Bikepacking - South East Gravel

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.

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