KING ALFRED’S WAY
(3 days riding)

Our driver be at your nominated collection point at the pre-agreed time to load your team and all of their kit. When you arrive at the camp just outside of Winchester, we will cook your first hearty meal and go over your personal King Alfred’s Way adventure then leave you and the team to rest for the evening.

Westgate of Winchester Castle in the centre of this historic city -England’s original capital from Roman times until the Norman conquest- is the official starting point of King Alfred’s Way. Your day begins with a short 3km (2mi) ride with lots of twists and turns out of the city. Soon you reach quiet suburbs, and finally the rolling Hampshire countryside. Quiet country lanes and small villages dominate today’s ride. The steep, off-road climb out of Broughton may be better on foot in wet conditions. At the top you will find yourself in an abundant nature reserve home to orchids and butterflies. On a clear day you will have views of the next few days path to come and Danebury Hillfort too. As you head towards Old Sarum – the earliest settlement of Salisbury – be cautious at the road crossings on the A338 and A303. Soon you will reach the centrepiece of the richest prehistoric landscape in the world: Stonehenge. After Stone Henge you scout around the Salisbury Plain Training Area onto Salisbury Plains. Grassy bridleways climb the plains to reward you with magnificent views across the Wiltshire countryside. The exposure of the Plain can amplify the effects of the weather so approach with suitable gear for the day! Be particularly cautious whilst riding near SPTA as it is an area of active military practice. You will also pass the MOD training facility Copehill Down. Originally built in 1987 to resemble a typical German village, it was converted to resemble an Afghan town recently. The steepest climb of the day up Tan Hill follows you crossing the Kennet and Avon Canal, then on to the approximately 5000 year old Avebury Stone Circle. At the end of the day you’ll join The Ridgeway, before coming to rest by the village of Uffcott.

Day three’s ride is almost exclusively along the mainly traffic-free Ridgeway, thought to be Britain’s oldest road spanning from Wiltsire to the River Thames. Along the Ridgeway you will enjoy a glimpse of ancient carvings of horses on the chalk grasslands, pass by Wayland’s Smithy, an early neolithic chambered longbarrow, Uffington Castle, a fantastic iron age hillfort and Segsbury Camp – the birthplace of King Alfred himself. This is another exposed section of the tour so pack for all-weather conditions. Upon leaving The Ridgeway behind you’ll follow The Thames Path until Whitchurch-on-Thames. The Eagle Has Landed was filmed in the next village on your journey, Maple Durham. Once you have navigated the sprawling metropolis of Reading, you’ll find solace in quiet country lanes and single track paths until you cross the Kennet and Avon canal for a second time. A few miles after a cautious crossing of the M4 you join The Devil’s Highway for a time, then pass Bramshill Plantation and then Hazeley Heath RSPB Nature Reserve, home to Nightjars, Red Kites and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, amongst others. This whole area was part of the WWII GHQ defence line and is littered with pillboxes in hedgerows and remnants of military training facilities, which see you through to camp 3, just outside Ewshot.

The home not-quite-straight! Or flat for that matter. This section has the meanest climbs and descents of the whole tour so exercise caution and make sure your brakes are in good working order before you set off. Day 6 starts out in the most densely populated section of the tour. It is, however, also mostly traffic free or very quiet. Early in the day you skirt past Farnham Castle and Farnham Park, Waverly Abbey, through Farnham Heath RSPB Reserve before reaching Frensham Ridge. Here you will be rewarded with beautiful views of the Surrey Heathlands. There are more MOD sites to pass through from this point on Hankley Common including the Lion’s Mouth, a Normandy landing training ground built by Canadian troops. This leads to the Thursley Common Nature Reserve, where the track becomes sandy and the pace inevitably slows. The climb up Gibbet Hill into the Devil’s Punch Bowl will test your legs but over 10km (6mi) of downhill will give them a chance to rest, before joining the well-marked South Downs Way for the majority of the rest of the day. Pass through Queen Elizabeth Country Park, past Old Winchester Hillfort and Beacon Hill towards Gander down where you catch a glimpse of the final destination, Winchester. Before the finish line you exit the South Downs Way at Cheesefoot Head. This is where Eisenhower briefed US troops prior to the D Day landings. The last 4km (2mi) are pretty much all downhill until you set eyes on the Statue of King Alfred himself as the grand finale of your tour.

You can have a well-earned sleep in on day five whilst we make you a breakfast as unhealthy as you would like! After breakfast we’ll whisk you home, unpack and redistribute your kit before driving off into the sunset.

If you wish to extend your King Alfred’s Way adventure there are a myriad of options along the route. From mountain bike parks to water activity centres, just get in touch via our Personalised Adventure page and we can talk through options to extend your stay and personalise this basic itinerary.