the downs divideSurrey Hills to the south downs15th august 2026 | CranleighEpic route162km | 2,700mBOOK NOWLong route102km | 1700mBOOK NOWOVERVIEWWHAT TO EXPECTROUTESFAQsLocal areaMAKE A WEEKEND OF ITPACKING LISTOVERVIEWAn epic gravel point to point ride fitting for one of our six Monuments of the year!Take on the Downs Divide on a glorious route starting in the Surrey Hills and finishing on the coast at Beachy Head. On the way you will ride parts of the North Downs Way, the Downs Link & finishing on the amazing South Downs Way.Choose between the 102km route or the full 162km with a punchy first 60km in the Surrey Hills & North Downs.Transfers available to get you back to the start line in the eveningRIDE HIGHLIGHTS:One of the great point to point gravel rides in the UKRide the gravel trails & back lanes of the Surrey HillsFinish with punchy climbs & epic views on the South Downs WayWhat to expectThe epic route takes in hilly terrain at the start and then the last 60km is the toughest on the South Downs Way. In the middle (and the first 40km for the long route), the Downs Link is flat and flowing.Ride difficultyYou can break this ride into three parts. As ever, miles in the legs will make the ride more difficult as you will hit the steepest climbs near the end. The first 60km on the Epic has 1,000m of elevation in the Surrey Hills before 40km of easier riding but the bulk of the elevation comes in the last 60km.Epic Route *****Long Route ****Rider difficulty explained***** Reserved just for our hardest routes. Expect long distance & lots of challenging climbs both on and off road.**** Typically longer rides with regular climbs which could be both steep & long. Suitable for regular riders with some training.*** A mix of terrain & elevation. A decent day out with some tricky sections but still suitable for regular riders.** Some harder sections but suitable for all regular cyclists* Easy, suitable for all riders. Mostly flat route.Technical difficulty75% of the route is on gravel. The off road is a mix of some well kept gravel trails in the hills and some bumpier farmtracks which can be rooty and rutted if dry and muddy when wet followed by chalk & grassy trails in the South Downs.Long Route ****Medium Route ***Technical difficulty explained***** A challenging route suitable only for experienced riders. Expect short hike-a-bike sections, a mix of terrain & loose climbs and descents.**** Suitable for regular off roaders, the route may contain rockier sections, technical descents etc.*** A mix of off road conditions with some more difficult sections.** More typical UK gravel which may be muddy when wet but no challenging sections* Smooth terrain suitable for all riders.TYRE & BIKE RECOMMENDATIONSThis route is designed for gravel bikes but you will be fine on a hardtail MTB. We do send out tyre recommendations closer to the time. A slightly wider gravel all-rounder tyre (40-50mm) will be ideal.Included in entryFully Signed RouteOur team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride.Checkpoints with proper foodAn epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30-40kmAccurate GPX FilesA few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs.Mechanics AvailableAt the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 &more.Rider Support VansWe are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone callaway.Beer at Finish LineYou will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.Fully Signed RouteOur team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride.Checkpoints with proper foodAn epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30-35kmAccurate GPX FilesA few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs.Mechanics AvailableAt the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 &more.Rider Support VansWe are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone callaway.Beer at Finish LineYou will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.EVENT PROGRAM12th August: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.15th August: 7.45am: Ride village at Cranleigh Showgrounds opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.15th August: 8am to 8,45amm: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.15th August: 6pm: Rider village closes.15th August: 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.ROUTE DETAILSLONG ROUTEAn epic 93km circuit in Surrey taking in both the hills and flatter parts of the county.Starting in Cranleigh, we have a couple of climbs in the Surrey Hills before heading to a fast section to Dunsfold and a section in the commons and woodlands. The last 20km home are back into rolling terrain back in the hills on some smooth gravel tracks.Percentage of Route Off Road: 60%Distance: 93kmElevation: 1450mDifficulty:Technical Difficulty:Medium ROUTEThe medium route splits from the long route taking the Downs Link and avoiding nearly 30km of rolling terrain to the west of the route.The final 20km contains most of the climbing before a fast descent back to the ride village for a well earned beer.Percentage of Route Off Road: 70%Distance: 63kmElevation: 1,000mDifficulty:Technical Difficulty:Medium ROUTEThe medium route cuts out 30km in the middle (and hilliest part) of the long route. We start with 20km on the Ridgeway and then head into the hills for a total of 5 climbs and nearly 1,000m of total elevation. A really nice & varied medium route.Percentage of Route Off Road: 50%Distance: 74kmElevation: 1,000mDifficulty:Technical Difficulty:SHORT ROUTELorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.Percentage of Route Off Road: 40%Distance: 104kmElevation: 750mDifficulty:Technical Difficulty:FAQsWHERE DOES THE RIDE START & FINISHThe ride starts and finishes at Cranleigh Showgrounds. There is free parking onsite as well as toilets & refreshments. We will send the ride village address by email.ARE E-BIKES ALLOWED?Yes, e-bikes are allowed on all Glorious Gravel ride. These must comply with UK law.WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE A MECHANICAL OR ACCIDENT?We have first aiders & mechanics at the feed stops. There will be a phone number on the back of your ride number call this if you need collecting.LOCAL AREAThe Surrey Gravel Epic starts at Cranleigh Showgrounds.If you are looking for somewhere to stay, there are a number of nice hotels in Cranleigh or Dorking has a few more options.The nearest train station is 9 miles away in Dorking.Make a weekend of itComplete your day with a visit to the Secret Nuclear Bunker itself. This is a fascinating place, designed to protect up to 600 people including the Prime Minister whose job was to organise the survival of the population in the awful aftermath of a nuclear war.On the site is a high ropes course and the area is packed with lovely country pubs perfect for a post ride pint or Sunday roast if you are staying overnight.Make a weekend of itComplete your day with a visit to the Secret Nuclear Bunker itself. This is a fascinating place, designed to protect up to 600 people including the Prime Minister whose job was to organise the survival of the population in the awful aftermath of a nuclear war.On the site is a high ropes course and the area is packed with lovely country pubs perfect for a post ride pint or Sunday roast if you are staying overnight.Packing listThe route takes in some remote sections. We have support vans available but we recommend you are as self sufficient as possible including:Bike spares2 x inner tubes suitable for the size of your tyreIf running a tubeless set up, have a tubeless repair kit including plugs and spare sealant.Multitool | Chain link specific for your bike chainSmall pump | Brake pads (especially in wet conditions)Personal Medical kit1 x crepe roll bandage | Gauze or similar absorbent dressingAssorted plasters | Antiseptic (spray, cream or wipes) | Prescribed medicationThe post The Downs Divide appeared first on Glorious Gravel Off Road Adventures in Cycling.