If you're looking to plan some gravel action for 2024, you've come to the right place. This year's gravel calendar is quickly filling up and if you sign up early, you can grab the early bird prices at many of these UK gravel events. The following events are very much worthwhile considering, no matter your racing intentions.

• Gravel racing - what's next for cycling's fastest growing discipline?
• Gravel race tips: Five tricks for tackling your first long event
• Gravel cycling: Unsupported vs organised gravel events

The Gralloch

Last year's first-ever UCI gravel race on UK soil was a massive success and attracted a host of pro and amateur riders to the tiny Scottish village of Gatehouse of Fleet to compete for what ended up being deer antlers. We saw WorldTour pros Connor Swift and Tiffany Cromwell take the crowns but who knows how 2024 is going to pan out? If you fancy getting into the top-level gravel but prefer to not leave the UK to do so, this event is one to look at entering. 

Entries start from £68. 

• Read more and register here

Brwydr y Graean

Ruthin, Wales
6 July 2024

This event in North Wales is the second UCI gravel race in the UK and is set to be a true gravel battle (Brwydr y Graean translates to 'battle on the gravel'). There are two qualifying distances, 47km (for those over 50) and 106km. The 47km shorter course is a copy of the first 40km of the 106km course, which starts on paved roads and after the first climb of the day the race takes riders on a local lap of 60km which needs to be done 1.5 times before entering the finish section around the Brenig Reservoir”.  About two-thirds of the course is on gravel and the rest is on paved surfaces. 

Registration details are not yet available.

• Read more here

North Wales Gravel X

Ruthin, Wales
6 April 2024

Glorious Gravel is organising this less competitive ride that also starts from Ruthin. The 81km or 51km routes take in forests, rolling back roads and gravel tracks around the area's reservoirs, showcasing the best gravel this region has to offer. 

As with any Glorious Gravel event, you get checkpoints with real food, a signed route, mechanical support and beer at the finish line. 

The tickets cost £49 and are available now. 

• Read more and register here

Raiders Gravel

Despite taking place at the same location as the Gralloch, this event is a lot less demanding. The three-day long event has a "ride" and "race" category, meaning that you could either smash it on the beautiful Galloway forest tracks or enjoy the views and simply ride the courses that vary between 70 and 80km for each day. 

Entries for the three days start from £195. 

• Read more and register here

Dirty Reiver 

Kielder Forest, England
April 2024

Dirty Reiver is a staple of the gravel calendar and one of the most popular gravel events in the UK. This event offers three different route lengths: 65km, 130km or 200km, and although you get a timing, it is not a race. So if you want a podium, this is not one for you - although nothing prevents you from racing against yourself or a few pals. 

The course options are also built so that you can bail out of the longer routes in case things go a bit pear-shaped early on in your ride. Even if they do, though, there's always support around and the Reiver feed stops are some of the best I've ever experienced at gravel events and the overall buzz of the event is not comparable to others. 

This one regularly sells out in hours so mark your calendars: entries opened on 1 December 2023 already. Prices start from £60. 

• Read more and register here

GBDURO

Land's End, England, to Cape Wrath, Scotland
17 August 2024

This gravel event is more of an ultra-race covering 2,000km from Land's End to Cape Wrath on road, gravel, singletrack and everything in between. Famous finishers of this race include Lachlan Morton – it's not a challenge for the faint-hearted. 

The ride consists of four timed stages, each about 500km long and the lowest aggregate time over the four stages wins... nothing. As is often the case with ultra races, there are no podiums or prizes up for grabs, just respect from your mates and other cyclists. 

Entries open on 14 February and it's worth mentioning that this is a no-fly event so you'll have to get to the start by other means than airplanes. 

• Read more and register here

Rapha Pennine Rally

Edinburgh to Manchester
28 May – 1 June 2024

Rapha's annual Pennine Rally is an event that is limited to 125 riders, but this allows the event to offer an equal split of gender identities and accept applications from underrepresented groups in cycling. You can ride the 500km long (mostly off-road) route in either five or three days, and the whole ethos of this being a rally is that you're taking your time and making new friends along the way. Again, this is not a race but you'll get three control points, GPS tracking and all sorts of fun by taking part.

Applications are open from 9 - 31 January so get yours in ASAP. 

• Read more and register here

Lauf Gritfest

Rhandirmwyrn, Wales
June 2024

Lauf Gritfest is a timed gravel race open to all off-road bikes. Over the long weekend, you'll tackle sone incredible riding within the Cambrian Mountains and the routes include timed special stages on gravel and over a mixture of terrain. You will cover 125km over three days, compete on the seven timed stages and hopefully, have lots of fun. 

• Read more and register here

Struggle Borderlands

Dales Bike Centre, Reeth, Yorkshire
15 September 2024

Borderlands, organised by Struggle, is quite a new gravel event and offers two route options: an epic 100km challenging route or the 50km option, taking you across Swaledale and Wensleydale in Yorkshire. 

You can also make this event a weekend expedition and take part in the road version of the Borderlands on Saturday 7 September. 

You can pre-register now and the entries open on 1 March 2024.

• Find out more and register here 

Hotchillee Stone Circle

Hotchillee is well known for its spectacular, luxurious London-Paris events and, in 2023, we saw the organisers launch Stone Circle, a one-day gravel event starting from Salisbury. There are two route options available: 130km and 216km and neither is going to be a walk in the park. 

This event packs a lot of elevation, history (you will ride right past the Stonehenge) and open vistas of the South-West England ridges. If you enjoy a challenging day out, Hotchillee knows how to support you in doing that. 

• Read more and register

Hotchillee London-Paris Gravel 2024

London, England
19-22 September 2024

Hotchillee London-Paris Gravel is a three-day event covering 376km. While it technically isn't all in the UK; the route takes you from London to Paris on some varied gravel tracks, across fields and down forest paths. I was lucky enough to take part in the inaugural event in 2022 and, to date, no other event has surpassed the organisation, support and premium treatment of the London to Paris gravel event. 

If you enjoy a feeling of exclusivity and all-inclusive, point-to-point riding and prefer sleeping in a nice hotel every evening, this event won't disappoint. 

Prices start from £1,650. 

• Read more and register here

Muck n' Mac Fest

Innerleithen, Scotland
3-5 May 2024

Muck n' Mac Fest is returning for the third year and offers riders a weekend packed with a wee bit of racing and a whole host of off-the-bike activities. You can choose to ride the short (40km), long (75km) or adaptive route on Saturday and Sunday and the overall weekend includes six timed stages where you can see how you fare against your fellow riders.

Outside of the riding, you can enjoy live music, yoga, talks and films – and you can bring your non-riding pals along to enjoy the event village, too. 

Entries are open now and prices for one-day tickets start at £65. Full weekend tickets start at £100 for the short route. 

• Read more and register here

Wild Cycles Mason South Downs

Coombes, England
11-12 May 2024

Wild Cycles is renowned for organising gravel events that take you beyond the beaten tracks. This two-day South Downs event is a 165km bike-packing adventure along one of the UK's most iconic gravel routes covering the South Downs National Park from West to East. You will be hosted by Mason Cycles HQ overnight and get great scenery, outdoor fireside chats and delicious food – before finishing just outside Eastbourne. 

Price: £95

• Read more and register here

Wild Cycles Wild Wales Gravel Festival

Wales
7-9 June 2024

It's been said earlier in this article, but the Wild Cycles' gravel festival is definitely not a race. Instead, the event takes you to the Welsh hills for a different take on the legendary Rab Wild Wales Gravel Festival. This is a special weekend for those looking for a chilled atmosphere, a no-frills basecamp vibe and just having a great time riding bikes with like-minded folk. No timings, no podiums, no stress. 

• Read more and register here

Wild Cycles King Alfred's Way

Winchester, England
18-21 July 2024

If you want to go on a group bikepacking adventure, Wild Cycles' King Alfred's Way is a great place to start at. The event spans four days taking on a circular route covering 220 miles through King Alfred The Great's Anglo-Saxon Kingdom. You start and finish in Winchester and will see spectacular Wiltshire, Wessex and Surrey countryside as well as the South Downs Way and England’s oldest Roman road, The Ridgeway. 

Price: £435 

• Read more and register here

Wild Cycles Mellow and Wild Surrey Escape

Surrey, England
16-18 August 2024

The details of this one are yet to be ironed out by Wild Surrey but we will update this entry as soon as we receive all the details.

• Read more and register here

Haldon Heroic

Exeter, England
14 April 2024

The Haldon Heroic is a Gravel Ride/CX sportive set in the Haldon Forest Area, featuring scenic gravel trails that you'll self-navigate. Riders get chip timing, medals and event t-shirts. There are also camping and post-ride massage services available. There are three route options: 81km, 54km or 24km. 

The price for entries starts at £32.50.

• Read more and register here

Tour de Dart

Dartmouth, England
3-4 August 2024

Tour de Dart 2024 is a new bikepacking adventure in Dartmouth. Riders can choose to ride either 160 or 100km over two days. On Day One, you'll trace scenic bridleways and lanes along River Dart's west side to the Hexworthy campsite on Dartmoor. The campsite is complete with a bar, catered meals and a live band at the 'Cow Shed.' On day 2, you'll ride back to Dartmouth on the east side of the river. You can choose between fully self-supported bike packing or opt for luggage transfer. 

The price for the two days is £80. 

• Read more and register here

Devon Grit

Devon, England
25 August 2024

This event is making a return for the fifth year and promises to take you on the best gravel trails of East Devon.

There are five routes available spanning from 22km to 100km. The route highlights include Woodbury Castle and "great single track on the common", a section of the Exe Estuary path, a climb up for views of the sea at the top of Beacon Hill, and also Mutter Moor. You get a timing chip with your entry, as well as an event t-shirt and feedstops and all the rest of it. 

Prices start from £25. 

• Read more and register here

Kinesis UK Dorset Dirt Dash

The Kinesis UK Dorset Dirt Dash offers two different events on the same route over one weekend. You can choose to do the 100-mile route over two days or on one go, and both options take you around the amazing scenery on the Isle of Purbeck around Swanage. This was one of the first gravel events in the UK and is the perfect way to experience the rugged beauty of Dorset and the Jurassic Coast with fine gravel riding, camaraderie and castles.

Entries are £95.

• Read more and register here

Lezyne Cateran Dirt Dash

Perthshire, Scotland
4-5 May 2024

The Lezyne Cateran Dirt Dash, a cooperation with the Cateran Ecomuseum in Perthshire and Angus, is a self-supported, two-day bikepacking event taking you around the dramatic scenery in the Cateran Ecomuseum. It is the perfect way to experience the rugged beauty of Scotland’s only museum without walls. This event has a shorter route than the Dashes in Dorset and Dunoon; it’s the perfect introduction to gravel riding and bikepacking in Scotland.

The route is about 26 miles (42km) on day one and 29 miles (47km) on day two and there might be some technical sections that require pushing your bike. 

Entries are £95. 

• Read more and register here

Lezyne Dunoon Dirt Dash

Dunoon, Scotland
21 - 22 September 2024

The Lezyne Dunoon Dirt Dash is the third Dirt Dash event and it follows the same format as the two above – it's self-supported and not timed. The Dunoon version takes you around the amazing scenery on the Cowal Peninsula not too far from Glasgow. You will have an overnight camp and the total riding distance is about 130km over the weekend, and there might be some techy bits so this is best suited for the burlier gravel bikes or even mountain bikes. 

Entries are £95.

• Read more and register here

Frontier 300

Colvend, Scotland
7-8 June 2024

Is long-distance cycling your thing? Then this 300km gravel event is one to add to your calendar. The Frontier 300 is not a race but an epic, supported ride from the west coast of Scotland to the east coast of England. In essence, you're trying to make it to the East Coast in time for the brunch party. And then ride back. The terrain is 50/50 tarmac and gravel and you will be supported by feed stations and good vibes along the way.

Entries opened on 1 November 2023 and the prices start from £125 for solo riders – or you can choose to ride as a pair, too. 

• Read more and register here

Grand Old Dukes

Aberfoyle, Scotland
11-12 May 2024

This 111-mile-long, brutal event had its first edition held successfully last spring, and to every gravel rider's joy, it's coming back for 2024. Grand Old Dukes is a new long-distance challenge in Gravelfoyle (Aberfoyle) and you will be climbing a lot (10,000ft) on the predominantly off-road route. You get timed for your effort, three feed stations and there is a festival village to enjoy once you're done. 

The riding around this area is some of the best as far as gravel goes, so if you want to experience it all in one monster day, sign up. 

• Read more and register here

---

We're still waiting for many dates to be confirmed for 2024, so keep checking back in on this feature as we'll keep updating it as we get more event info.

You might also like:

• UCI Gravel World Championships 2023
• Gravel bike racing – everything you need to know
• Gallery: Bikes of 2023 UCI Gralloch Gravel Race