Escape the city and explore the wild off-road landscapes of southern and eastern England on 12 gravel bikepacking routes, from the ancient forest tracks of the New Forest and the rolling downs of Surrey and Kent to the wide skies and heathland of the Suffolk coast and the remote beaches of Norfolk. All easily accessible by train from London within one to two hours, these routes reveal a surprisingly wild side to the South East.

Suitable for beginner and experienced gravel and mountain bike riders alike, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook describes 12 graded routes ranging from 69 to 249km (40–155 miles), designed to be ridden over one to four days. All routes are well served for accommodation and facilities, and include the Cantii Way, a multi-day bikepacking route through Kent.

• Choose from 12 graded gravel bikepacking routes across southern and eastern England, covering the New Forest, Isle of Wight, Surrey Hills, Chiltern Hills, Kent Downs, East Sussex, Kent, Essex, Suffolk coast, and Norfolk, with routes ranging from 69 to 249km (40–155 miles).
• Discover the highlights of South East gravel bikepacking, including the technical singletrack of Epping Forest, the iconic White Cliffs of Dover, the bleak beauty of Dungeness beach, views from Brightstone Down to the Needles on the Isle of Wight, and the heathland of the Suffolk coast.
• Tackle the Cantii Way, a multi-day bikepacking route through Kent, alongside 11 long-weekend adventures designed to be ridden over one to four days, with routes suitable for beginner and experienced gravel and mountain bike riders alike.
• Navigate with confidence using 1:150,000 maps and elevation profiles included for each stage, alongside GPX files available to download for all 12 routes.
• Plan your South East bikepacking adventure with handy route summary tables, comprehensive accommodation listings, a full bike shop appendix, and recommended kit lists to help you prepare thoroughly for every ride.
• Access every route easily by train from London, with all 12 routes reachable within one to two hours and practical getting there and around information provided throughout the guide.

Take on the gravel tracks, bridleways, and forest trails of southern and eastern England with confidence using this trusted Cicerone guidebook. From the Surrey Hills to the Suffolk coast, this is the essential companion for bikepacking adventures on your doorstep.

Bikepacking: South East Gravel – Quick Facts

Location: England – southern and eastern England, including Surrey, Kent, Sussex, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, the Chilterns, the New Forest, and the Isle of Wight
Routes covered: 12 graded gravel bikepacking routes (69–249km/40–155 miles)
Typical duration: 1–4 days per route
Difficulty: Graded for all abilities; the Chilterns, Surrey Hills, and Kent Downs offer challenging singletrack and hike-a-bike sections; Suffolk and Essex routes are less demanding but no less rewarding
Bike type: Suitable for gravel bikes and mountain bikes
Routes included: New Forest, Isle of Wight, Surrey Hills, Chiltern Hills, Kent Downs, East Sussex/Kent, Kent/Sussex Coast, Kent, London/Essex, Essex/Suffolk, Suffolk Coast, Norfolk, plus the Cantii Way through Kent
Highlights: Epping Forest singletrack, White Cliffs of Dover, Dungeness beach, Brightstone Down and the Needles, Suffolk Coast heathland, ruined castles, and country pubs throughout the region
Navigation/mapping: 1:150,000 maps and elevation profiles included for each stage; GPX files available to download
Accommodation & logistics: Comprehensive accommodation appendix, bike shop listings, recommended kit lists, and practical public transport information for all routes
Best time to go: Year-round; avoid wet winter days when ground conditions can deteriorate on off-road sections

Author Highlight

“This guide distils a decade of exploring the wildest places in the south-east in search of bikepacking adventures and epic gravel rides. For those short of time, some routes can be completed in a day or a day and a half, providing a wild adventure without taking up a whole weekend or cutting into your annual leave. If you only have a single day to play with, the Big Gravel Days are suggestions for a long day out on the bike: without the extra kit, you can travel light and bust out some miles in the wildest terrain in the south-east.”

- Ed Hunton, author of Bikepacking - South East Gravel

Map key
Route summary table
Introduction
What is bikepacking?
Getting there and around
Choosing a route
Rights of way
Navigation
Accommodation
What to take
Fuel strategies
Using this guide
The rides
Route 1 The New Forest 
Route 2 Isle of Wight 
Route 3 Surrey Hills
Route 4 Chiltern Hills
Route 5 Kent Downs
Route 6 East Sussex/Kent
Route 7 Kent/Sussex Coast
Route 8 Kent
Route 9 London/Essex
Route 10 Essex/Suffolk
Route 11 Suffolk Coast
Route 12 Norfolk
Appendix A Accommodation
Appendix B Bike shops
Appendix C Recommended kit lists

Seasons

Most routes are accessible all year round but avoid the wet days of winter when the ground can be churned up.

Centres

All routes are easily accessed by public transport and can be reached from London by train within 1 to 2 hours.

Difficulty

Areas like the Chilterns, the Surrey Hills and Kent Downs offer challenging singletrack descents and hike-a-bike sections, while the Suffolk Heathland and Essex routes, while no less beautiful, are less challenging.

Must See

The heathland of the Suffolk Coast; Surrey's rolling hills; Epping Forest’s technical singletrack; the iconic White Cliffs of Dover; the bleak charm of the exposed beach at Dungeness; dozens of ruined castles and countless country pubs; views from Brightstone Down to the Needles on the Isle of Wight

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