RATING UK’s BIKEPACKING ROUTES

in this video i rate what i thought of some of the uk's most popular bikepacking routes. who they are for what bike is best how was wild camping and the difficulty.
00:00 intro
00:35 South downs way
03:47 King alfreds way
06:47 Quantock & exmoor
09:15 Black mountain crossing
12:09 Bear bones bash
14:48 Great north Trail
18:36 West kernow way
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[@trelosenario]

Hi And thank you for this beautiful sum of experiences. Great music background , nice story telling and video footage. Great inspiration is always appreciated , i felt that i can do all of those trails tomorrow but i am not that fit yet, LOL. I Would Love to see more of your journeys.

[@Bg563]

Thanks so much, really helpful tips and some routes I've never even heard of! I really liked you're video about the west country way as well as I plan on doing the GB divide one day with some modifications. Greeting from Smithers British Columbia and cheers!

[@hazelexplores]

Thanks for sharing this video! Super helpful. Hoping to be fit enough to get back on my bike in a few weeks. Excited to try some off road trails!

[@boldhead011]

Really enjoyed this especially what bike to use. Cheers man!

[@gimme1smile]

Thank you for the great summary 👍

[@LesCyclopreneurs]

thanks for your video, we will follow your next adventures!

[@martintin250]

Great video, I hope to try one or two of these this year, maybe make another video. Good luck with your future videos. 👍

[@GeminiAC33]

Nice work this is really useful cheers 👌🏾👍🏾

[@tomekkruk6147]

I'm gonna take advantage of the good weather and try to do King Alfred's Way this weekend. My first multiple day ride with wildcamping as most of the stuff i did to this day was either one overnight kind of wild camping trips or multiple day ones with hotels and b&b's, so wish me luck:)

[@whollyspokes3645]

Great overview , cheers

[@josephbleazard8115]

Brilliant round up thankyou

[@KeepSmilingAdventures]

No problem 👊

[@trysomeme21-laurkawchmurka94]

Fu*k yeah, brilliant summary!

[@RoadyPacking-CyclingAdventures]

Cheers dude... I like your honest appraisals :-)

[@KeepSmilingAdventures]

Cheers bud 👊

[@grumpy-dad3701]

I've just completed the pedders way. Thetford to holme-next-the-sea and back. Already thinking about my next ride. If anyone is thinking of bikepacking. Do it, its well worth it. Whether it's solo or with friends. Wild camping is a great feeling.

[@grumpy-dad3701]

The Quantock and Exmoor loop looks pretty good. I could start it from Taunton.

[@paulsslightlyactivelife]

A brilliant round-up. Do you see yourself venturing to the East of England in the future? Would be good to see some trails in Essex/Suffolk/Norfolk counties.

[@KeepSmilingAdventures]

So you know of any routes in them areas ? Route suggestions always welcome ✌️

[@cupidstunt1975]

Look out for the ‘Further East’ route..a 375 mile loop starting and finishing in Cambridge.

[@grahambullman]

Awesome video. So helpful for us types wanting to do multi day trips. I ride an electric fat bike so don’t have too much issue with terrain, but do need to use B&Bs rather than camping if it’s more than an overnighter. I’ve ridden SDW and KAW, and your reviews are spot on. The West Kernow Way will probably be my next ride. Was the shopping trolley yours, for carrying all you camera gear?. 🤣. Keep up the great work.

[@KeepSmilingAdventures]

Glad you found it helpful, you will be thankful for that e assist on some of them climbs out of the coves on the west kernow way. Ahaha 🤣 just adding a bit of British culture to the videos 🛒

[@troglodytestroglodytes220]

I live in a village on Salisbury Plain. I think that KAW misses the best of The Plain for one reason. When the army are training (red flags flying) much of the central area is not accessible. The route had to be planned around areas that are permanently open.

[@KeepSmilingAdventures]

Yeah im sure that is the main reason but there is still some pretty fun actual gravel roads that i would have like it to hit

[@Foxtrottangoabc]

I really enjoyed Salisbury Plain doing the kaw . Having armoured vehicles go past me and the sound of artillery , chinooks really added to interest ! Decided it would be a great place to bikepack camp on an adventure on itself :)

[@troglodytestroglodytes220]

@@Foxtrottangoabc check out the MOD website that shows the planned firing days. August is a month where the ranges are mostly open to the public, maybe the army go on their hols.

[@Foxtrottangoabc]

@@troglodytestroglodytes220 thanks will check it out, would make a nice summer cycle , still have my discarded machine gun clip as a momento from last trip :)

[@paddyotoole2058]

Great to hear your breakdown and comparison of each one. However I think you have been a bit mean in your scoring of the KAW because for me the variety of the terrain, the decent length and the organisation / how it all links together is really well done, and also whilst still having that option of accessibility to civilisation if you wish (particularly if you are a softy like me who glamps it in B&Bs!). It’s definitely a great all round package for a trip and brings a lot to the table I think. Maybe the fact you’ve done it 4 times in less than 12 months has made it feel a bit meh for you?!

[@KeepSmilingAdventures]

I mean its all subjective and I'm sure its a really fun ride for a lot of people, but for me even the first time I completed it i just felt like it lacked some of the wow moments and omg this is so fun to ride. Its not bad but its not got the magic like some of the other routes. What rating would you have given it ?

[@paddyotoole2058]

@@KeepSmilingAdventures Probably a 6 or a 7. It’s all subjective like you say. The real wild middle of nowhere stuff and away from civilisation for days on end, and which you really love, isn’t really a plus for me like I say because I really like my creature comforts after a long day in the saddle - a hot shower, a nice meal and a comfortable bed makes the whole experience much more enjoyable for me. Plus not having that hassle of having to carry a tent and cooking gear etc. That side just doesn’t appeal, but I totally get why it would to others. Also the amount of hike a bike on the first half of your great north trail for example would be a real negative for me, and another plus point of the KAW which has very little hike a bike. I’d be taking those sort of things into account in my scoring, but that’s just what I like.

[@christopherhood9241]

awesome summary. Any more reviews planned / coming ?

[@KeepSmilingAdventures]

There will be more to come for sure, after i complete each one i make a video with all the details etc. here is a playlist with all the other routes kzbin.info/aero/PLWlIhD2zEcrInoXLgVz-sDqcE3I4g8yS1

[@robertmerry1693]

Great info on the rides. Great North Trail, that’s the one for me. Did you come across lots of images? Scotland is full of midges?

[@KeepSmilingAdventures]

In places they were around but not such an issue when actually riding, just when you stop. I tried to always set up camp high up or where it was a bit windy.

[@caw8981]

Thanks for all the great info, which bear bones route did you do?

[@KeepSmilingAdventures]

Here is the video BEAR BONES BASH - BIKEPACKING WALES kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2WUfHuueL12j6s Strava route is in the video description ✌️

[@chrisbarnett507]

Great stuff! Can you share gpx files of the routes or are they easy to find? I don’t think I saw the ridgeway on your routes? Cheers

[@KeepSmilingAdventures]

They are pretty easy to find but if there is one in particular you want let me know. I've not done the Ridgway as a stand alone ride, well not filmed it at least, you go on the Ridgway on the King Alfred's way though

[@chrisbarnett507]

@@KeepSmilingAdventures I’ve ridden it with some mates and kipped on it and in a pub a few months ago, it’s a good ride, we’ll signposted, fairly up and down, in a bivvy but never again a one man tent now for me! We’re planning on doing the kaw next