Women's GRAVEL WEEKENDMarcher castles adventureNights2Stages3DifficultyRated 4 out of 5PRICE FROM449VIEW DATES & BOOKNights4Stages3.5DifficultyRated 5 out of 5PRICE FROM1499VIEW DATES & BOOKOVERVIEWHIGHLIGHTSACCOMMODATIONGETTING THEREPACKING LISTFAQsOVERVIEWThis is a gravel weekend created specifically for women who want great riding, a relaxed atmosphere and the confidenceand camaraderiethat comes from riding together.Over 2.5 dayswellride a shortened version of the beautiful Marcher Castles route, taking in the quiet gravel tracks, rolling hills and incredible views along the Welsh borders.Itsthe perfect mix of adventure and support challenging enough to feel proud at the end, but friendly,welcomingand fun every step of the way.Whetheryouvedone a few gravel events already oryoureaconfident gravel riderwho isready for your first multi-day adventure, this weekend is all about riding together, encouraging each other and enjoying the journey.Youdontneed to be ultrastrongand youdefinitelydontneed to be racing. What you do need is the confidence to ride all day at a steady pace, enjoy proper gravel terrain and be excited about the idea of linking three great days of riding together.Welltake care of thelogisticsso you can just focus on riding, chatting,laughingand soaking up some truly brilliant gravel.Included in Ride PackageAccommodation2 nights in local hotels. Choose private single, shared twin (2 beds)3 Epic StagesFully supported rides with guides leading small groups, van support & regular feed stopsMealsBring some money for drinks but our package includes 2 dinners, 2 lunches & 2 breakfastsRegular StopsRegular feed stops to top up water bottles and refuel as well as lunch stops on 2 days.LuggageWe move your overnight bags from hotel to hotel each day and provide a day bag to collect at lunch.WHATS NOT INCLUDED:Transport to the start/finish, Insurance (mandatory), Drinks with lunch & evening meals, Bike rental.REAL RIDER REVIEWSGary, Sarah and Helen were excellent and put together a great trip!NatalieOctober 2025What I enjoyed the most: The terrain, the challenge, exploring the vastness offroad!MarkOctober 2025Well organised, nice group, great staff. Endless empty gravel roadsMartinOctober 2025ITINERARYDAY 1Arrive in Church Stretton late morning / lunchtime. After a short briefing we'll roll out at 2.00 pm for stage one - 55 km.DAY 2Stage two: Ludlow to Newton - 95km, Xm elevation.DAY 3Stage three: Newton to Stretton - 65km, Xm elevation. We finish back in Church Stretton and celebrate the weekend.What to expectiT IS not a raceWhat to Expect This is not a race. Its a supportive women-only gravel weekend where everyone is welcome and nobody gets left behind. If youve done long gravel rides, sportives, or endurance days before, this weekend sits perfectly between those and something much bigger like our international trips.What it's all aboutThe focus is on confidence, community and great riding not speed. Its not about testing yourself to the limit. Its about discovering what youre capable of when the right support and atmosphere are there.HASSLE FREEA hassle-free trip where all you need to focus on is the ridewe take care of everything else. On the bike, youll be supported by an experienced guide and a support vehicle, with regular feed stops to keep you fuelled and hydrated throughout the day. Off the bike, we handle your luggage transfers so its waiting for you at your next hotel.KNOW BEFORE YOU GOAccommodationWell stay in local hotels in Ludlow and Newtown. You can choose between a private single room (limited availablity), shared twin (2 beds). Solo travellers can also opt to share, and we will put you together with another like minded female gravel rider! THE AREA WE'LL BE RIDINGThis route runs along the English/Welsh border through some of the most underrated gravel riding in the UK. You can expect, quiet Shropshire countryside, remote borderland tracks, rolling green hills, beautiful valleys, small villages and proper caf stops, a mix of English and Welsh landscapes all in one weekend. Its the kind of riding that feels adventurous without ever feeling intimidating.TYRE CHOICEThe right setup will make the weekend much more enjoyable. We strongly recommend: 40-45mm gravel tyres, something with good grip rather than something ultra-fast to cope with mixed terrain, Tubeless set up.The surfaces are generally rideable, but there are sections where a little extra tyre width makes everything feel much more comfortable and confidence inspiring. GEARING CHOICEExpect steady climbs rather than sharp punchy ones. A lower gear will make the whole weekend more enjoyable, especially on day two. We Recommend a 1x setup with a large cassette (10-42 / 10-44 / 10-50) or a compact / sub-compact 2x gearing with a wide-range cassette. If youre unsure, were always happy to help you choose the right setup before the event. 7 UNMISSABLE HIGHLIGHTS IN MOROCCONUMBER OneTizi nTest - an Alpine climb in the Atlas MountainsAt the end of stage two - the Queen Stage, is the 27km climb of Tizi nTest, arguably the best climb in Morocco.Starting in the valley, this epic climb was built while the French were here in the 1920s and has the feel of an alpine climb with hairpins twisting up the mountain to the summit at over 2,000m. There are no steep sections (avg gradient is just 3%) but expect to spend 1.5 to 2.5hrs getting up to the summit, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the stunning views.NUMBER TWOThe Ancient City of TaroudantStage three finishes in Taroudant after two days in the remote Atlas Mountains.We stay in a delightful hotel in town and after some time to freshen up, we head into the old town and explore the market with a local guide before a delicious dinner.number threeRemote riding in rural MoroccoStraight from arrival, the ride takes us into remote gravel roads to discover real, rural Moroccan life.The riding is a mix of mostly gentle climbing and flat sections with lots of opportunity to sit in & ride with mates new and old.Number FourDelightful local foodThis is a great country for food with excellent couscous, bbq and lots & lots of tagines!Breakfasts are at the hotel with lots of tasty bread & eggs. Lunch is on the road mostly with picnics by the trails and dinner is generally at our accommodation.Number fiveSun, sand & surf in TaghazoutThe ride finishes on the beautiful sandy beaches of Taghazout, famous around the world for its surf breaks.After the final ride, we head straight into the ocean for a swim before watching the sunset. On the final morning, before getting transfers back to Agadir, we have a surf lesson in the smaller waves.Number sixQuiet villages & Berber cultureAlong the route we pass many small, traditional Berber villages that rarely see tourists.Particularly on stage three, we ride through villages that were devastated by the earthquake in 2023 and through the ride we see how people live in the mountains, on the plains and by the coast.Number sevenTea!A huge part of the riding ritual in Morocco is to drink tea before, during and after each stage.The tea here is minty and incredibly sweet, you don't even want to know how much sugar goes into each small cup. But, nothing quite hits like a local cuppa and this is an essential part of breakfast & warming up when the sun sets and we are high in the mountains.STAGE DETAILSSTAGE 1: CHURCH STRETTON TO LUDLOWRoute Summary:Arrive in Church Stretton late morning / lunchtime. The village has a train station and there is parking available nearby, so getting there is easy.Wellmeet, get everyone ready, do a shortbriefingand roll out at 2pm for a relaxed first afternoon ride. The route is a brilliant introduction to the weekend. Expectquiet roads, flowinggraveland plenty of time to settle into the group.We finish in Ludlow wherewellcheck in, freshen up and headfor dinnertogether..Ride Distance: 55km Ride Elevation: XXm % Off Road: XX% Difficulty: X/5STAGE TWO: LUDLOW TO NEWTOWNRoute Summary:This is the big adventure day but also the most beautiful.Expect: Proper gravel riding Rolling countryside Remotefeeling tracks Lots of wow viewsWellride at a steady pace with plenty of stops,snacksand encouragement along the way. The support van will be with us throughout the day, sotheresalways help if needed.We arrive in Newtown in thelateafternoon, tired in the bestpossible way, before dinner together in the evening.Ride Distance: 95km Ride Elevation: Xm % Off Road: X% Difficulty: X/5STAGE THREE: NEWTOWN TO CHURCH STRETTONRoute Summary:A final morning of gravel ridingwinding our wayback towards ChurchStretton.This day has areally lovelyfeel everyone ismore relaxed, confidence is higher and thelaughter is louder.We finish back in Church Stretton and celebrate the weekend properly with a pub lunch together before heading home..Ride Distance: 65km Ride Elevation: Xm % Off Road: X% Difficulty: X/5Your Guides Lorem 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. Lorem 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. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.Why this weekend is differentThisisntjust about ridinga route.Itsabout riding it together.Itsfor women who:Want to try a multi-day gravel adventurePrefer a supportive, friendly atmosphereWant to build confidence on longer ridesLove great scenery and great companyThisisntabikepackingexpedition whereyourecarrying everything and riding solo. Instead,itsa structured multi-day ride with support, guidance and a group of like-minded women who love gravel as much as you do.That means you can focus on:Riding well rather than worrying aboutlogisticsEnjoying long days on great terrainBuilding confidence across multiple daysSeeing how strong you feel by the end of day twoFinishing the weekend feeling proud rather than exhaustedFor many riders, this becomes the point where multi-day gravel suddenly feels completely achievable.getting to CHURCH STRETTONArrive by train: The closest train station is Church Stretton, located 600m away from the starting point.Well meet at Bucks Head around midday and aim to roll out at 2.00 pm after a short brief for Stage One.packing listRiding kit3 sets of cycling kitLightweight waterproof jacketWarm layer for early morningsComfortable off-bike clothesGlovesBike essentialsGravel bike in good working order40mm+ tyresHelmetWater bottles or hydration packSmall saddle bag / tool kitSpare tube (even if tubeless)Spare rear mech hangerOther useful thingsChamois creamSunscreenElectrolyte tabletsSmall backpack or overnight bagComfortable shoes for the eveningHotels & MealsAccommodation: Well stay in local hotels. You can choose between a private single room (limited availablity), or shared twin (2 beds). If you dont have a sharing partner, you can still opt for a Twin share and we will put you together with another female rider.We stay at:Travelodge LudlowNewtown Elephant & CastleMeals 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches on the road, 2 dinners are included in the package. Drinks with lunch & dinner are excluded.DATES & PRICESSTARTFINISHSINGLE ROOMTWIN/DOUBLE ROOMDEPOSITFriday 31 July 2026Sunday 2 August 2026549449PP299PP Book NowFAQsAM I SUITABLE FOR THIS RIDE?If you can handle the distances & elevation (avg day 85-90km, 1700m elevation) then you should be fine on this gravel cycling trip to Andalucia. Most of the off road is smooth and flowy. We expect to be riding for 6-8hrs each day with three stops.WHAT KIND OF TERRAIN CAN I EXPECTToggle ContentWILL I HOLD PEOPLE UPAbsolutely not. Groups are arranged by pace, there are clear regroup points and we have designed routes so everyone can ride comfortably.DO I NEED TO BE FASTNo. This is a no-drop trip.DO I NEED TO BE FITYou should be able to ride 4050 km off road comfortably, but you dont need to be super-strongI'M A SOLO TRAVELLER, IS THIS OKYes, absolutely, most riders come alone. The group atmosphere is relaxed, welcoming and friendly. You can either choose a single occupancy room (with a small supplement) or request a twin share and we will put you together with another like minded female gravel rider!WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE A MECHANIC OR ACCIDENT?We have first aiders & a mechanic on the trip.OTHER RIDES YOU MAY LIKEThe post Womens Gravel Weekend Marcher Castles Adventure appeared first on Glorious Gravel Off Road Adventures in Cycling.