KING ALFRED’S WAY
(6 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 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, through quiet suburbs, and then the rolling Hampshire countryside. Quiet country lanes and sleepy 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 find an abundant nature reserve home to orchids and butterflies. On a clear day you will have views of the King Alfred’s Way 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. You then reach the centrepiece of the richest prehistoric landscape in the world: Stonehenge. Shrewton is our resting place this evening, where we’ll be waiting with some freshly prepared hot food and a comfortable bed.

Day three sees you scout around the Salisbury Plain Training Area. Grassy bridleways climb Salisbury 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 recently converted to resemble an Afghan town. The steepest trek of the day up Tan Hill follows your crossing of the Kennet and Avon Canal. Finally you encounter the circa 5000 year old Avebury Stone Circle. At the end of the day you join The Ridgeway and we rest by the village of Uffcott.

Day four’s ride is almost exclusively along the mainly traffic-free Ridgeway. This is thought to be Britain’s oldest road; spanning from Wiltshire to the Thames. Along the Ridgeway you will 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. Following the chalk ridge of the Berkshire Downs is relatively straightforward from here. Enjoy a glimpse of ancient carvings of horses on the chalk grasslands as you pace towards our meeting point near Compton.

Day five is the flattest of this tour but also the longest and most difficult to navigate. you will start out on the Ridgeway before joining The Thames Path which you follow 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. 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 reach Bramshill Plantation and 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 until camp five near Ewshot.

On day 6 King Alfred’s Way becomes busier and sandier! This is the most densely populated section of the tour. It is also though mostly traffic free or very quiet. Early in the day you skirt past Farnham Castle and Farnham Park, Waverly Abbey, and 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 challenging stretch 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 arriving at camp 6 outside Rogate for the night.

The home not-quite-straight! Or flat for that matter. This section has the meanest ascents and descents of the whole tour so exercise caution and make sure your brakes are in good working order before you set off. The majority of the day is along the well-marked South Downs Way. Amble through Queen Elizabeth Country Park, pass the Old Winchester Hillfort and Beacon Hill. Towards Gander Down you catch a glimpse of the final destination of Winchester. Shortly 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 eight 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 myriad 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 any preplanned adventure.