Rebellion Way 1: Ride Cycling UK's new Norfolk route with the writer

The Rebellion Way is a 225 mile, 375km historically inspired gravel adventure loop around Norfolk that I created together with awesome bike charity Cycling UK. Ride with me around the first part of the route from Norwich to Sandringham to get a taste of the stunning scenery, fascinating history and surprising stories that make this a marvellous introduction to multi day riding for anyone.
Massive thanks to Cycling UK for asking me to create this route as part of the EXPERIENCE Cycling initiative and commissioning me to write the guidebook which you can buy here shop.cyclinguk...
And for more information and GPS downloads visit here www.cyclinguk....
And if you enjoy this video please consider joining Cycling UK so they can create more routes like this, campaign for better access and advocacy for cyclists and get yourself great deals, comprehensive rider insurance and a regular magazine in the process.
Cheers
Guy K

[@GuyKesTV]

If anyone fancies some shorter historical based Time Travel Gravel day routes I've just started a new channel at kzbin.info/door/gB0GZ1kKDGGy2wS_awiRXg

[@sing_cycle_referee]

Will you be doing a Wolf Way guide ride in the future? Love your vids but they give me serious wanderlust!

[@sianmorris9015]

My husband and I finished the Rebellion Way on Thursday. We did the ride over 5 days on gravel bikes starting and finishing in King's Lynn. We loved every minute. The weather was great and we stopped so many times to take in the sites/views and took many photos. We bought the book from Cycling UK before our ride which was really informative and a big help. We are already planning our next bike packing adventure!

[@GuyKesTV]

@@sianmorris9015 that’s so great to hear. Norfolk is glorious in good weather.

[@robinrai4973]

Just graduated from here, wish I was into touring when I was there! Doing Mariott's way a bunch was great though!

[@TheSavin1]

My wife and I finished this ride 2 days ago (11th July 2024). We are in our late fifties and used 2 electric gravel bikes, and did it over 5 days. I downloaded the route onto my Gaia App and it worked very well. The ride itself was pretty easy and there were lots of beautiful Castles, churches and villages so it was very civilised. Unfortunately we had 3 rear - wheel punctures, which caused us a few problems (one happened during a monsoon!). Also I felt that some of the off road sections were a bit pointless. For example spending 10 miles wondering around Thetford forest was a bit boring - especially when there were quiet minor roads nearby. If you are taking your bike on a train (i.e. to Norwich), you MUST book, as spaces are so limited (2 per train). But all in all I would recommend this route if you are looking for a nice easy tour with plenty of places to stop off at.

[@kevelliott]

This is brilliant! I'm moving to Norwich soon, & I have friends in March, Cambs. ( also an archaeologist!) and on the North Norfolk coast. This came along just at the right time.

[@GuyKesTV]

Excellent. Make sure you check out the Experience Hub routes I did from Wroxham, Cromer and Hunstanton that are on the Cycling UK website too. Loads of great riding round there (as long as you don't want hills).

[@Jan-x6c]

Oh all well and good for you .

[@sleepdepredation]

well done for stringing our local lanes together to make this route. coming from Norwich I look forward to riding it and finding some new gems

[@GuyKesTV]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@FENCYCLIST]

Great informative video, can't wait to try the whole route, done lots of Norfolk, it's very local to me in Cambridgeshire. Would start and finish in King's Lynn as its an easy 1/2 days ride from Peterborough

[@MysticMac000]

UCI should watch this and take notes 😄 Nice video, Guy!

[@grumpy-dad3701]

i rode the pedders way from thetford to holme-next-the-sea and back last year. i think this route will be my next year's adventure.

[@kevincross9206]

Cracking route Guy, definitely a great part of these isles 👍🏻

[@badhorse84]

I am looking forward to upload it to my Garmin and give it a go....little stunner

[@garethhope1]

Just amazing video thank you and will be buying the book and joining Cheers

[@CF2UK]

Thumbs up all the way

[@philtomlinson8220]

Looks lovely. If I'm ever down that way, it's a route I'd like to have a go at.

[@StellarSailor]

Loved this

[@brendanford4850]

Thank you Guy I am very appreciative of this video. Raining here in nz so, I was happy to have ridden along with you and your stunning commentary this morning.

[@Joecycles]

absolutely love the history you give to the routes you showcase

[@GuyKesTV]

Thanks Joe, I should probably do an unedited version as I regularly disappear down all sorts of random historical wormholes while I'm pedalling along

[@paulr7496]

top route. love the historical/archaeological info. My mate and I explored this area for the first time this summer with some cycle touring. Will deffo be back

[@SteveBrill]

Brilliant Guy! I do so love these informative rides highlighting so much historical interest. 👏👍

[@GuyKesTV]

Thanks Steve, really glad you enjoyed it. I'm planning to do a lot more historically based gravel routes too, so if you're on instagram give me a follow @pedallingpast

[@stantollerton3551]

What a fantastic historical commentary through an excellent route - thanks Guy!!

[@GuyKesTV]

Thanks Stan, glad you enjoyed it. I'm planning to do a lot more so if you're on instagram give me a follow @pedallingpast

[@jonh9777]

Hi Guy, I loved this video. Me and my other half watched this when it came out. She has since bought me the guidebook and the hotels for my 30th birthday! Thanks for the inspiration! Can't wait to get started!

[@GuyKesTV]

Now that sounds like a great birthday present. Hope you have a grand time on the loop.

[@jonh9777]

@@GuyKesTV it certainly is, I will report back once we have done it (June 2023).

[@chubbswithhubs]

Love this one, I've lived in Rotherham for 10 years so my next bike will be from on one and you are riding my childhood rides in this one, we would ride to Oxborough Hall and sit outside the pub have a sandwich drink of pop and ride back to Brandon, racers, bmx and mix of bikes, but back then only 1 or 2 cars passing

[@GuyKesTV]

Great memories! Planet-X are doing some good deals at the moment and I’ve been reviewing their bikes recently on my channel so that might help you decide which one is best for you 👍🏻

[@stevesnailfish]

Absolutely excellent stuff.....and a lovely part of the country... I'm playing a gig in Kings Lynn on 12th November (and our drummer works for Oxford Archaeology).....It's a definite medieval layout in the centre......as it proves to get to the venue Great history lesson too....I'll tune in to Part 2 !!!

[@GuyKesTV]

Thanks Steve, really glad you enjoyed it. Was really surprised how much well preserved history there is in Kings Lynn. Amazing bike path network too.

[@harleypix]

Excellent route & commentary. I did the Peddars way in May I’ll definitely be doing this route next spring.

[@GuyKesTV]

Really glad you enjoyed it. It'll be lovely in spring. I rode some of the recce work on it early this year and the flowers and wildlife were amazing. It was even warm enough for an ice cream in Holt in February though I can't guarantee that 🤣

[@fanlightfranny]

I've ordered the guide book today. I think I'll need to find a way around the off road sections on my loaded recumbent bicycle.

[@GuyKesTV]

Is it a tricycle recumbent or twin wheel? I can only think of a couple of narrow spots that would stop a trike.

[@chrisbardell]

This sounds brilliant. Planning to do tthe northern loop option starting at Hingham (not far from me), going anti-clockwise, camping. Will buy a copy of the book. All the best.

[@GuyKesTV]

thanks Chris, have a great time

[@Paul-gw8hy]

Love it….

[@MikeGrenville]

Done KAW on my MTB staying in hotels. Planning to do this April 2023 on my tourer and camping

[@TheAlejod]

Loved the history, which is sadly missing from most cyclists perspectives on the route. Hoping to do this next year and take in the culture and history alongside the cycling

[@GuyKesTV]

So glad you enjoyed that side of the videos Alison. I'm planning to start a whole separate channel of easy historical based routes. That is as soon as I have some spare time! If you follow @pedallingpast on instagram I'll update with news there.

[@julianhawker7672]

Cracking, book ordered, looking forward to riding this loop next year. What sort of average speed were you making to cover these distances? are there plenty of wild camping options around the loop? Cheers. 🙂

[@pedallingpast9350]

Faster than I expected. Probably 12-15mph but that includes stops, map checks, overshoots, going back to take photos I forgot, checking 'script' notes etc. I started from Norwich around 3pm, got in the bivi bag north of Swaffham at 10:30pm. Rolling again by 5am, finished at 9:00pm (I think). Was stopping a lot more that afternoon/evening though 🤣 Lots of wild camp spots if you're stealthy, though I'd say you'll need to look harder from Kings Lynn to Holt. Wouldn't use the Sandringham estate either.

[@Gdan85]

As a Norfolker, 2 wheel lover, and a slight addiction to history, this is great! If you fancy a ride around historic Kings Lynn, with a castle or two.. let me know.

[@GuyKesTV]

I’m just about to post a Kings Lynn, Castle Rising and Sandringham loop on my other Pedalling Past channel! Castle Acre is fantastic too, such a great area to ride

[@juliewap7075]

Hi Guy thanks for a super video and fab guide book. Planning on doing the route in May. Can I ask time of year you recorded the video - as the lavender was out was it July time? Many thanks.

[@GuyKesTV]

Really glad you enjoyed it Julie, it's a great ride. Just checked the dates on my photos and you're bang on 1-2nd of July 👍

[@daviddring8692]

Great video & very informative. What did you use for navigation. As you seemed to know every turn

[@GuyKesTV]

Glad you enjoyed it David. I used a Wahoo Roam GPS unit but writing the route definitely helped with knowing where it went too.

[@TheSavin1]

Definitely doing this with my wife. Looking forward to it. Flat and historical - the perfect combo for old farts like us!

[@GuyKesTV]

Fantastic, if you fancy some shorter gravel routes based around castles and cake (or anything else historical and edible) then have a look at the side project my wife and I are working on at 'Pedalling Past' kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2HUhp6XhNx3gtksi=OxkJ9JvepmeTVQCq

[@peterleffler2062]

Great work 👏Are you working on a Suffolk route to incorporate the Sandlings and maybe stray towards Constable Country? Go on. You know you want to!😂

[@GuyKesTV]

I would love to, but the funding we had was based around Norfolk. Fingers crossed we can get south of the border though as when I was looking at the Diss and Thetford area maps there were some great looking trails to the south.

[@4cett5]

Done this few weeks back on the mountain bike was a nice route just little flat for me.

[@lawrenceharrison]

This is superb content, Guy - thank you! May I ask which tyres you were riding?

[@GuyKesTV]

Sorry for the delay Lawrence. I was on the Maxxis Receptor, 700x40mm tyres that come as standard on the bike as I was testing it for the Bikeperfect.com website I work for. I'm really not a fan of them though. The soft compound means they don't roll as well as you'd think for a slick but they don't grip either. Corners and hard braking are really scary. The front tyre also stretched and blew off the rim several times near Hunstanton until it would only run at 10psi with a tube in. Thankfully I managed to get a super cheap second hand hybrid tyre from Darrel at Burnham Cycles or the ride back to Norwich would have been really slow and squelchy!

[@SaveTheHedgehog]

Nice video👍🏻. What is the bicycle computer brand/model?

[@GuyKesTV]

It's a Wahoo Roam. Bit basic for navigation compared to a Garmin but really easy to use otherwise

[@peterdelmonte9832]

I’ve bought the Cycling UK handbook and I’m watching the You Tube videos. Yet I can’t understand how you find your way. Not waymarked I understand but the handbook just has descriptions of the places along the way and sections of the Ordnance sheets, so far as I can see, without the route details. How do I know when to turn off roads and on to paths and tracks? I’ve backpacked and wild camped for years using handbook descriptions but I’m flummoxed by this one. Help!

[@davidraeside3816]

Guy! Daft question but what helmet are you wearing here?

[@GuyKesTV]

Not a daft question at all David, it's a Giro Agilis MIPS. Great helmet with a bit more protection than a normal road lid and Giro have got some killer deals at the moment too

[@davidraeside3816]

@@GuyKesTV Brilliant. Many thanks for the prompt response… and some great films!

[@robrobinson420]

Is there route in Suffolk there not much in Suffolk like rest of the uk. I ride same roads alltime and not much gravel riding

[@assuncaP]

hey Guy, what do you recommend for gravel tires? I have a Canyon Grail CF8 with Schwalbe one R, 40mm I believe. I'm thinking getting swapping for wider rubber for some extra comfort.

[@J.S.A.]

Depends on time of year - done fair bit of this/or routes/roads near by on 32 panaracer semi slicks back in spring.

[@J.S.A.]

That said I did the whole peddars way on 32s with a factor ls - though due to deep rut sections (like half a wheel deep) from farm vehicles and the fact it’s Sandy so you have to pick a line and stick with it on the downhills and somehow rocky at same time I wish I’d got something like 40mm on.

[@pedallingpast9350]

The trouble you've got is that the Schwalbe One R is the most supple, smoothest tyre you'll find. You could easily go bigger on another tyre and find it was less comfortable. They do do a 45mm though, or you could fit tyre inserts and run lower pressures.

[@blahblah24304]

It seems the route is mostly road based, komoot has it as over 75% road. Is this because there aren't off-road/bridleways as an alternative to the roads or was the volume of road chosen to be more beginner friendly?

[@GuyKesTV]

You could certainly add more gravel and tracks if you wanted but as it’s an ‘intro to gravel route’ I wanted to make sure everything was as weatherproof as possible. That means we dropped most field side tracks etc. that would be a muddy mess for several months. Also a lot of the ‘roads’ in the Komoot classification are borderline gravel anyway. I can certainly point you in the direction of more off road sections to add but TBH if you just open an OS map they’ll be obvious.

[@jonhowe8768]

06:50 The A470 is in Wales. You must have ment the A47.

[@GuyKesTV]

Ah dammit. Freudian slip as my daughter is at college in Aberystwyth. I'm working on a Mid Wales to Snowdonia route with Cycling UK at the moment though so hopefully I won't say A47 on that one.

[@fatbloaterdave]

Hi, Do you think this route is possible on a road bike with 28 or 30c tyres? (For an experienced rider)

[@GuyKesTV]

Well that’s what they ride Roubaix on so everything’s possible 🤣 Seriously if you know what you’re doing there’ll be a few lumpy fields, (east) cobbly bridleways (north) and some sandy bits in Thetford which will be a bit more of a challenge and obviously it’ll get slippery when wet but otherwise it should be fine 👍🏻

[@fatbloaterdave]

@@GuyKesTV Great thanks, i'm planning on taking a group of road racers with a mixture of bikes to do it in 2 days, we are all confident experienced riders, just dont all have offroad bikes.

[@fatbloaterdave]

@@GuyKesTV update to this in case others ask the same question. We just did this ride in two days on road bikes. 3 bikes with 28c tubeless 1 puncture between them. 1 bike with 28c tubes 4 punctures. It was a bucket load of fun! Thanks for the route.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@fatbloaterdave cheers for the update, glad you had a good one

[@Joecycles]

will guide book be as good as the king alfreds way book you did?

[@J.S.A.]

its out now, the guide book is great (I'm a local - and route goes through my village, and features in the guide) I'd say the guide is great.

[@GuyKesTV]

@@J.S.A. Phew, glad I didn't offend the locals 🤣

[@J.S.A.]

@@GuyKesTV ha… well actually 😉 (Tasburgh - mention old Roman fort? Used to have 7 pubs in the village? No no no… you went straight for the Nazi 😂😂😂). Jk jk. Route goes right past my parents home so can’t wait to do this (though I might deviate with local knowledge to diss). Needless to say - if a rider is ever in need of assistance/water in Tasburgh I’m sure there’s welcome help at theirs (dad is also keen rider). Just not sure how we get that word out there without the whole world descending (including the anti cycling brigade).

[@J.S.A.]

Tempted to do a good pub accompanying quide 😂 because there soooo many in Norfolk, (especially community pubs - great one near the route after the fen bit after diss for example in middle of nowhere) but like with anywhere you gotta do your research. And farm/village shops etc. so people don’t have to eat the usual muck out of garages etc. there’s lots of great produce about that you can get on the rides (my wife makes us do farm shop deli sausage roll crawls on our rides 😍)

[@GuyKesTV]

@@J.S.A. that would be fantastic. I tried to mention the good spots we found in the guide. The village shop in Garboldisham and Benediks (?) in Diss are particularly great as is Walshingham farm shop. But like you say so many options!

[@bkball23]

Hi I apologize for cussing at you and having bad thoughts and I ask for forgiveness

[@adriansmith38]

Count how many times he says beautiful. 😂

[@GuyKesTV]

Oh don't, It's awful isn't it. My head just gets stuck like a scratched record sometimes. I think someone once suggested you could use my videos as a drinking game. Unfortunately part two is probably even worse for it. I rode from 5am to 9pm and I was properly buffering by the end of it.

[@heywood554]

If you buy the guide book for this route, don't rely on the maps. They miss out sections of the route and while not huge sections, they are enough for you to get very lost.