BIKEPACKING : KING ALFRED’S WAY

KING ALFRED’S WAY : https://www.cyclinguk.org/king-alfreds-way

Immerse yourself in 10,000 years of history by riding this 350km loop around historic Wessex, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Alfred the Great. The route starts and ends in Winchester where Alfred is buried, and connects iconic monuments including Stonehenge, Avebury stone circle, Iron Age hill forts, Farnham Castle, and Winchester and Salisbury Cathedrals.

King Alfred’s Way is a 350km circular off-road adventure route through 10,000 years of history, connecting some of England’s most iconic sites.

Despite being easily accessible from cities in the south of England, you’ll feel like you’ve escaped from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Think white horses on chalk hillsides and wide-open views across rolling waves of countryside.

The name of the trail is inspired by Alfred the Great, who ruled the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex. The trail starts and ends at King Alfred’s statue in Winchester, where he is buried.

Using parts of the Ridgeway and South Downs Way, the trail is ideal for gravel bikes – or mountain bikes during the wetter months – and can be ridden over a few days as a bikepacking trip. It also connects with the Thames Path and the North Downs Way riders’ route, so you can combine multiple routes into a longer ride.

King Alfred’s Way forms a crucial part of Cycling UK’s goal to create a network of long-distance off-road routes across the length and breadth of Great Britain, through fascinating places and inspiring landscapes.

Join this channel and watch upcoming videos before anybody else!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Sn5BSyeebQdMJtQ4jVqsw/join

If you enjoy the channel and would like to show your support you can find me on: https://buymeacoffee.com/mraudax – Thank you!

– Camping Stuff –
Inertia X Frame Sleeping Pag – https://amzn.to/3fYIWex
Naturehike Mongar 2 Person Tent – https://amzn.to/3ColHBZ
Vango Microlite 300 Sleeping Bag – https://amzn.to/3VgKtwC
Sea to Summit Reactor Plus Compact Themolite Mummy Liner – https://amzn.to/3SUMUDk
Collapsible Non-stick pan – https://amzn.to/3rIVbyx
Sea to Summit Collapsible Bowl – https://amzn.to/3yy7Sjh
Camping Windshield – https://amzn.to/3Cq8F75

– Cycling Stuff –
RockBros Top Tube bag : https://amzn.to/3tzvGzo
RavPower 26800mah Power Bank: https://amzn.to/2KzUdSF
Tri/Handlebar GoPro Mount 1/2 – https://amzn.to/3i8zAtL
Tri/Handlebar GoPro-Cateye 2/2 – https://amzn.to/2XF6cSc
6 pack of GT85 Spray Lube – https://amzn.to/3EyUAa1

– Video / Audio Stuff –
HoverAir X1 – Close-quarters Drone – https://uk.thehover.com/
DJI Action 4 – https://amzn.to/3QpekT7
GoPro Hero 6 Black – https://amzn.to/3fYYgrF
GoPro Hero 5 Black for Helmet cam – https://amzn.to/3STD8BH
ProStandard Grill Mount (mouth mount)
Amazon Basic Lightweight Tripod with bag – https://amzn.to/3rIUB3P
Ulanzi GoPro Magnet Quick Release mount: https://amzn.to/2V4x0Kg
Camera Windshield Housing : https://amzn.to/2KBy6vb
WebCam: https://amzn.to/3m4m77e
Neewer LED Dimmable Light Panel: https://amzn.to/33iZ4OR
Lavalier Lapel Microphone – https://amzn.to/3ytW8yk

Please subscribe for regular vlogs and cycling videos.

// Homepage: https://ridebygravel.com/richard-lake/
// Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/8627950
// Instagram: https://instagram.com/rikki.lake/
// BuyMeACoffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/mraudax
// SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/richard-lake-5

#bikepacking #bikepackingbikes #bikepackinggravel

Contact me: richardlake45@gmail.com

hey folks how it’s Richard from bike packet adventures and I’m here in Oxfordshire here to ride the king Alfred’s way 345 km we have looks very promising the ride hasn’t gone without mishap though what up this is Glenn we met each other back couple years ago when we was there for the race around the Netherlands we went out for a bit of a ride this evening numerous issues with the so just been to an Alphas enjoyed a cup of tea and now just riding back to where I left the route so you join me 20 plus k a into this ride I started about 20 to 4 so not very been very far although I was never planning to do much this evening I was hoping to get a little bit further than uh this side ready take a look down at the moment see what Steed I’m on you see I’m riding a mountain bike the specialized epic Evo and uh yeah it’s probably a little bit Overkill however I got an event coming up in just over two weeks time the Great British Escapade and it’s just a bit of a training ride this really want to get the feel for this bike come out with a Vivy set up from hopefully I found somewhere out of the wind it’s not expected to rain or there might be a shower or satday if I’m uh a little bit unlucky of which I have wor a rain jacket a little summer rain jacket just in case hopefully I’m just going to sleep out under the stars so the idea is I have in mind is to head to a little place called Goring it’s about 5k from here it’s a test goes over until 11:00 p.m. so enough in there get a drink soon after that I’ll find somewhere to sleep cuz the next section between reading and Fen is quite built up and the idea will be in the morning going to a bike shop get some more uh plugs some more tubous sealant oh H this was a spot you’re in the corner of the water bed and uh yeah I’d love say it was a good night sleep but right these Nettles kep to have visitors flying into my Air so wasn’t that great to us probably didn’t get much sleep at all pretty much put everything think away just got to put the uh the ground sheet on which is coming very useful stuck that sck in the back uh and then head F the track so I’m a couple miles from uh reading so there’ll be plenty places to get rid of me rubbish and uh get some some breakfast and uh get some proper miles in cuz yesterday was just a get a few miles in get something off the total today is the first proper day of riding so looks like we’re head into the city center right now [Music] hopefully that is it one of the uh least enjoyable parts to move so far as a join Beach Hill Road cross over it very very muddy and wet standing water everywhere not nice so it’s still very early today I’ve not waed out yet but I need to smash I EAS I need to easily ride 100 miles today I believe me with much shorter easily ride tomorrow [Music] [Music] [Music] so I’m just looking down my numbers 285 285 km 25 to halfway so I want to make sure I’ll go beyond that and I’m not off to know his Arc that’s wrong way where is it it’s just there I think there a go left can’t right too many of those and I’ll never get around is it this way yes so just about to go down the uh Devil’s Highway that sounds nice I know where it’s called The Devil’s Highway stingy Nettles oh yeah devil sideway I tell you what despite it being a gravel route I’m really pleased of the mountain bike because after the Autumn winter we just had it’s very muddy very muddy indeed in [Music] places beautiful place to have a we hi yeah whatever you [Music] recognize the wi yeah you should do made my way to howford and imagine manag to get some uh supplies I’ve got some puncher worm things just in case cuz I only got two left some sealant mck off sealant Fantastic look like a just come through or to start of Compton very nice area beautiful houses some beautiful uh flowers and Gardens and uh trees so I left fars there without to pop into a shop or anything so I’m on the look out now [Music] we in t room ah it looks empty it looks quiet so I’ve stopped here I’m not sure it’s called f the F FB to say they got some coat got some water and I’ve got some nachos and a quick opportunity to recharge the batteries on a few things as well before I get going again so might not be a lot to eat but it’s going to keep me going for the next few hours it’s quarter 1 in the afternoon got 240 K too I think that’s doing all right so just want to try and get another 85 done today before well before it gets dark and I want a really good spot you know I want to settle down quite you early 9:00 something like that uh so I’m hoping for a better night sleep yes fingers crossed [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] reached the uh really suy part of the ride bear in mind I’ve got the worst of out the way to bring the camera out but yeah quite deep this bike makes MCE me out of it though most of it [Music] [Music] first little mini crash and I think it’s the devil steps or playground or something I did this or I walked this during uh Great British escapades it’s a bit of a long very Rocky climb so yeah see those bad boys there and just fell sideways right near the top as well some nice back [Music] Lanes now I’ve seen quite a few people with all the gear and hopefully plenty of ideas and everybody seems to be going anticlockwise to me I don’t know what that’s about probably a different route come be tidy cycling UK recommend doing this in a clockwise Direction like I mentioned earlier the route officially starts on Winchester but me being a norer I went to the most norly part of the route joined in there and that’s where I finish at some point tomorrow wow explosion of color down here these flowers they don’t have these in the north know what those are called pretty out there so yeah so I’ve seen plenty of people on bikes touring we like to call it that but it’s no one going the same way I am you know sometimes I’m uh St too stubid for me own good I saw big hill and thought I’ll just go around it dead end I just continue keep going didn’t want to turn back and eventually you know a mile later finally did just going to go up there I saw somebody walking the dog I thought I’ll just go around it’s coming up to 6 or it’s gone 6 o’ it’s like 3 hours of light I still got 198 to go Jesus Christ so the Target today was 160 or below and I didn’t really want to leave myself 160 for tomorrow not really it’s a lot to do so I might not get my perfect spot this evening I might just have to keep on cycling over the night until I’m happy I’ve got that number low enough if we do that I’ll get up super early and I get up super early scales not been very good in recent years [Applause] oh dear me oh this is a long walk beautiful view though it’s a shame about the motorway stuck right in the middle of it there so there behind me I just went through Queen Elizabeth I think it was right Queen Elizabeth Country Park that was loads of fun that’s where I got lost at least it led into it I don’t know lots of forests around here garmin’s lying to me climb complete it’s uh it almost certainly isn’t it do want to be left they just decided to tell me oh booger oh I’m going to go to that junk and I’m going to go there and cross over and not going back down a little way again so I have a plan 20 to8 Gilgo says it’s an hour and a half to Winchester but what’s Google now he assume he’s assuming going slow which I help I expose uh but I’m going to I’m going to think that’s going to probably be about half n or something like that maybe 9:00 I’m going to get to Winchester and get to filled up for the evening bit breakfast bit of evening meal maybe there’s takeaway there which is open I should imagine so I mean Winchester I think everybody’s here to that especially if they’ve ever watched Sha of the Dead [Music] [Music] I don’t know whether the South DS continues after Winchester or not I’m sure it’ll be somewhere nice to be up high hopefully that’s what I want Can’t Get What You Want You Can’t Always Get What You Want oh oh well that came through in a bton booger might be the last of the sun I see this Saturday just come through their meon springs that was a tough climb back onto the uh on to the toac lock everything off way I go hey folks good morning b a catch up on yesterday’s events so Road till 2:00 in the morning let’s get going and going and going just get the get the numbers down when I got to Winchester um ended up in a chicken Keat Place really Posh jkc or something it’s really really nice so I went to there um went to a garage got some supplies bought some uh nomadic cereal breakfast and grab that in a few minutes time been carrying this around for a while so I’ve got that for breakfast as well it’s uh 125k to go I think it is so follow on my bike again um so at that point I was like right let’s get something to uh sleep and it just happened after a long stretch of nothingness finally found a bench a perfect bench it’s almost perfect say it’s out out of the Sun so uh yeah but it was very very welcome anyway I get myself dressed have some breakfast and get it going again the time is 6:53 [Music] [Music] looking back to my arrival at the bench I say I’m pretty pleased actually there was nothing for a long time hence why I just kept going and going like I would been hitting little Pokey Woods I thought I want somewhere with you know a bit of dignity and it’s nice just have a bench just like that set out your stall look up at the [Music] stars St gold got me phone Googled I need breakfast and 50 m just run literally around the corner it’s a harvester brilliant excellent so I’m just going for a classic breakfast uh hot chocolate anyway I thought i’ just stop to talk to you for just a moment say yes my leg is okay bleeding it’s well it’s been bleeding a bit that’s going to be difficult to pull away in in the shower anyway uh also while I’m here just realized some USB ports on the wall USB a but I have got USB C so I can’t plug into anything and I’ve got plenty of adapters at home so next time I must remember to get a USB C to usba a adapter um just so I can probably think about charging the Drone wall anything else that’s a shame phone’s all right uh garmin’s perfectly fine it’s about 40% that should take me all the way home awesome [Music] sky is cleared the sun is out the wind is up and it appears to be pretty much in my face at the moment [Music] gone off the track a bit cuz there’s something quite interesting ahead I’ve never seen before so go to see that and just falling on some accessible land cuz I don’t think you can actually uh walk around it anymore might be wrong we’ll find out see how close we can get a beautiful field why not overc me again so might as well go me way a little bit now the official route would have taken us along the main road over there but this it’s a it’s Mountain bik ruin it so let’s keep the theme going I guess you can get up relatively close as thousand as of people ahead Stone Henge but uh yeah that was my weigh in [Music] [Music] [Music] so I’m heading towards the uh Southern Transit according to the sign I think I’m on to uh so as we playing I don’t know really windy and a slow climb up I’m actually starting to uh Tire a lot going up here espci has his headwind as well it’s all rather slow goinging hard work I’ll get it done eventually I’m in a dark place at a minute okay not dark dark but dark enough this is tough it’s not good as it I’m on the Ridgeway this is where second UK decided which way you should do the route normally should be doing it clockwise and that’s why I’m doing but today the wind is nor and that is why I’m getting W up cuz it’s such slow progress um I’m going to have a nap for 10 minutes that’s it my 11 minutes is up time to get going again I think there’s a few Hills with white horses on them and I can see one over there if that’s where I’m going not so sure could well be cuz I’m heading east at the moment I think that’s it I think that’s the end course it’s going to be a long way to go but uh finally can see the end I sure have underestimated this one wow could have done with a full day on Friday I think yep walk in two of grown there like three channels and it’s uh starting to descend it’s like a dip each one you have to keep it tie you dead straight I’m not into that there’s a white dot to you on the landscape which is the White Horse Hill I’m heading towards I imagined starting this video that’s where started from showing you the horse on the hill of course when you’re there you can’t see anything anything and now can see it it won’t come up from camera it’s too far away just had a rude surprise on the screen it wasn’t the horse 43k to go after fall in the afternoon lots of climbing store to do hands Palmer hands are absolutely aching I knew it was going to be a long day again but I thought I was least going to get home 10 o something like that sleep well tonight when I do eventually get home 43k to go thought it was more like 4 feel like somebody’s watching me oh is it just a dream oh a [Music] [Music] just random Boulders in fields everywhere just come out the uh milk dispenser filled up drank a complete half a liter bottle and then uh filled up again really yummy right 30 something K to go battery Lo running low i s it again soon okay update 20 M to go been cursing at the Ridgeway it’s uh got a little bit better now but when it’s ridges like this and the’re deep cuz it’s open to vular traffic in sections of it bloody awful now it’s got better again so happy days long may it say just like this back there I was really starting to hate it seems like the last few Clips I made is me moaning and more and more to camera but folks this is hard really is hard hard to cram into such a SP short space of time and you know enjoy two good night sleep I’ve had one first one I just got to sleep very well but that’s my bad really for not stop somewhere better I am enjoyed honestly but it’s definitely type two c for well folks hope you enjoyed watch me batting the way through the king Alfred’s way I hope as you inspire to get out and ride your bike this summer what a beautiful evening once again comments questions have you been in the king Al way how did it go for you stick them down below don’t forget to hit subscribe give the video a thumbs up and I’ll catch you in the next one again soon bye-bye [Music] for [Music]