Gravel racing is big and becoming bigger each year. We may not have the high-profile races in the UK that are so popular in the USA, such as Unbound Gravel, but there’s a wide range of gravel events available.
Many are non-competitive gravel grinders. The Grinduro-like format of gravel race with timed segments during an otherwise non-competitive ride is also popular, with Grinduro itself heading back to Scotland this year.
From accessible taster rides to huge, challenging adventures, the breadth of choice is now massive. Many UK gravel rides are multi-day events, with camping available onsite or bikepacking required.
Take a look at our pick of the best UK gravel rides and gravel grinders in 2026 and see if you’re tempted.
UK gravel race calendar 2026
| Date | Name | Distance | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 March | Cannock Chase Gravel X | 44 / 74km | £60.77 |
| 13 April | Southwold Roubaix Sportive | 25 / 50 / 75 / 100km | £25 / £30 / £35 |
| 24-26 April | Dirty Reiver | 65 / 130 / 200km | £70 / £85 |
| 25 April | North Wales Gravel X | 53 / 78km | £61.77 |
| 15-17 May | The Gralloch | 53 / 111 / 330km | £59.50 / £79.50 / £87.50 / £130 |
| 30 May | Rebound | 15 / 25 / 50 / 100 / 200 / 350 miles | Free |
| 31 May | Grand Old Dukes | 80 / 180km | £45 / £75 |
| 19-21 June | Dalby Grit | 110km | £87.50 |
| 26-28 June | Grinduro Scotland | 50 / 100km | £94 |
| 4 July | South Downs Century | 100 / 160km | £65 / £75 |
| 10-12 July | Gravel Rocks | 102km | £85 / £125 |
| 13 September | Struggle Borderland Gravel | 50 / 100 km | £59 |
| 26-27 September | Dunoon Dirt Dash | 135km | £99 |
Our pick of the best UK gravel races and rides
Here's our choice of the best gravel races, grinders and events to ride in the UK in 2026.
Cannock Chase Gravel X – 21 March
- Key features: Off-road forest sections, camping available on Friday & Saturday
- Date: 21 March 2026
- Location: Cannock, Staffordshire
- Distances: 44 / 74km
- Price: £60.77
- More info: gloriousgravel.com
This early-season event takes in a mix of gravel trails through the forest and quiet back roads around Cannock.
The course covers fast, flat sections, exciting tracks and small climbs, all of which should wake you up for larger races to come.
Southwold Roubaix Sportive – 12 April
- Key features: On-road route with optional gravel sections
- Date: 12 April 2026
- Location: Southwold, Suffolk
- Distances: 25 / 50 / 75 / 100km
- Price: £25 / £30 / £35
- More info: thepedalrevolution.co.uk
If you don’t want an entirely off-road ride, the Southwold Roubaix Sportive heads out into the Suffolk countryside and offers the option to hit its ‘Roubaix’ sectors, which it says are suitable for a gravel bike.
You can pass on one or more of them if you prefer to stick to tarmac, although the organisers say they're rideable both on gravel bikes and road bikes.
Dirty Reiver – 24-26 April
- Key features: Huge gravel event through remote Kielder Forest
- Date: 24-26 April 2026
- Location: Kielder, Northumberland
- Distances: 65 / 130 / 200km
- Price: £70 / £85
- More info: dirtyreiver.co.uk
The Dirty Reiver winds through the Kielder and Wark Forests over remote, well-surfaced forest roads with spectacular views and feed stations along the way. The 200km loop includes more than 3,000m of climbing.
Although non-competitive, the event is timed and there are cut-off times at intermediate checkpoints on the two longer courses.
This year's event has already sold out, but you can register for the waiting list in case more tickets become available.
North Wales Gravel X – 25 April
- Key features: Mix of flatter sections around reservoirs and steep climbs
- Date: 25 April 2026
- Location: Ruthin, Denbighshire
- Distance: 53 / 78km
- Price: £61.77
- More info: gloriousgravel.com
The North Wales Gravel X is a varied route, taking in a ride that’s 75 to 80 per cent off-road around remote reservoirs in the Welsh backcountry.
It starts flat and on the tarmac, then there are some big climbs and descents, as well as a 40km flat section around remote reservoirs on the long route. The day is capped off with a final descent back home.
The short route bypasses some of the flat riding.
The Gralloch – 15-17 May
- Key features: UCI World Series event in Galloway Forest Park
- Date: 15-17 May 2026
- Location: Gatehouse of Fleet, Scotland
- Distances: 53 / 111 / 330km
- Price: £59.50 / £79.50 / £87.50 / £130
- More info: grallochgravel.com
The Gralloch is part of the UCI Gravel World Series, although there's a sportive ride, too, for the less competitive. The event spans the whole weekend, with camping, shakeout rides, food and drink, music, guest speakers and more.
The day after the UCI event, the sportive covers the same route, although there's also a shorter option available.
This year, there's a new 330 km Ultra route for those looking for a distance challenge.
Rebound – 30 May
- Key features: DIY gravel ride on the same day as Unbound
- Date: 30 May 2026
- Location: You choose
- Distances: 15 / 25 / 50 / 100 / 200 / 350 miles
- Price: Free
- More info: rebound.cc/uk
The Rebound is one of the largest gravel events in the world. It challenges riders to put together their own gravel rides on the same day as Unbound takes place in Kansas, starting at 6am to coincide with the US event.
Better still, log your ride on Strava, and you'll be eligible for prizes, including entry to the real thing in 2027.
Grand Old Dukes – 31 May
- Key features: Large loop over varied tracks in the Trossachs National Park
- Date: 31 May 2026
- Location: Aberfoyle, Stirlingshire
- Distances: 80 / 180km
- Price: £45 / £75 per entrant
- More info: dukesweekender.com
The Grand Old Dukes is a gravel ride that takes place in Aberfoyle, Scotland.
The route is predominantly off-road and takes in 3,000m of climbing through the Trossachs National Park. It features a mix of fire roads, flowy trails, technical singletrack, punchy ascents and big descents. You can ride solo or take on the course as a multi-person relay (different prices apply).
There's also an 80km loop available.
Dalby Grit – 19-21 June
- Key features: Forest and moorland around Dalby Forest and North York Moors
- Date: 19-21 June 2026
- Location: Dalby Forest, North York Moors
- Distances: 110km
- Price: £87.50
- More info: Eventrac
The Dalby Grit takes in gravel roads in Dalby Forest and the surrounding North York Moors.
The 110km loop covers the finest gravel roads and linking trails in the area and provides close racing on punchy climbs, fast descents and long, flatter sections to really get the power down.
Grinduro Scotland – 26-28 June
- Key features: Off the beaten track through the Lakeland fells
- Date: 26-28 June 2026
- Location: Drumlanrig Castle, Scotland
- Distances: 50 / 100km
- Price: £94
- More info: grinduro.com/scotland
Grinduro is back in the UK this year, with its format of four timed segments for the main event on the Saturday, each of which takes around 5 to 10 minutes, with a mass start from Kingussie.
It's more than just the ride, though, with events throughout the weekend.
South Downs Century – 4 July
- Key features: Iconic route, almost all off-road.
- Date: 4 July 2026
- Location: Winchester, Hampshire
- Distances: 100 / 160km
- Price: £65 / £75
- More info: trailbreak.co.uk
With 160 kilometres, 4,000m of climbing and 90 per cent off-road along the South Downs Way to Eastbourne, the South Down Century is one of the UK’s must-try gravel rides along the chalk ridge, with spectacular views south to the sea and north to the wooded hills of the Sussex Weald.
There’s a 100km event, finishing at Truleigh Hill above Steyning, if you don’t fancy the whole distance.
Gravel Rocks – 10-12 July
- Key features: Grinduro-style with timed segments and riding over two days
- Date: 10-12 July 2026
- Location: Helmsley, Yorkshire
- Distances: 102km
- Price: £85 / £125
- More info: gravelrocks.cc
Gravel Rocks looks to emulate the Grinduro style with timed segments on longer loops. It starts on the Friday with a 10km night-time ride (bring charged bike lights) with two short timed segments, then continues on the Saturday to a timed morning loop of 52km and afternoon loop of 40km, with five timed segments in total. There's a final social ride on Sunday.
There's on-site camping and access to catering and a bar, plus showers. Most of the riding is within the North York Moors National Park and the grounds of the Duncombe Park venue.
Struggle Borderlands Gravel – 13 September
- Key features: Tough route through the Yorkshire Dales
- Date: 13 September 2026
- Location: Reeth, Yorkshire
- Distances: 50 / 100km
- Price: £59
- More info: ridethestruggle.com
Billed as an epic test of fitness, Borderlands Gravel takes in a variety of Yorkshire trails, with plenty of gnarly climbs and descents in Swaledale and Wensleydale. The 50km route option enables you to opt out halfway.
There's an optional road event on the Saturday over 180km/100km if you reckon you'll need a warm-up for the Sunday gravel ride.
Dunoon Dirt Dash – 26-27 September
- Key features: Two-day event north of Glasgow
- Date: 26-27 September 2026
- Location: Dunoon, Argyll
- Distances: 135km
- Price: £99
- More info: dirtdash.cc
The Dunoon Dirt Dash is a two-day, self-supported/self-navigated ride around the rugged Cowal Peninsula, between Loch Fyne to the north and Loch Long to the south, starting in Dunoon.
The first day is 65km, followed by a 70km second day, with around 2,500m of climbing. Camping (bring your own tent) and food (but not the plate or utensils) are supplied, before riding back to the start location.
