{"id":61134,"date":"2024-03-19T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-19T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/b0ef2e09-ea36-4d84-928c-d61b9079ed81"},"modified":"2024-03-19T19:59:38","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T18:59:38","slug":"11-of-the-best-bikepacking-routes-awe-inspiring-trails-to-stoke-your-wanderlust","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/11-of-the-best-bikepacking-routes-awe-inspiring-trails-to-stoke-your-wanderlust\/","title":{"rendered":"11 of the best bikepacking routes | Awe-inspiring trails to stoke your wanderlust"},"content":{"rendered":"

From the UK to Nepal, here are ten of the best bikepacking routes <\/p>

By Katherine Moore\n <\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 19 March 2024 at 17:00 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Looking for some inspiration for your first bikepacking trip or a challenging itinerary to aspire to? Here are 11 of the best bikepacking routes from across the globe to fuel your stoke. All you need to do is rig up the bikepacking bags and go.<\/p>

From local adventures to ease you in, to remote and wild trips reserved for the hardiest and most experienced bikepackers, we\u2019ve got something for every rider.<\/p>

A few days on the Trans-Cambrian Way, six months on the European Divide Trail and everything in between: what will you choose?<\/p>

1. The Badger Divide, Scotland<\/h2>
The Badger Divide starts (or ends) along the shores of Loch Ness, en route to Inverness. – Jiangli \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
212 miles \/ 342 kilometres<\/li>
18,724 feet \/ 5,070 metres climbing total<\/li><\/ul>
Linking the Scottish cities of Glasgow and Inverness, The Badger Divide takes in parts of the Great Glen Way and West Highland Way to cross the breathtaking Scottish Highlands.<\/p>
Developed by Scottish custom bike builder, Stuart Allan, the 212-mile route includes a mix of gravel roads, rocky passes, forestry roads and quiet lanes, making it well-suited to gravel bikes<\/a>, mountain bikes<\/a> and robust, wide-tyred touring bikes<\/a>.<\/p>
Bikepackers rejoice because Scotland\u2019s open access legislation deems wild camping legal in most of the country, although you should read up on the Outdoor Access Code<\/a>. There are some classic bothies to visit too, as well as hostel or hotel options if you prefer.<\/p>
Scotland really is a hub of routes for bikepacking<\/a>, from Edinburgh\u2019s local Capital Trail to island hopping across the Hebrides on the Wild About Argyll Trail and the remote Cairngorms Loop. <\/p>
2. King Alfred\u2019s Way, England<\/h2>
$\"King$
The King Alfred’s Way is inspired by Alfred the Great, who ruled the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex. The circular route passes Alfred the Great’s statue in Winchester, where he is buried. – Immediate Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
224 miles \/ 360 kilometres<\/li>
11,844 feet \/ 3,610 metres climbing total<\/li><\/ul>
The King Alfred\u2019s Way is a circular route in the south of England, within easy reach of Salisbury, Winchester, Swindon and Reading. For easy access, it also boasts several train stations along the route.<\/p>
Linking the beginner-friendly South Downs Way to the Ridgeway and the North Downs Way, the route takes in a surprising number of different landscapes along its 224-mile length.<\/p>
From the sleepy woodlands of Surrey and the chalk meadows of the South Downs to the expansive crop fields of Salisbury and quaint towns in the Thames Valley, there\u2019s so much to explore. <\/p>
3. Trans-Cambrian Way, Wales<\/h2>
$\"Aerial$
The spectacular Elan Valley features on the Trans-Cambrian Way in mid-Wales. – Steved_np3 \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
109 miles \/ 175 kilometres<\/li>
10,400 feet \/ 3,170 metres climbing total<\/li><\/ul>
One of the best-known bikepacking routes in the UK, the Trans-Cambrian Way may be a relatively short challenge at 109 miles, but it\u2019s one that really packs a punch.<\/p>
From the Welsh border with England to the Irish sea near Machynlleth, the Trans-Cambrian Way takes in some of the best off-road tracks in remote mid-Wales.<\/p>
Expect leg-bursting, steep and grassy climbs out of the Welsh borderlands, snaking gravel roads through the glorious Elan Valley, quiet cycleway tracks through the empty mountains and a few old stone bothies along the way to overnight in.<\/p>
Check out the ancient Sarn Helen route if you\u2019d rather cross the country from north to south. <\/p>
4. TransAtlantic Way, Ireland<\/h2>
$\"View$
Kinsale in the south of Ireland is the idyllic start or end point to the TransAtlantic Way. – Eduardo Fonseca Arraes \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
1,406 miles \/ 2,262 kilometres<\/li>
66,043 feet \/ 20,130 metres climbing total<\/li><\/ul>
If sticking to tarmac is more your bag and you really love climbing, the dramatic Irish coastline of the TransAtlantic Way should be firmly on your list.<\/p>
Although there\u2019s an endurance race held annually on the route, you can take on the 1,406-mile route from Dublin around the west coastline to Kinsale at any time or, of course, choose a smaller section of the coast to ride.<\/p>
Don\u2019t expect a direct route here, nor a flat one, because the TransAtlantic Way almost entirely hugs the rugged and steep Irish coastline.<\/p>
5. The European Divide Trail<\/h2>
$\"Bikepacking$
The epic European Divide Trail takes in almost every terrain you can imagine. – Andy Cox<\/figcaption><\/figure>
4,724 miles \/ 7,603 kilometres<\/li>
284,777 feet \/ 86,800 metres climbing total<\/li><\/ul>
The work of British master tourer Andy Cox, the European Divide Trail spans the entire continent from the Arctic Circle in Norway to Cape St. Vincent in Portugal.<\/p>
Taking on this daunting 4,724-mile trail in one go would be no mean feat \u2013 it\u2019s estimated to take between two and six months to ride, depending on your pace.<\/p>
You could split the route into three major sections: the vast forested landscape and lakes of Scandinavia; the Central European patchwork of farm, wood, grass and heathland; or the warmer, arid terrain across the south and the Iberian Peninsula.<\/p>
6. Camino de Santiago, Spain<\/h2>
$\"Cyclists$
The Camino de Santiago is a popular hiking trail, but can also be ridden as a bikepacking route.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
588 miles \/ 947 kilometres<\/li>
42,159 feet \/ 12,850 metres climbing total<\/li><\/ul>
The Camino de Santiago is a classic pilgrimage walking route, but it can also be cycled, although this version adds an extra 62 miles \/ 100km to the traditional Camino Franc\u00e9s hiking route.<\/p>
This mega bikepacking route links this most popular pilgrimage trail to the Camino Finisterre, crossing the breadth of Spain from the Pyrenees through the mountainous interior, past Santiago de Compostela (the usual pilgrimage endpoint) all the way to the Atlantic.<\/p>
The route is best suited to a gravel bike setup<\/a> or sturdy tourer because, despite being amended to avoid the bumpiest parts of the hiking route, there are still some light off-road sections.<\/p>
7. The Colorado Trail, United States<\/h2>
$\"Image$
This way for high-altitude bikepacking. – KaraGrubis \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
534 miles \/ 860 kilometres<\/li>
65,879 feet \/ 20,080 metres climbing total<\/li><\/ul>
At the very pinnacle of mountain bike bikepacking routes, the Colorado Trail links the cities of Denver and Durango by way of prime Rocky Mountains singletrack.<\/p>
From the Front Range to the San Juan Mountains, this is a truly challenging and technical route at high-altitude, with plenty of hike-a-bike along the way. In short, this one\u2019s not for the fainthearted!<\/p>
However, this does mean that you\u2019ll be rewarded with some mind-blowing rocky descents.<\/p>
You\u2019ll typically tackle the route in the summer months once the snow has melted, but be warned that this is also storm season, which might dictate your pace. <\/p>
8. Iceland Divide<\/h2>
$\"Godafoss$
The Godafoss waterfall is just one of the many spectacular sights on the Iceland Divide. – Manachai \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
353 miles \/ 568 kilometres<\/li>
15,387 feet \/ 4,690 metres climbing total<\/li><\/ul>
Unlike many other bikepacking routes, you\u2019ll have the added challenge of snow, ice and high river crossings on the Iceland Divide.<\/p>
This 353-mile route traverses the island from north to south, taking in many of the remote mountain huts that can provide much welcome relief from the beautiful but often harsh conditions.<\/p>
With rock-strewn lava fields, gushing waterfalls and ice-cold rivers to navigate, riding across Iceland is a task like no other, but will certainly make for a memorable ride.<\/p>
The interior of the island is especially hostile, so make sure you\u2019re adequately prepared and experienced before considering this route.<\/p>
9. Atlas Mountain Race, Morocco<\/h2>
$\"View$
Expect dramatic views like this on the route of the Atlas Mountain Race. – Miroslav_1 \/ Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>
754 miles \/ 1,213 kilometres<\/li>
57,743 feet \/ 17,600 metres climbing total<\/li><\/ul>
From the bustling souk markets of Marrakesh up into the High Atlas Mountains and back down to the Atlantic at Sidi Rabat, the Atlas Mountain Race bikepacking route is a 754-mile journey for the most experienced, hardy bikepackers.<\/p>
For riders who dare to take on the task, you\u2019ll be rewarded by nights under a sky bursting with stars, the unmatchable hospitality of the Berber people and, of course, Morocco\u2019s sweet, sweet mint tea.<\/p>
Which bikepacking bike<\/a> is best for the task? Rider experience and the rocky High Atlas terrain strongly point to a mountain bike, although it can be done on a well-equipped gravel bike. <\/p>
10. Annapurna Circuit, Nepal<\/h2>
$\"A$
The Annapurna massif dominates this Himalayan route in Nepal. – Prakash Mathema \/ Getty Images \/ AFP<\/figcaption><\/figure>
238 miles \/ 384 kilometres<\/li>
26,608 feet \/ 8,110 metres climbing total<\/li><\/ul>
For a real bucket-list challenge, the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal \u2013 better known as a high mountain hiking trail \u2013 can also be ridden on a series of parallel gravel tracks.<\/p>
Centred around the Annapurna massif in the Himalayas, the route leads up into the high mountains from Pokhara, through rice terraces and lowland jungles, and up alpine meadows to the rocky snow-capped peaks.<\/p>
Expect glaciers, hot springs, soaring birds of prey, Buddhist temples and strings of vibrant Nepalese prayer flags. The accommodation and facilities along the route may be basic, but the sheer scale and beauty of these landscapes will blow you away.<\/p>
11. Highland Trail 550, Scotland<\/h2>
$\"\"$
Matt Orton \/ Our Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>
550 miles \/ 885 kilometres<\/li>
52,500 feet \/ 16,000 metres climbing total<\/li><\/ul>
Another from Scotland, the Highland Trail 550<\/a> is the UK\u2019s premier bikepacking race. <\/p>
Attracting the world’s best endurance racers, the route takes in more than 16,000m of climbing across 880km on some of Scotland\u2019s most remote and challenging terrain.<\/p>
Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from riding the event in your own time. We recommend going in early May to avoid the midges.<\/p>
<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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