5 BEST Intermediate UK Bikepacking Routes – You should start with

Looking for a challenge that won’t break you? In this video, I cover five of the best intermediate bikepacking routes across the UK. These rides are perfect if you’ve done some beginner trips and want to step things up — with a mix of rugged terrain, wild camp spots, and just the right amount of technical riding. If they look a bit too full-on, don’t worry — I’ve also got a video on 5 beginner-friendly UK routes to check out!

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so you’ve done a few bike packing trips and you’re ready to step things up a notch in this video I’m sharing five intermediate bike packing routes across the UK perfect for when you are looking for a bit more of a challenge whether that’s longer distances tougher climbs or more remote riding we’ll be starting with the most approachable of the five and gradually building up to the most demanding if you are ready to push your adventure further then this list is for you let’s get into it with the easiest of the bunch we’re heading southwest to one of my all-time favorite bike packing adventures the West Country Way this route really sticks in my memory when I rode it it was absolutely scorching but luckily the route passes past loads of little streams and rivers perfect for cooling off midride it felt like a gift the route runs from Plymouth to Minehead crossing through both Dartmore and Exmore and makes for a brilliant one to two night ride it’s got a bit of everything rocky trails steep climbs proper off-road sections and some wilder more exposed terrain that will definitely challenge your bike handling there are also a few technical bits where you will need to keep your focus nothing extreme but enough to keep you on your toes there’s a bit of hiker bike too especially if your legs are starting to feel it and a few river or stream crossings along the way i ended up just wading my way through them because it was so hot but there are stepping stones if you’d rather stay dry either way it adds to the fun and adventure of the route this one works really well as an overnight trip you can start later in the day get into Dartmore and find a peaceful camp spot then wake up early and experience how magical Dartmore looks in the morning light if it’s clear it’s absolutely stunning wide open skies mist rolling over the moors and that early silence that makes it feel like you’ve got the whole place to yourself i rode this on a mountain bike and for the most part it was the right choice especially for some of the rougher trails through the national parks but I’d say it’s doable on a big tire gravel bike if you don’t mind a few bumpy sections there’s quite a long road slog between Dartmore and Xmore and a gravel setup would come in handy here so there’s a bit of a trade-off that road section though can actually be a blessing giving you a chance to spin out some easier faster miles between the tougher off-road sections which helps make the overall route feel a bit more balanced and accessible for intermediate riders all in all this is a brilliant intermediate route it gives you a real mix of terrain some proper wild camping spots and that satisfying feeling of linking two national parks under your own steam definitely one to check out [Music] next up we’re moving to South Wales for the Black Mountain Crossing a tougher ride and a step up in difficulty compared to the West Country Way if you’re looking to test yourself on more demanding terrain this route is a brilliant introduction to what Wales has to offer this neat little loop circles yep you guessed it the Black Mountains at around 70 mi it’s not huge distance-wise but don’t let that fool you it hits hard in places and will push your limits expect steep climbs rugged terrain and those classic Welsh trails that throw plenty of rock mud and chunky sections your way what makes it such a great intermediate route is the balance the shorter distance gives you the room to really focus on the riding on the technical elements the steep climbs and the more remote feel without having to crank out huge miles day after day it can be slowgoing at times especially on the rockiest sections so having fewer miles to cover is a real bonus it’s rugged raw and still gives you that satisfying sense of achievement that intensity of being out in the wild but in a tighter more manageable package i remember quite a bit of hiker bike here mainly because everything in Wales seemed to go straight up there are some real leg burners here especially when fully loaded so make sure you’ve got nice easy gears don’t be afraid to get off and push sometimes it’s the only way forward and you’ll be glad you saved the energy the highlight for me was a short out and back detour up to this lake that I don’t know how to pronounce [Music] normally I’m not a fan of trails you ride up just to come back down again but this one is different after a long steady gravel climb you are rewarded with one of the most peaceful views I’ve experienced on any UK route early morning mist hanging in the air the lake perfectly still not a ripple not a sound just complete calm the descent back down fast fun and worth every pedal to get up to the lake it’s an ideal one to two night adventure especially if you want to pack light and focus on the riding logistically it’s not bad either this route starts and finishes in Abidair which has a train station making it easy to get to without a car it’s probably quite easy to park there too but I don’t drive so I’ll let you decide on that i’d definitely recommend a mountain bike for this one there are some rocky loose and technical sections that a gravel bike might make but wouldn’t be much fun that said it’s short enough that if you really want to suffer you could probably just about get through next up we’re heading to the south coast for one of my favorite routes in the Dorset area the Dorset 330 if you’ve ridden the Dorset Dash and are looking for something a bit longer this is the one I’d recommend you either do the Dorset Divide or the Dorset 330 but in my opinion I’d say skip the Dorset Divide and do this instead it’s got a great mix of riding some solid challenges and links together some of the best trails and views the county has to offer now it’s not a perfect route there are a few sections that can get overgrown or boggy and some of those spots never really seem to dry out even in summer but those parts are short-lived and in return you get long stretches of classic Dorset riding the majority of the route rolls over hard pack double track with wide open ridgeways and panoramic views stretching either side when the weather’s good and the sun’s shining it’s fast flowy and really fun to ride it’s also one of those routes that rewards steady pacing dorset isn’t mountainous but it’s definitely not flat either the hills here are short and punchy they sneak up on you and can feel surprisingly steep when you got a few days of gear on the bike you’ll find yourself in and out of the saddle a fair bit so bring some climbing legs and a granny gear you’re not afraid to use as for bikes I’d say this one leans gravel a gravel bike with good volume tires ideally in the 45 to 50 mm range is going to give you the best time most of the route is hard packed and fast but there are a few rougher sections where narrow tires could make things feel a bit sketchy bigger tires smooth that out nicely and give you a bit more confidence when things get loose or ruty if the weather’s been wet or you just prefer a bit more comfort a hard tail mountain bike wouldn’t be overkill either it’s easy enough to get to as well the route starts and finishes in Dorchester which has a train station on the southwestern line so no bike reservation needed though bear in mind trains can get busy and they officially only allow six bikes all in all the Dorset 330 is a brilliant few days out the weather when I rode it was mostly sunny which probably helped but even with that the route still offers one of the best all round bike packing experiences in the area it’s varied rewarding and has the perfect mix of challenge and enjoyment that makes you want to come back and ride it again [Music] now we’re moving onto a proper long distance challenge the old chalk way this one’s a brilliant coast to coast route running from lime reges on the south coast all the way to Hull next to the sea on the Norfolk coastline and the North Sea it covers about 360 mi and is packed with historical trails stunning countryside and some seriously fun gravel riding it’s similar in spirit to the Greater Ridgeway route in fact it overlaps it in places but this one’s much more gravel bike friendly especially in the earlier sections through Dorset that makes it a great option if you want to experience a long-distance adventure without battling too much technical or hiker bike terrain there is a bit though i had a really good time riding this route it’s challenging in places especially early on but that just adds to the satisfaction starting in line reaches you’ll hit most of the steeper climbs early on while your legs are still fresh and that’s a good thing because some of those climbs are steep and punchy as you move northeast the route gradually softens out easing into wide open landscapes of East Angular and eventually the flat windswept paths of Norfolk one highlight early on is conquering the iconic Hov Hill the famous steep cobbled road in Shsbury with a postcard worthy view behind it it’s one of those short sharp climbs that rewards you with a spectacular moment once you reach the top and if the sun’s out you’ll be able to see for miles across the rolling countryside from there the route continues across the Ssbury Plains vast open expanse of gravel roads and military training grounds just keep an eye out for the red flags if they’re flying the military is active and you’ll need to detour but if it’s open it’s a great section with fast riding and almost wild isolated feel as you’ll head further east you’ll join the Ridgeway for a solid 30 mile stretch of classic chalk trail riding if it’s dry this section flies scenic and one of the most enjoyable parts of the room but if it’s been raining that chalk turns into slippery claggy mess so timing matters fingers crossed for the sunshine you’ll want to stop and resupply in Gorin after the Ridgeway stretch it’s a great little pit stop and a good chance to refuel from there you’ll follow sections of the Ickn way and the Peders Way similar to the Greater Ridge Rididgeway route but with more thought put into finding smoother more enjoyable gravel trails along the way this route that unfolds gradually revealing new landscapes and terrain as you go from steep Dorset climbs to flat Norfolk lanes it’s a rewarding journey from coast to coast and an excellent intermediate route if you’re looking to test your endurance on a proper long-distance gravel adventure as it starts hard and gets easier as the ride progresses I think that really helps if you are starting to want a slightly harder route and to test yourself that bit more the Pictish Trail officially starts at the most northernly point of mainland Britain Dunit Head but I think it’s a much more enjoyable experience in reverse and that’s exactly how I took on this epic 450 mi around 724 km route through Scotland riding here northbound felt smoother overall the climbs came early on and they were mostly gradual and on good surfaces while the descents especially through the highlands were often long flowy and just technical enough to be fun without being a chore scotland really shines in moments like these those perfectly sloped gravel descents that seem to go on forever a fairly long route but it doesn’t feel overwhelmingly tough there are plenty of easy miles scattered throughout often just when you need them quiet back roads scenic cycle paths and wide gravel tracks that give you a chance to settle in and enjoy the ride in the direction I rode northbound from Edinburgh those recovery sections often came right after the tougher terrain which was always a welcome relief for an intermediate bike packer this is a really solid route it’s long yes but the riding is mostly forgiving and it’s a kind of route where you can build confidence as you go there are challenges but they’re spread out and the variety of surfaces keep things interesting without being overwhelming it’s definitely one of those routes where you get a great sense of progression a lot of Scottish bike packing routes can feel incredibly remote and wild which is amazing but it also means you usually have to carry a lot of food and be ready for long gaps between supplies the Pictish Trail though runs up the east of Scotland where the towns are more frequent so you never feel too far away from civilization most of the time carry enough food and water for around 50 miles is more than enough and water is always easy to find just filter along the way the off-road sections are pretty varied you’ll get smooth gravel some chunkier double track and the occasional bit of single track but it’s mostly quite ridable even with a loaded bike and there’s not much hiker bike especially going north only had a few short sections of pushing that was mostly down to the brutal headwinds during the first few days the trails gradient and surface are much more forgiving when tackled this way one thing to be aware of some gates along the route were padlocked shut so being able to lift your bike over fences or gates now and then unfortunately part of the experience i chose to start in Edinburgh and ride north to Dunit Head mostly for logistics it takes a long time to get all the way to Ferso by train and the services are limited usually just three per day and they only take a handful of bikes four max and they book up quite quickly so riding from Edinburgh to Dunhead felt much more practical and also gave me a smoother progression in terms of terrain along the way I met a few other riders tackling the route in the official southbound direction and honestly they all looked like they were having a bit of a grind maybe it was just the timing but riding north felt far more flowy and fun my ride clocked in at just under 9 and 12,000 m of climbing about 31,000 ft which is still a decent amount of course but the way those climbs were spread out made it feel manageable most of the ascents were mellow enough that I could just find my rhythm and spin up which is exactly what you want on a long trip like this in the end the Pictis Trail felt like one of the most ridable long-d distanceance routes I have done it has its tough moments sure but it also rewards you with the scenic miles smooth trails and the kind of flow you really appreciate when your bike’s fully loaded for anyone looking to move beyond beginner level trips into something longer more adventurous but still accessible this is a brilliant route to take on just consider starting in the south and heading north i think you’ll enjoy it more there you have it some of my favorite intermediate bike packing routes across the UK each one offers a unique challenge a chance to explore incredible landscapes on two wheels whether you’re easing into longer rides on the West Country Way or pushing your limits on a Black Mountain crossing these routes are perfect for building skills testing endurance and making lasting memories if these will feel a bit too challenging right now no worries why not check out these five beginner UK bike packing routes to get started on your journey so get out there pack your bags and start your next adventure the trails are waiting keep smiling and enjoy the adventure