If you're looking for the Best Gravel cycling near London, the Chilterns are difficult to beat. 

Just a short journey from the capital, the Chiltern Hills offer a mixture of woodland tracks, bridleways, quiet country lanes, chalk hills, open countryside and challenging climbs.

And if you're looking for something more ambitious than a two-hour gravel ride, GRVL has created a route that turns the Chilterns into a serious gravel adventure.

The GRVL NYCHTHEMERON Chilterns route is a 284km gravel adventure with approximately 3,340 metres of elevation gain and a suggested completion time of 24 hours.

View the full GRVL NYCHTHEMERON Chilterns route on Komoot

It's a big ride.

But here's the thing: you don't have to ride it in 24 hours.

A 284km gravel adventure through the Chilterns

The route has been designed as a genuine endurance challenge, linking together a huge amount of the best riding the Chilterns has to offer.

At 284km, with more than 3,000 metres of climbing, this isn't a route you casually decide to ride after breakfast.

Komoot rates the route as hard, with a suggested 24-hour duration and a very high fitness requirement. It also includes a mixture of road, singletrack, paths and cycleways, with approximately 110km of unpaved surfaces.

That's exactly what makes it interesting.

Rather than simply riding a loop around one section of the Chilterns, this route gives you the opportunity to experience the area as a proper gravel cycling adventure.

And if 284km sounds intimidating, don't let the number put you off.

You don't have to complete it in 24 hours

One of the great things about using a route like this is that you can make it your own.

The full route is designed for the GRVL NYCHTHEMERON, where riders attempt to complete an approved route within a continuous 24-hour window.

NYCHTHEMERON isn't a race. It's a personal challenge against the clock, terrain and fatigue. GRVL currently has routes across the UK and beyond, with both 12-hour and 24-hour challenges available.

Find out more about the GRVL NYCHTHEMERON Challenge

But if riding 284km in one go isn't your idea of fun, simply break the route into stages.

In fact, Komoot itself suggests that most people would complete this particular route over four to seven days.

We think two or three days could make a fantastic long-weekend gravel adventure for a fit and experienced rider and would allow you to check out some towns and attractions the chilterns has to offer when not in the saddle.

Turn the route into a 2 or 3-day gravel adventure

Imagine leaving London on a Friday morning with your bike loaded with everything you need for a couple of nights away.

No airport.

No train to another country.

No complicated logistics.

Just you, your gravel bike, a route loaded onto Komoot and several days of riding through the Chilterns.

You could split the route into approximately:

Day 1 – 90–100km

Ride through the first section of the route, stopping for lunch, coffee and a proper evening meal before checking into your accommodation.

Day 2 – 90–100km

Another big day in the saddle, taking in more of the Chilterns and staying somewhere different for the night.

Day 3 – 80–100km

Finish the remaining section and arrive back at your starting point tired, probably dirty, but with a proper gravel adventure completed.

The exact split will depend on where you start, your riding speed, the terrain and where you choose to stay.

And that's the beauty of it.

You can use the Komoot route as your starting point and then edit it to suit your own adventure.

Make it a bikepacking trip

This route also lends itself perfectly to gravel bikepacking.

Instead of carrying everything on your back, use a lightweight saddle bag, frame bag, handlebar bag or small hydration pack.

The idea isn't to take everything you own.

It's to take enough to be self-sufficient without turning your gravel bike into a touring bike.

For a two or three-day adventure, think about:

• Lightweight cycling kit
• Spare layers
• Waterproof jacket
• Basic bike tools
• Spare tube
• Tyre plugs
• Pump
• Phone and navigation
• Power bank
• Food
• Water
• Lightweight evening clothing
• Toiletries

A small hydration pack can be particularly useful on a long gravel route. The GRVL 2L ADVNTR Hydration Pack has a 2-litre bladder, adjustable harness and removable cargo bag for carrying additional equipment, making it suited to longer days away from home.

And don't underestimate food.

284km is a long way to ride, particularly when you're climbing more than 3,000 metres. Plan your refuelling rather than simply hoping you'll find somewhere open when you're hungry.

Where to stay on the Chilterns gravel route

One of the advantages of turning this into a multi-day adventure is that there are plenty of towns and villages across the Chilterns where you can stop, eat and sleep.

The Chilterns National Landscape identifies several gateway towns around the wider Chilterns Cycleway, including Berkhamsted, Tring, Wendover, Princes Risborough, Amersham and Henley-on-Thames.

These make useful places to build overnight stops around.

Tring

Tring is particularly convenient for riders coming from London, with the Chilterns National Landscape noting that the fastest train journey from London Euston is around 34 minutes.

There are several accommodation options in and around the town.

Folly Farm Bed and Breakfast offers a traditional B&B option, while Pendley Manor Hotel provides a more substantial hotel option.

Premier Inn Tring is another straightforward option for riders looking for somewhere practical to sleep before getting back on the bike.

Aldbury

Aldbury makes a particularly attractive stop for gravel riders, sitting close to some of the most scenic parts of the Chilterns.

The Greyhound Inn in Aldbury is an option worth considering for an overnight stop.

It's also close to the GRVL community's riding base around Church Farm Café, making the area a natural starting or finishing point for a gravel adventure.

Berkhamsted

Berkhamsted is another excellent gateway into the Chilterns.

The town is officially recognised as a gateway to the 173-mile Chilterns Cycleway and has a range of accommodation, pubs, restaurants and other facilities.

The Penny Farthing Hotel is located directly on Berkhamsted High Street.

For a more traditional pub stop, The Kings Arms is another option in the town.

Wendover

Wendover is another useful stopping point and a gateway to the Chilterns and Ridgeway.

Bel & The Dragon at The Red Lion - Wendover provides accommodation in the centre of the town, while Hale House offers a B&B option.

The Chilterns National Landscape also highlights Wendover as one of the gateway towns for exploring the wider area.

Always check the accommodation's current availability, bike-storage arrangements and whether they are happy to accept bicycles before booking.

Don't be afraid to shorten the route

This is probably the biggest advantage of using a long-distance gravel route as your starting point.

You don't have to follow every kilometre.

If you're planning a weekend rather than attempting the full NYCHTHEMERON, open the route in Komoot and create your own stages.

You could remove sections that add distance without adding much to your adventure.

You could shorten a day if the weather turns.

You could add a café stop.

You could even decide that 60km is enough for the day and stop early.

That's what makes gravel cycling different from simply following a sportive route.

It's about exploration.

It's about having the freedom to change your plans.

And it's about discovering where a trail takes you.

What should you take?

For a serious 24-hour attempt, you'll want to think carefully about clothing, nutrition, lighting, navigation and mechanical support.

For a multi-day bikepacking adventure, your requirements change slightly.

You need enough kit to remain comfortable overnight while still keeping your bike light.

A good pair of GRVL gravel bib shorts is a sensible starting point for long days in the saddle, while the GRVL cargo bib shorts provide additional storage for longer gravel adventures.

For changeable Chilterns weather, a lightweight GRVL gilet can provide an extra layer without taking up much space.

And for longer adventures where weather can change quickly, the GRVL 3-season jacket is designed specifically around the demands of gravel riding.

Is this the best gravel cycling route near London?

That's for you to decide.

But a 284km route through the Chilterns, with 3,340 metres of climbing and a combination of unpaved tracks, paths, singletrack, cycleways and roads, certainly has the ingredients for an exceptional gravel cycling adventure near London.

For the experienced rider, it's a serious 24-hour challenge.

For everyone else, it's an opportunity.

Take two days.

Take three.

Turn it into a bikepacking trip.

Book a B&B.

Stop for coffee.

Find a pub.

Take photographs.

Ride with friends.

Or ride alone.

The important thing is that you don't look at 284km and decide it's too far.

Change the route.

That's one of the great things about gravel.

The route is there to give you inspiration. What you do with it is entirely up to you.

Ready to take on the challenge?

If you're looking for a genuine gravel challenge near London, take a look at the GRVL NYCHTHEMERON Chilterns route on Komoot.

If you're ready to test yourself against the clock, enter the GRVL NYCHTHEMERON Challenge.

Or simply download the route, shorten it, pack your bike and turn it into your own Chilterns gravel bikepacking adventure.

The Chilterns are waiting.