The Old Chalk Way is a 575 kilometre (375 mile) bikepacking route from south coast to North Sea along the chalk vein of Britain’s oldest road.

We’ve pieced together the best bits of the Greater Ridgeway to create a coast to coast all-road or gravel route to embody the history of this ancient highway, and we think the best scenery and most enjoyable riding in Southern England.



Expect a mix of well trodden and signposted bridleways, white gravel chalk paths and overgrown grassy desire lines. You'll find rolling green hills, ancient woodland, two seas, ancient market towns, Bronze Age round barrows, Iron Age hill forts and plenty of red kites.



Bike choice:


Chalk can be a challenging substance to ride on. When its dry and smooth it rolls like tarmac, when wet and rough it’s a tractionless quagmire. Tracks are made up of a mix of gravel, farm tracks, poorly maintained paths but it’s not shy of tarmac either. If its dry, there’s minimal gnar so technically very easy and open to all! Large sections of this route if wet are not for the faint hearted.

Cyclocross bikes, gravel bikes and mountain bikes all would be suitable. If it's wet you will want big rubber, knobbles and extra clearance for that mud. We reckon 35mm width tyre minimum.

Logistics:


If you’re riding the full route, you’ll need to keep in mind that Sailsbury Plain training ground is only passable on certain days, as the route passes though the ‘Larkhill’ site. Find info about firing days here: gov.uk/government/publications/salisbury-plain-training-area-spta-firing-times . This is very important for the purposes of not getting shot or arrested as live firing is taking place. We don’t need that on our hands.

There are loads of train stations along the route so you can split up the adventure if you don’t have time for it all in one go. Axminster, Gillingham, Swindon, Princes Risborough, Luton, Royston, Thetford and Kings Lynn are stations all either on or just off the route.


Find the full route here: komoot.com/tour/508391363


About us:
Inspired by Second City Divide and the Badger Divide, we thought the South of England deserved something just as fun! An emphasis was placed on creating flow, rather than travelling on every bridleway we could find.


Find us on Instagram at @theoldchalkway - website coming soon.
If you have done it, send us a message (and photos) on Instagram or comment here: we would love to hear from you.