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Bikepacking King Alfred's Way
353km gravel loop from Winchester
Pre-order - Publishing 15 February 2026
This book is available to pre-order. Payment will be taken upfront and your book will be dispatched from our warehouse as soon as it becomes available around the 15 February 2026.
ISBN
9781786312389
Availability
Not Yet Published
Available
15 Feb 2026
Edition
First
Pages
96
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x .60cm
Weight
0g
Delivery & Returns
Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...
Guidebook to bikepacking King Alfred's Way. The 353km circular route from Winchester explores some of England's most iconic landscapes and ancient sites. Devised by Cycling UK, the route is split into 7 stages and is suitable for beginners and experienced riders with a decent level of fitness.
Seasons
Any season, but spring, summer and autumn are best to avoid churning up the trails.Centres
Winchester, Salisbury, Avebury, Reading, Farnham, Liss, LiphookDifficulty
Most of the 7 stages in this guide could be classified as easy, although the final two through the North and South Downs are classified as moderate. The main difficulty comes from the overall distance at 353km.Must See
The route passes through King Alfred’s Anglo-Saxon capital of Winchester and Old Sarum, the haunting Neolithic centre of Salisbury. It includes world-famous sites such as Stonehenge, Salisbury Plain and Avebury, home to the world’s largest stone circle. Walkers will also encounter the chalk White Horse of Uffington, the mysterious Wayland’s Smithy, thought to be a portal to the underworld, and the ancient Ridgeway, one of England’s first great highways. The journey continues across the rolling heathland of the South Downs, with dozens of fantastic pubs and cafés along the way.Pre-order
Publishing 15 February 2026
This book is available to pre-order. Payment will be taken upfront and your book will be dispatched from our warehouse as soon as it becomes available around the 15 February 2026.ISBN
9781786312389
Availability
Not Yet Published
Available
15 Feb 2026
Edition
First
Pages
96
Size
17.20 x 11.60 x .60cm
Weight
0g
Delivery & Returns
Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...
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Overview
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A guidebook to bikepacking King Alfred's Way, a 353km loop in seven stages between 40 and 60km (25-37 miles), with options for wild camping, campsites and accommodation.
Suitable for beginner and experienced MTB and gravel-bike riders, the route was designed by Cycling UK and visits some of the UK's most historic and scenic off-road trails, including the Ridgeway, North Downs Way and South Downs Way.
- Stages graded for difficulty, from easy to moderate
- GPX files available to download
- 1:150,000 maps included for each stage
- Alternative schedules break the route down into between 3 and 7 days
- Handy route summary tables, accommodation listings and wild camping spots help you plan your itinerary
- Easily accessible by train from London and the north and west of the UK
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Table of Contents
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Map key
Route summary table
Alternative schedules: hostels and B&Bs
Alternative schedules: wild camping
Alternative schedules: campsites
Introduction
What is bikepacking?
Planning your ride
What to take
Rights of way
Navigation
Accommodation
Fuel strategies
About the route
Using this guide
The route
Stage 1 Test Valley: Winchester to Old Sarum
Stage 2 Salisbury Plain: Old Sarum to Chirton
Stage 3 Vale of Pewsey and Ridgeway Part I: Chirton to Uffington Castle
Stage 4 Ridgeway Part II and Thames Valley: Uffington Castle to Reading
Stage 5 Forest of Eversley: Reading to Farnham
Stage 6 North Downs: Farnham to Forty Acre Lane
Stage 7 South Downs: Forty Acre Lane to Winchester
Appendix A Accommodation
Appendix B Bike shops
Appendix C Recommended kit lists -
Updates
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We do not yet have any updates available for this book
We are always grateful to readers for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground. If you would like to send some information to us then please use our contact form. They will be published here following review by the author(s).
By Edward Hunton
Ed Hunton grew up in North Devon on the edge of Dartmoor and cycling was his main mode of transport. The unparalleled feeling of freedom his first bike afforded him on his adventures throughout South-West inspired a lifelong passion for cycling. Tours in Italy, Spain, Benelux, France and Cuba followed, with a mixture of campsites, wild camping and pensions being his preferred accommodation. A keen member of Audax, Ed has also completed the Trans Alba (an 800-mile circuit of Scotland), taken part in Bear Bones events and ridden countless sportives.
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