WHERE TO GO

Almost anywhere you want! Legally, in England and Wales, you can ride down pretty much any right of way except footpaths.

Before planning your route, estimate how much mileage you’ll want to do in a day, taking into account daylight hours, load weight and terrain. It can vary wildly. On easy gravel trails you could cover 60 miles, but haul your bike through Peak District bog and you might do less than 15 miles in the same time. Terrain will affect your journey hugely, so plan accordingly. Will the surface be rideable? Will there be streams or rivers to cross? Will you be able to do that with a loaded bike? Take into account gradient both up and downhill.

Some classic UK bikepacking routes include the West Highland Way, The Pennine Bridleway, and The Lakeland 300. Or keep it short by riding out to a remote bothy, climbing a mountain, spending the night and wheeling back.

Taking a bike opens up so much more of the hills and landscape – there’s lots of adventure to be found. See komoot.com/discover/ bikepacking for lots of route ideas and recommendations.