Intro
A BIG new event for Summer 2024, we start on the Malvern Hills AONB and ride south via the Gloucester ship canal to cross the original Severn Bridge for an awesome ride back home back up the Wye Valley.
Local MTB legend Ben Dale has penned this route for us. It is definitely going be another epic that will sit alongside The Gravelton in terms of achievement.
We ran a competition in January to name the event. Darren Bland bagged the bragging rights this time although he was run a close second by Robert whose name describes the event perfectly (Big Ben’s Ball Breaker!), sadly political correctness won in the end.
The Date
Saturday 27th July 2024
The Start & Finish
West of England Quarry Car Park, West Malvern Road, Malvern WR14 4DG
The car park is Pay & Display @ £5.25 All day between 6am & 11pm. Overnight parking is NOT allowed.
The summit finish is atop the Worcestershire Beacon and sits above the car park.
Getting There
If you need to drive to the event, car sharing is positively encouraged. Post on our Facebook pages to arrange this
Getting to Malvern by train is reasonably straightforward. There are two stations in Malvern, I’d recommend Malvern Link. Cycling from there is between 3-4 miles up and round West Malvern to the start.
The RIDE
The ride is not an official event, it’s a self-supported group ride on the same route on the same day. You are on your own. Just rock up and ride with your mates and enjoy the day out on your bike then some food and drink afterwards.
Share your ride with other Graveltonions and join The Gravelton Strava Club
Ride whatever bike you want. Just have fun.
How to Enter
Entry is free, just turn up but I do advise you subscribe to the event’s newsletter to keep in the loop.
The Route
How to download a Gravelton Route
The route is a 186km mixed terrain ride that will test riders mettle. Riders start on the lower slopes of North Hill on the Malvern Hills and traverse them southwards via Hollybush and Hartpury to Gloucester where riders will jump on the canal and scoot through the famous docks and onwards through Frampton, Sharpness and Berkley.
Riders will cross the Severn estuary via The Severn Bridge, a bucket list ride in itself.
In Chepstow, riders turn for home and head up the Wye Valley and enter the 1km long Tidenham Tunnel, the second longest tunnel on the National Cycle Network. The route hugs the banks of the River Wye passing the world famous Tintern Abbey, Monmouth and Symonds Yat.
After Ross-on-Wye riders cross the M50 and hit Ledbury at 170km for the final push to the finish via Colwall and back onto the Malverns for a summit finish atop the Worcestershire Beacon. Epic views! Epic Finish! Epic Ride!
You can download the route here (click on menu, then download)
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2499874?units=km
Highlights
- FREE to enter
- Paid Parking Available
- NO Number
- NO Feed stations
- NO Photographer
- NO Medal
- NO T-Shirt
- Great views
- Various surfaces
- 2400m climbing
- Summit finish
The Rules
- Take your litter home
- Be self-sufficient. There is no backup on the day
- Shut any gates
- It’s not a race, it’s a day out on the bike.
- Be courteous to other trail users. The route is open to the public and it gets narrow in places so be prepared to share your space nicely if you have to. A bell is highly recommended.
- Complaints. That’s a you problem. I’m not interested.
Gallery
