock up, leading to skidding and potential lack of administration. Furthermore, many gravel tracks embrace steep inclines and drops. Using an extreme quantity of entrance brake on a downhill might find yourself within the bike tipping forward, ensuing within the potential of wounding your self. By recurrently making use of the doorway brake whereas distributing braking energy to the rear wheel, riders can efficiently decelerate with out compromising stability.

4. Preserve seated by way of the climbs

Remaining seated whereas climbing hills on a gravel bike allows you to be rather more atmosphere pleasant collectively along with your vitality utilization all through your journey. By staying seated, riders can increased utilise their physique weight to maintain up traction on the rear wheel, stopping it from slipping on unfastened gravel surfaces. This moreover permits for a smoother pedalling motion, which helps protect vitality all through prolonged climbs. “When tackling hills on gravel, staying seated is the key. By remaining throughout the saddle, riders can protect increased administration and traction, optimising their climbing effectivity whereas minimising the prospect of wheel spin on troublesome terrain,” Joe explains.

5. Distribute your weight

Efficiently distributing your weight is important in gravel biking for quite a few causes. Appropriate weight distribution ensures that tyres protect fixed contact with the underside, maximising traction and stability on uneven surfaces. It’s vital for braking, too; by shifting weight in route of the rear all through braking, riders cease the doorway wheel from skidding, enabling additional managed stops. 

When descending, shifting weight in route of the rear helps cease the bike from tipping forward, sustaining steadiness and administration all by way of your journey. Furthermore, leaning backwards assists in lifting the doorway wheel over any obstacles, reducing the prospect of getting caught or dropping momentum on uneven terrain. 

Gravel biking made simple with Merlin Cycles

Can you put your pedals to the examine and get started in your gravel biking journey? At Merlin Cycles, we’ve a variety of state-of-the-art gravel bikes notably designed to journey on uneven terrain with out inflicting damage to the suspension, braking, or totally different bike components. 

For individuals who plan on taking on one in every of many tougher trails on this document, we’ve the correct biking tools to pack your requirements on an extended journey, along with pannier baggage and must-have helmets to take care of you protected on any ground.

Methodology

UK gravel biking trails have been gathered from a seed document created by Liv Biking. These trails have been then used to hunt for hashtags on the social media platform, Instagram. Trails have been ranked primarily based totally on the number of Instagram hashtags they acquired. All data was collected in May 2024 and was proper on the time of writing.