From the Dales Divide in April to Bear Bones in October, a complete guide to UK bikepacking races, gravel festivals, and self-supported challenges in 2026.

The UK bikepacking season runs from April to October, with events for riders at every level. You can enter a 600km coast-to-coast ITT race in early April. Or ride 65km of Kielder forest gravel at a well-supported sportive in the same month.

This guide covers the main UK events in 2026: what has already happened this season, what is still to come, and how to find your way into the scene if you are new to it.

Three types of event

Before you enter anything, it helps to know what you are signing up for.

Self-supported ITT races are the purest form of bikepacking racing. ITT stands for individual time trial. There is no race director, no feed stations, and no outside assistance permitted. You carry everything. You navigate yourself. The clock runs from the moment you start until the moment you finish. The Highland Trail 550 and Dales Divide are the UK's most well-known examples.

Mass-start challenges sit in the middle. There is a fixed start date and a shared start point, so you leave alongside other riders. You are still self-supported once you are on the route. The Great British Divide and Tor Divide work this way.

Organised gravel events are structured sportives with entry fees, timing chips, and often feed stations or finish-line facilities. The Dirty Reiver and the Glorious Gravel series are the biggest examples in the UK. These are a natural first step for road cyclists and mountain bikers who want to try off-road riding without the full bikepacking commitment.

The 2026 calendar

April: the season opens

Dales Divide — 3 April 2026

The Dales Divide is the cultural heart of UK bikepacking ITT racing. Six hundred kilometres from Arnside on the Cumbrian coast to Scarborough and back, self-supported and free to enter. Over 300 riders started the 2026 edition, including Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee, who won in just under 35 hours through Storm Dave. Winds reached 80mph across the Dales. Brownlee's finish made national news.

The Dales Divide is widely considered the best event to enter if you are new to ITT racing. The free entry, community spirit, and accessible terrain set it apart from the harder races. It is also the first leg of the UK Triple Crown (see below). Entries for 2027 open in early spring.

Dirty Reiver — 25 April 2026

Kielder Forest in Northumberland. Three distances: 65km, 130km, and 200km, all on hard-packed gravel forest roads. Ten years old in 2026. Entries sold out within 24 hours of opening in September 2025. The Dirty Reiver is not an ITT race, riding is not permitted on the shared-use trails, but it is the UK's biggest single-day gravel event and has introduced more riders to off-road cycling than anything else in the country. If you missed this year, set a reminder for the September entry opening. Our Dirty Reiver guide covers what to expect and how to prepare.

May: the races get serious

Highland Trail 550 — 9 May 2026

The HT550 is the most prestigious bikepacking race in the UK. Five hundred and fifty miles of Scottish Highlands terrain, starting and finishing in Tyndrum. Sixteen thousand metres of climbing. A finish rate of around 50%. In 2026, 62 riders started in the coldest conditions in the event's history, with overnight temperatures reaching -7°C. Justinas Leveika won in 3 days, 11 hours, and 49 minutes. Kerry MacPhee finished third overall.

Entry is balloted, with a single application window opening in November each year. If you are serious about the HT550, our HT550 kit review and full equipment guide are good starting points for understanding what the race demands.

Tor Divide — 16 May 2026

Three route options through the Peak District, starting from Edale. The full Divide is 250km with 5,500m of climbing and 55% off-road. The Peak Gravel option suits gravel-specific bikes. There is a community camp start and a finish-line pizza, and the relaxed atmosphere makes this one of the better first ITT-style events for riders new to multi-day bikepacking.

The Gralloch — 15 May 2026

Based in Galloway Forest Park, the Gralloch is Britain's only UCI Gravel World Series round. The main race covers 111km on 80% gravel, with 1,761m of climbing. There is also a 53km sportive option and a 320km ultra distance new for 2026. Over 3,000 riders from 47 nations entered this year, with UCI Gravel World Championship qualification places available for the top 25% in each age group.

June: summer racing begins

Trans Alba Race — 14 June 2026

One thousand and thirty-five miles around Scotland, including four ferry crossings. Completely self-supported. Riders choose their own routes between checkpoints. Only the full route is running in 2026. Add to Google Calendar

July: the ultra season

Great British Divide — 18 July 2026

Two thousand kilometres from Canterbury in Kent to the north of Scotland. Thirty-five thousand metres of climbing. Approximately 70% off-road. The Great British Divide is not a race but a challenge event, capped at 75 riders. Most people complete it in around two weeks. A shorter 1,400km route starts two days later. Our bikepacking packing guide and camp setup kit list cover the essentials for planning a multi-week expedition like this. Add to Google Calendar

South Lakes BikeFest — late July 2026

Staveley, Cumbria. The Sonder Gravel Ride at South Lakes BikeFest offers two distances (40km and 60km) through the southern Lake District, with Sonder demo bikes available on the day. Alongside it runs the South Lakes 100 (the Jennride), a free self-organised 100-mile bikepacking route. Camping, live music, and a strong community atmosphere make this the most social event on the calendar. Our South Lakes 100 kit list covers what to pack for the Jennride. Add to Google Calendar

August: the big push

GBDURO — 15 August 2026

Land's End to John O'Groats, split into four timed stages of roughly 500km each. The GBDURO is a self-supported bikepacking enduro where lowest aggregate stage time wins. Road, gravel, and singletrack throughout. Eighth edition in 2026. Read a first-hand GBDURO account for a sense of what the race demands. Add to Google Calendar

North Wales 400 — 28 August 2026

Four hundred and ten kilometres of North Wales terrain, starting and finishing at Llandegla Forest. Ten thousand metres of climbing. The route includes an ascent of Snowdon and several hike-a-bike sections. The NW400 is the third and final leg of the UK Triple Crown, and it is explicitly designed for experienced riders. Tom Bruce created it as a training challenge for the HT550. Read a first-hand account of riding the North Wales 400 route to understand the terrain. Add to Google Calendar

October: the season closes

Bear Bones 200 — 3 October 2026

Two hundred kilometres of Mid-Wales bridleways and gravel, starting from Llanbrynmair in Powys. The route changes every year and is kept secret until shortly before the event. No outside assistance is permitted, including from fellow riders. The Bear Bones is shorter than most events on this list but it is one of the hardest: rough terrain, demanding navigation, and October weather in mid-Wales that is rarely kind. A sub-24-hour finish earns the coveted black badge. Read our Bear Bones 300 report for a sense of what the event demands. Add to Google Calendar

The UK Triple Crown

The UK Triple Crown links three events in a single calendar year: the Dales Divide (April), the HT550 (May), and the North Wales 400 (August). Riders who complete all three are tracked on a combined leaderboard on DotWatcher, with finishing times added across the three races. It is the closest thing the UK bikepacking scene has to an overarching competition structure, and it gives regular racers a goal that stretches across the whole season.

Where to start

If you are new to bikepacking events, most riders follow a similar progression.

Start with an organised gravel sportive. The Dirty Reiver's 65km distance or a round of the Glorious Gravel series gives you a feel for long days on gravel without the logistical demands of carrying your own shelter and food.

Then try a multi-day challenge with a community start. The Tor Divide works well here: you carry your own kit and navigate yourself, but you start alongside other riders and the atmosphere is supportive.

The Dales Divide is the natural step into ITT racing. It is free, well documented, and the community around it is welcoming. Many riders do the Dales Divide as their first ITT race and then reassess.

Beyond that, the HT550 is the goal at the top of the ladder. It requires serious preparation. Start with our guide to bikepacking bags to begin thinking about what you will carry.