A 3 day bikepacking adventure through the New Forest, Isle of Purbeck and Cranborne Chase
17–21 September 2026
For people who care about pitstops not FKT’s
for a long weekend of incredible off-road adventure riding. The inaugural Rat Run Rally, designed by Tom Farrel, is a self-supported bikepacking rally starting and finishing in Lyndhurst, linking some of the best gravel, bridleways and woodland singletrack in southern England.
JOIN US
YOU COMIN’? 🤞 👀
If so, you’ll enjoy a curated 160-mile loop that connects the New Forest National Park, the Jurassic Coast and the rolling chalk landscapes of Cranborne Chase.
Ride at your own pace, carry your gear, stop for coffee, swim in the sea, camp under the stars, and roll back into Lyndhurst on Sunday ready for a well-earned celebration.
Think, “How many pub stops can I fit in” not “Can I be the fast back”
ABOUT THE ROUTE
The route follows the Woods Rat Run — a 160 mile (256 km) bikepacking loop developed by Tom Farrell of The Woods Cyclery after years of exploring the best trails across Hampshire and Dorset.
The loop stitches together a huge variety of terrain:
flowing gravel roads through ancient New Forest woodland
quiet bridleways and hidden “rat run” trails
coastal riding along Bournemouth seafront
rugged singletrack and big views across the Isle of Purbeck
chalky drovers roads through Cranborne Chase
remote woodland tracks before returning to the Forest
We’ll be riding over three days. We want people to stop and enjoy the many local gems of the area from swim stops, to excellent local pubs, cafes and farm shops. All rally go-ers will get a list of recommendations that will add joy to your journey.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THE ROUTE
“Although I'm a little biased because I love the Isle of Purbeck especially, I couldn't recommend this route more highly, especially if the weather gods are looking favourably upon you. Tom has done a fabulous job connecting all kinds of forgotten bridleways, and he has a real nose for full bodied woodland singletrack!
I reckon this one has what it takes to become an English Classic!”
The route moves you through stunning and ever changing landscapes, sometimes challenging, sometimes meditative, always surprising, always alongside the local wildlife (hares, deer, red kites courting, the song of skylarks, the spooky electronica call of nightjars in the dark).
— Dave Taylor
A SPECIAL FILM MADE BY OUR FRIEND JEANNE LE POIX
Made back in 2024 when we first got the idea for the rally
Watch it to get a sense of what you’re in for
TICKETS
PRICES
FLINTA EQUITY TICKET
£133
STANDARD TICKET £153
A 12.8 percent discounted entry for riders who identify as Female, Lesbian, Intersex, Non-binary, Trans, reflecting the gender pay gap
WHAT’S INCLUDED
2 nights Camping (Thurs + Sun)
2 dinners (Thurs + Sun)
2 breakfasts (Fri + Mon)
GPX route + event logistics
Community whatsapp group
Finishers party
The New Forest Off Road club is a community interest company. Any profits raised from running the event will be reinvested in the community.
What’s the riding like?
Expect around 160 miles with roughly 2,300m of climbing, with a mix of surfaces and plenty of character. You’ll encounter fast rolling gravel tracks in the New Forest, bridleways and doubletrack, and some more technical singletrack (around 10 percent). You’ll find some steep climbs on the way - the Purbecks in particular don’t give the views away easily.
The terrain is varied and occasionally technical, so a gravel bike with big tyres or a hardtail mountain bike works best.
The beauty of this route is that it never feels too remote – towns, pubs and shops appear regularly, making resupply simple and letting you ride the weekend your way. And there are plenty of options to take a short cut if your legs are tired.
What to expect
from the weekend
This isn’t a race. It’s a rally. You get points for how many pit stops you enjoy, not for how fast you ride.
Thursday 17 September
Arrive at Foxlease Park, Lyndhurst from 5pm. Tonight is all about getting together and meeting your fellow riders. Dinner is included, and the bar will be open.
Friday 18 September–Sunday 20 September
After a delicious breakfast on Friday morning, and a quick rider briefing, we’ll be ready to roll from 08:30am.
From there, you’re riding self-supported. Carry what you need, stop where you like and decide how you want to tackle the route.
Sunday 21 September
Return to Foxlease for dinner and our finishers party – food is provided and the bar will be open. Camp and celebrate completing the inaugural Rat Run Rally.
Monday morning
Head home tired and happy after breakfast (included).
FIRST TIME RIDING A BIKEPACKING EVENT?
Perfect – the Rat Run Rally is designed to be approachable as a first bikepacking event.
A few reasons why it works well for first timers:
The route is a loop, and you’re never far from towns or transport links.
There are plenty of pubs, shops and cafés along the way for resupply.
You’ll be riding alongside a community of other riders doing exactly the same thing.
KEEN BUT NEED A BIKE & BAGS?
Our mates at the Woods have sorted us out with a 20% discount for people to ride the route on a Surly Straggler FULLY KITTED OUT with a suite of Wizard Works bags.
If this sounds like a bit of you, we’ll share a discount code when you get your rally ticket via ticket tailor
COMING FROM ABROAD?
If you’ve not ridden in the UK before and have been looking for an opportunity, this is it. This route gets you knees deep in British culture. From chip shops to watering holes (pubs), to award winning scotch eggs and hand made fudge, this route is a love letter to the British Isle.
If you’re flying, nearby Bournemouth and Southampton both have international airports and Poole has a ferry with easy train connections to Brockenhurst.
Questions?
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The route is 160 miles (256km).
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No. This is a self-supported rally. Ride at your own pace.
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No. You can camp, stay in B&Bs, or mix of both.
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A gravel bike with large tyres (45–2.3") or a hardtail MTB is ideal.
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You should be comfortable riding off-road and able to ride 50–60 miles per day with gear.
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Yes! We know it can be daunting turning up to an event on your own, but you’ll meet loads of wonderful like-minded people, and leave with a whole collection of new adventure pals.
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2 nights Camping (Thurs + Sun)
2 dinners (Thurs + Sun)
2 breakfasts (Fri + Mon)
GPX route + event logistics
Community whatsapp group
Finishers party
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Yes — but limited to 50 cars. Parking tickets must be purchased in advance.
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£133 for FLINTA
£153 for a standard ticket
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Yes — The Woods Cyclery will offer a special bikepacking package including a Surly bike with Wizard Works bags. We’ll share a 20% discount code to book once you’ve bought your ticket.
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Brockenhurst, a short 20 minute off road ride to Foxlease.