Wessex - King Alfred's Way

Embark on an unforgettable Skedaddle adventure on King Alfred's Way, a thrilling 350km (220-mile) mountain bike journey that weaves through some of the most stunning paths and trails in the south of England. Starting in the historic cathedral city of Salisbury, we'll traverse an exhilarating loop that connects iconic long-distance routes like The North Downs Way, The South Downs Way and The Ridgeway.

Over six days of cycling, experience the true diversity of English countryside riding as you navigate everything from endless gravel bridleways and snaking tracks through heather clad hills, to technical off-road climbs, sweeping singletrack descents and deserted country lanes. Despite being close to bustling towns and cities, we'll quickly find ourselves immersed in peaceful landscapes, conquering singletrack routes that offer sweeping views of rolling hills. Named after the legendary 9th-century King Alfred of Wessex, this route also offers a journey through time, taking in breathtaking historical landmarks including the awe-inspiring Stonehenge, the ancient Avebury Stone Circle, Iron Age hill forts, and the magnificent Salisbury and Winchester cathedrals.

We're proud to offer this new cycling holiday on one of Cycling UK’s seven long distance routes. When you book on this holiday you’ll have an option to donate to Cycling UK to help with the upkeep of this route and others like it. Skedaddle will also be making a donation for every mile ridden on the King Alfred's Way for each of our customers.

Highlights

• Visiting historic Winchester and its Cathedral (and the King Alfred the Great Statue)
• Enjoying chalky hillsides and rolling countryside
• Riding short, technical ascents and soaring downhill on the South Downs and The Ridgeway
• Escaping from busy southern urban cities on ancient paths and rough tracks
• Biking a mix of undulating terrain on Salisbury Plain and South Downs Way
• Experiencing 10,000 years of history
• Marvelling at Stonehenge

King Alfred’s Way is best suited to those with good off-roading skills, and a good level of fitness, as there are a few steep climbs and descents, and daily distances vary between around 45 to 80 km (30 to 50 miles) a day. We recommend mountain bikes for this tour (hardtail or full sus) as they will make for more comfortable riding, particularly on the rougher and sometimes rutted descents, and in the event of adverse weather conditions.