The middle of winter can be really grim – cold, dark, wet and miserable. Luckily, we’ve already passed the shortest day, which means brighter times are ahead. In case you’ve already forgotten just how amazing summer can be, here’s a dollop of sunshine-y goodness from Nunziella and Alessandro of The Bike Challenge. Last summer, they headed to the counties of Dorset & Wiltshire in the south of England to try out a three-day bikepacking route called “The Rat Run”. If you’re looking for some summery inspiration at the minute, this should be just what you need….

Created by the local legends at The Woods Cyclery, "The Rat Run" is a classic three day loop that trades the paved road for the best trails that the south of England has to offer. Located in the heart of Lyndhurst, The Woods Cyclery is the go-to hub for the gravel and adventure scene. It is a specialist shop that lives and breathes bikepacking, stocking everything from custom steel frames to the niche bags and gear you need for a multi-day trip. If you are looking to get into bikepacking, this route through the New Forest and Dorset is the perfect blend of scenic cruising and rewarding challenges.

Day 1: Entering the Wild Stats: 82Km | 700m elevation

The journey starts easily enough with a train to Brockenhurst. Before your wheels hit dirt, a stop at The Bakehouse is mandatory for a "second breakfast." Fuelling up is key because once you hit the New Forest gravel, the distractions begin.

Cruising south through the familiar New Forest, we hit the gravel paths and woodland trails, quickly running into wild horses roaming free. They are a staple of the area, but it is always a thrill to see them so close. We gave them plenty of space, watching them graze as we rolled past.

Our route headed toward Bournemouth, a town that transformed from a small fishing village into a massive Victorian health resort when the railway arrived in the 1800s. Since cycling on the promenade is a no-go during July and August, we got creative with a quiet diversion that led us straight to the Sandbanks Chain Ferry. This ferry has been shuttling people across the entrance of Poole Harbour since 1923 and it is a rite of passage for local cyclists. One £1 ticket later, we were officially in Dorset.

Dorset has a completely different vibe: wide open heather fields covered in vibrant pink flowers. The views from the top of the steeper climbs were worth every bit of the grind. Our legs were screaming on the sharpest ascents, but looking out over those fields made the burn disappear instantly.

We eventually rolled into the shadow of Corfe Castle. These iconic ruins date back to the 11th century and were partially demolished during the English Civil War, leaving behind the jagged, majestic silhouette you see today. We stopped for cold drinks and ice cream at the village store, taking a moment to appreciate the scale of the stone walls.

From here, the trails felt very familiar. We were riding the same stretch of gravel used for the Brother in the Wild event, a bikepacking festival that brings riders from all over to these specific Dorset tracks. We decided to take a shortcut, cutting a 14km loop we had already conquered during that event. This gave us more time to explore Wareham Forest, which was full of colour and fun tracks, including some flowy MTB trails that were an absolute blast.

We pulled into Wooders Campsite just after 6 pm. This place is a hidden gem for anyone exploring Dorset on two wheels. It is a working farm that manages to feel incredibly spacious and wild while still offering those crucial comforts like clean showers and a little shop for essentials. 

We found a perfect pitch on the grass: tents up, pints in hand. After that first well deserved beer, we fired up the gas stove for pesto pasta and cherry tomatoes while watching a perfect sunset over the trees.

Day 2: The Hill That Just Kept Giving Stats: 85km | 1200m elevation

Day two started slowly. While we waited for a greasy breakfast bap from the Wooders campsite kitchen, Iason prepped sandwiches for the road. After a quick wave to some baby goats nearby, we headed north toward Salisbury.

It was a shorter day on paper, but what it lacked in distance, it made up for in raw gradient. We hit a series of brutal, steep hills, including one 20% "wall" that had us breathing through our eyeballs. We were riding through Cranborne Chase, a former royal hunting ground where ancient kings once chased deer across the chalk downlands.  Today, it is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and for a beginner, this is where you learn that walking your bike is a perfectly valid tactic. The reward at the top was a panoramic view of the rolling hills we had just conquered.

The gravel stretch through the Chase was a real bone rattler, shaking every bolt on our bikes. It was a relief to find an old railway path that smoothed things out. That is where we met another rider and ended up in a fun "mini race." We would overtake him on the climbs and he would fly past on the flats until we eventually lost him.
 

When we finally rolled into Salisbury for dinner supplies, we spotted the same rider: likely on the same mission for pasta and pesto. Our campsite that night was basic, but it had a warm shower and a picnic area, which was all we needed.

Day 3: Forest Trails and Hidden History Stats: 70km | 800m elevation

We were up early for the final leg, aiming for an afternoon train back to London. The morning light through the trees is something every adventurer should experience. 

The day began with a long, straight singletrack featuring some fun chalky sections, followed by a fast descent into Downton for a classic Greggs breakfast. Heading back into the New Forest, the weather was perfect. The sun filtered through the canopy and the trails felt both familiar and new. 

We found ourselves in a stunning section of rolling heather hills, the kind of scenery that makes you forget you are only a couple of hours from the city.

Everything was going great until a wrong turn landed us on a technical MTB singletrack we definitely should not have been on. It quickly turned into a proper "hike-a-bike" mission. We spent the next stretch hauling our loaded bikes over and under fallen trees that completely blocked the path, with the occasional deep muddy section in between to keep things interesting.

Exhausted and slightly covered in forest debris, we finally emerged at the Royal Oak Pub. We decided it was the perfect time for a pit stop. We grabbed a few cold pints and found a spot outside to relax. Since we still had some food left over that we had prepared at the campsite the night before, we tucked into our own meal right there. The local riders looked on with a fair bit of confusion about where these dirt smeared bikes had just come from, but the combination of the beer and our homemade food was unbeatable.

Just before reaching the end, we finally tracked down the Portuguese Fireplace. This stone hearth is all that remains of a WWI camp where a Portuguese timber corps worked to provide wood for the war effort.

Image courtesy of The Woods Cyclery

Our trip came full circle as we rolled back into Lyndhurst to visit The Woods Cyclery for coffee and a little gear shopping. The shop is more than just a retail space: it is a community hub where you can swap trail stories with the staff and browse a curated selection of bikepacking gear. We took one last trail back to Brockenhurst and caught an early train home: exhausted, but already planning the next one.

Know Before You Go: Planning Your Rat Run

1.The route:

Download our route here or on the Woods Cyclery website (full uncut)

2. Getting There

• The Train: Take the South Western Railway from London Waterloo to Brockenhurst.
• The Bike Strategy: You cannot book bike slots on this line, so start your journey at London Waterloo. This allows you to be first on the train and secure one of the dedicated bike spaces.

3. Resupplying and Water

• Day 1: Brockenhurst is your last major shop for a while. Corfe Castle is a great mid-day stop.
• Day 2: Salisbury is a major hub: stock up here for dinner.
• Day 3: Downton is the perfect spot for a Greggs breakfast.

4. Route Realities

• The Sandbanks Ferry: Costs £1 for a cyclist. They take card, but keep a pound coin handy just in case.
• Seasonal Rules: Cycling on the Bournemouth promenade is restricted in July and August. Use the inland diversion during this period. 
• The Terrain: Expect smooth gravel, but be ready to push your bike over fallen trees or through mud if you venture off the main tracks.

5. Packing Summary: The Essential Checklist

• Bags: Seat pack, frame bag, and handlebar bag.
• Tools: Small pump, tubeless plug kit (or spare tubes), and a multi-tool.
• Kitchen: Compact canister stove, spork, and plenty of pesto.
• Clothing: Lightweight layers and a "pub shirt" for the final day.
• Tech: GPS head unit (Garmin/Wahoo) and a solid power bank.