King Alfred’s Way, South England

Distance 353km (220 miles) Climbing 5,185m (17,011ft) Time 3days to 5days

Route summary A multi-day ride taking in a wide variety of terrain that feels remote but passes through, and past, various towns, cities and villages, with a wealth of history and sights to see along the way

Start/ inish King Alfred statue, The Broadway, Winchester (grid ref SU 485/293, postcode SO23 9BE)

Day 1 From Winchester, at the foot of the King Alfred statue in the centre of town, the route heads west, following ancient tracks and Roman roads to Salisbury. Follow the River Avon northwards to Amesbury and Stonehenge before skirting around the edge of Salisbury Plain and the Ministry of Defence area on the Imber Range Perimeter Path. The route then drops o the northern escarpment and passes through a few picturesque villages to arrive at Avebury.

Day 2 Join the Ridgeway National Trail at Avebury and follow it all the way to Goring, where you join the Thames Path to Reading. Head south from this city, riding alongside canals and tracks, cross the M4 and follow a variety of paths, and twisting and turning your way to the M3. An optional leg follows the Basingstoke Canal, until you drop down into Farnham to finish your second day.

Day 3 The route now crosses the sandy heathland of the Surrey Hills AONB and passes through stunning areas of natural habitat as well as more Ministry of Defence land and some luxury housing estates. It then heads south and eventually joins the South Downs Way National Trail, which it follows up and down the large chalky hills, until finally descending into Winchester to finish where you started – at the feet of King Alfred the Great.