The Dirty Reiver

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The Dirty Reiver

The best gravel grinder event this side of the Atlantic. April 23rd - 25th 2027.

The Dirty Reiver is the largest gravel event in Europe and is a 200 km off road cycling challenge based on the Gravel Grinder format found predominantly in the mid west of America. Riders will traverse gravel forest access roads that service the vast areas of forest covering the border region of England and Scotland. The event will take riders through remote areas providing outstanding viewpoints across this spectacular part of the UK.

28/10/2026

There's a reason the Dirty Reiver presented by GRAVELKING has become one of the must-attend weekends on the gravel cycling calendar.

Yes, the gravel is incredible.
Yes, the scenery is breathtaking.
And yes, some of those climbs might have you questioning your life choices!

But the Dirty Reiver is about so much more than the riding.

🤝 THE COMMUNITY – Thousands of like-minded riders coming together, sharing stories, making new friends and celebrating everything we love about cycling.

🌲 THE GRAVEL – Miles of spectacular forest tracks, remote landscapes, punchy climbs and fast, flowing descents through the wilds of Kielder.

🎪 THE BRANDS – An event village packed with some of the best names in cycling, showcasing their latest products, sharing their passion and becoming part of the weekend.

🍻 THE SOCIAL – Catching up with old friends, making new ones, enjoying a b**r, sharing a laugh and reliving those unforgettable moments from out on the trails.

❤️ THE ATMOSPHERE – From the buzz of the start line to the cheers at the finish, there's something pretty special about being surrounded by people who just love riding bikes.

And that's the magic of the Dirty Reiver.

It's not just about the kilometres you ride. It's about the whole experience.

The people. The gravel. The brands. The laughs. The memories.

One big weekend celebrating everything that's brilliant about gravel cycling.

And you lot are what make it so special. 👊

📍 Kielder Forest
📅 23–25 April 2027
🚴 Dirty Reiver presented by GRAVELKING

2027 SOLD OUT for both events. The countdown is on!

20/10/2026

IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT HOW FAR OR HOW FAST.

Sometimes, it's simply about getting out there.

Leaving the everyday behind. Finding that quiet forest road. Hearing nothing but the sound of your tyres on gravel and remembering why you fell in love with riding a bike in the first place.

It's about the climbs that make you work, the descents that make you smile, and those moments when you look around and think…

"This is exactly where I want to be."

At the Dirty Reiver presented by GRAVELKING, we believe adventure isn't measured by distance or speed.

It's measured by the memories you make, the people you meet and the stories you take home.

Whether you're chasing a personal goal, riding with friends or simply enjoying being out there, your adventure is every bit as important as the next person's.

Because when you strip everything else away, we're all here for the same reason.

We just love riding our bikes. 👊

🌲 Dirty Reiver presented by GRAVELKING

📍 Kielder Forest | 23–25 April 2027

15/10/2026

SO… WHAT'S THE WEATHER GOING TO BE LIKE AT DIRTY REIVER 2027?

Well, that's the million-dollar question!

☀️ Glorious sunshine and clouds of dust?

🌧️ A little rain to keep the gravel interesting?

💨 A headwind that somehow manages to follow you in every direction?

❄️ Or perhaps all four seasons before you've even reached the first feed station?

It's Kielder. Anything is possible!

But that's part of what makes the Dirty Reiver presented by GRAVELKING so special.

Whatever the weather throws at us, one thing is guaranteed — incredible gravel, breathtaking scenery, big smiles and a whole lot of adventure.

And let's be honest… the best stories rarely start with "the weather was absolutely perfect!"

23–25 April 2027 | Kielder Forest

So, what's your prediction for 2027? ☀️🌧️💨

Team Dust or Team Mud? 👇

08/10/2026

SO… WHAT EXACTLY IS THE DIRTY REIVER EPIC?

New for 2027, the Dirty Reiver EPIC presented by GRAVELKING takes everything we love about the Dirty Reiver… and adds another 80km.

280km. 95% gravel. And you ride it as a pair.

But the EPIC isn’t just about going further.

You’ll start before dawn, heading out together into remote forests and areas we’ve never previously used for the Dirty Reiver.

Just you, your riding partner, your lights and a pretty big day ahead.

After exploring deep into the Border forests, you’ll cross back towards Kielder and eventually join the signed 200km Dirty Reiver route, becoming part of the main event and riding all the way back to that finish-line atmosphere together.

And that’s exactly what we wanted the EPIC to be.

A proper ultra-distance adventure, without losing the support, atmosphere and community that makes the Dirty Reiver so special.

🤝 Two riders. One team.
🌲 280km of remote Border gravel.
🥪 4 feed stations.
🚴 One seriously EPIC day on the bike.

This one is for experienced riders who know what a big day in the saddle feels like and fancy finding out what happens when you make it quite a bit bigger.

The Dirty Reiver EPIC presented by GRAVELKING.

Start together. Ride together. Finish together.

01/10/2026

THIS ISN’T JUST A GRAVEL RIDE.

The Dirty Reiver presented by GRAVELKING takes you on a wild, immersive journey through some of the most remote and exceptionally beautiful forest tracks and logging roads across the English and Scottish Borders.

Miles of gravel disappearing into the forest.
Big skies.
Deep forests.
Open landscapes.
Dusty tracks.
Long climbs.
Fast descents.

And those moments when you look around and realise there’s absolutely nobody else around for miles.
That’s the magic of the Dirty Reiver.
It’s not about ticking off another route on your bike computer.
It’s about getting properly immersed in the landscape — riding deeper into the forest, and discovering places you probably wouldn’t find on your own.

And then, eventually, you pop back out covered in dust, slightly broken and wondering why you thought 200km was a sensible idea. 😂
Wild. Remote. Beautiful. Dirty.
That’s the Dirty Reiver.

24/09/2026

THE DUST. THE GRAVEL. THE SCENERY. THE PEOPLE.

There’s something about riding through Kielder that’s hard to put into words.
The endless gravel roads.
The dust hanging in the air.
The forests stretching out around you.
The big views.
The quiet sections where it’s just you, your bike and a whole lot of nowhere.
That’s what makes the Dirty Reiver presented by GRAVELKING route so special.
But…
the route is only half the story.
Because it’s the people who bring the vibe.
The riders pushing each other up the climbs.
The strangers who become riding buddies.
The cheers at the feed stations.
The high fives.
The stories at the finish.
The bikes covered in dust.
And the inevitable conversations about just how much gravel was actually involved. 😂
Thousands of riders. One big gravel adventure.
And somehow, every year, you lot make it feel like one massive group ride.
The dust is awesome.
The gravel is awesome.
The scenery is awesome.
But the people…
They’re what make Dirty Reiver what it is. ❤️
23–25 April 2027
Kielder Forest

18/09/2026

THE WEATHER IS GOOD. THERE ARE NO EXCUSES.

If you’re one of the lucky ones with a place at the Dirty Reiver presented by GRAVELKING 2027, now might be a very good time to start putting the miles in…

Because April might seem a long way away.
But that 200km
That 130km
That 65km
They have a rather annoying habit of getting closer.

So while the weather is still playing nicely, get out there and ride your bike.
Find some gravel.
Find a hill.
Get lost.
Ride a little further than you planned.
Get muddy.
Have a coffee.
Repeat.

And if you’re training for the 280km EPIC, well… we're not saying you should be out riding right now.
But we're also definitely not saying you shouldn't. 😂

The places are gone. The date is set.
23–25 April 2027 | Kielder Forest
Now the only question is…
How ready are you going to be when you roll into Kielder? 👀

02/09/2026

Here is a message from our friends Nigel and Laura BrackenXcapes

Take the stress and hassle of deciding where to stay or pitch your own tent for the Dirty Reiver weekender next year by booking into our VIP Tipi Village accommodation this year, supported by Nigel and Laura at BrackenXcapes.

Take the stress and hassle of deciding where to stay or pitch your own tent for the Dirty Reiver weekender next year by booking into our VIP Tipi Village accommodation this year supported by Nigel and Laura at BrackenXcapes.

Head to: https://www.brackenxcapes.co.uk/focalevents to choose your very own Tipi, fully kitted out for your weekend stay. Just drop your bags, park your bike and relax!

02/09/2026

RIGHT… THAT’S ENOUGH EXCITEMENT FOR ONE DAY!

After yesterday’s slightly bonkers response to the Dirty Reiver presented by GRAVELKING, we think it’s time for everyone to…
🛋️ RELAX
☕ CHILL
😴 RECOVER
We’ve had enough excitement for now!

The entries are in.
The places are gone.
The bikes are waiting.
And thankfully, we've got until April to worry about what we’ve actually signed ourselves up for. 😂

📅 23rd–25th April 2027
📍 Kielder Forest
So for now…
Put your feet up. Enjoy the rest of summer (hmm).
And maybe, just maybe, get a few miles in before April arrives.

The real fun starts in April…

01/09/2026

DIRTY REIVER 2027 IS OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT!
Well… THAT WAS FAST!

The Dirty Reiver presented by GRAVELKING has now officially SOLD OUT across all distances!
Enter your info on the waitlist, which can be found on the website, to hear if we have any cancellations.

If you were thinking, “I'll sort my entry later…” unfortunately, later was too late!

📅 23rd–25th April 2027
📍 Kielder Forest
🚴 200km | 130km | 65km
A HUGE thank you to everyone who entered. We honestly couldn't have asked for a better response! ❤️

And to those who missed out…
😢 We're really sorry.
If you were thinking “I'll sort my entry later…” unfortunately, later was too late!

For everyone who got a place…
Congratulations, you're officially a Dirty Reiver! 🎉
Now there's only one thing left to do…
Start training! 😬🚴‍♂️

Address

Hexham
NE481ER

Website

http://www.dirtyreiver.co.uk/

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