Price from £65
EKOI
STONE CIRCLE
A MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL
OF GRAVEL CYCLING
Race the summer solstice on this epic gravel adventure through druid Britain.
Starting at dawn from the historic hilltop fort of Old Sarum, the route will pass the iconic landmark of Stonehenge as you embark on this monumental adventure. The challenge … to race the solstice sun and finish before night falls.
The Ekoi Stone Circle brings the fast rolling feel of iconic US gravel races to the UK in this truly unique 215km event. A 135km route option is also available, where e-bikes are also welcome to take part.
Expect a variety of terrain over the gruelling course. As well as the distraction of the stunning views and historical landmarks, there will be plenty of opportunities to stick it in the big ring and find a fast rolling group to make the kilometres fly by.
Starting and finishing on the edge of Salisbury with free parking on-site, direct rail links from London and other cities, plus close proximity to Heathrow and Gatwick, it’s easily accessible for both UK and international riders.
Price from
£65
135KM
Big route
215M
Epic route
Mechanic support
3
Feed zones
1
Days in saddle
3
Skill*
*This is based on 1 being a beginner and 5 being an expert.
135KM
Big route
215KM
Epic route
Mechanic support
3
Feed stations
1
Days in saddle
3
Skill*
*This is based on 1 being a beginner and 5 being an expert.
SPEAK TO OUR TEAM
If you have any questions or just need some advice why not book a call with one of our team members.
ROUTE OPTIONS
The 135km route follows the same route as the 215km route until King Alfred’s Tower but then heads due east up onto stunning chalk uplands and ridges before dropping you back into Old Sarum. You may be riding fewer kilometres but, with close to 1800m of climbing, it’s no easy option.
Leaving at dawn from the historic hilltop fort of Old Sarum, you’ll be riding in the tracks of the Ancients as you head towards Salisbury Plain and past Stonehenge. You’ll then be on the iconic fast rolling gravel of the Imber Range perimeter path where, if you can get into a good group, you can get your head down and tick off some significant early kilometres.
The feel of the ride then changes as you leave the wide open plains and enter the ancient woodland of Longleat Forest. Expect some singletrack, punchy climbs and watch out for the lions! This section takes you about 110km into the ride and to King Alfred’s Tower.
You’ve then got some respite from the gravel with 25km of quiet country lanes that take you deep into Dorset and the Blackmore Vale. A disused railway line gets you back off the tarmac but will give your legs a break from the continuous undulations.
Make the most of these easy kilometres as, heading into the final 50km, you’ve got some significant climbing to do as it’s up onto the chalk uplands of the West Wiltshire Downs and past the Fovant Badges.
With the sun setting on the longest day, you’ll descend off the Downs and back to Old Sarum for a well earned beer.
ITINERARY
13:00-21:00: The Festival Fort is open at the spectacular English Heritage site of Old Sarum for a Pre-Ride Festival.
Our supporting partners will join us, showcasing their latest products and chatting all things gravel. Pick up some last minute supplies and enjoy refreshments from the food and drink stands, so even if you’re not riding, you can come along and join the fun.
13:00-21:00: Sign On open, where all riders will need to collect entry packs.
18:00-19:30: Pizza Party with free beer and pizza, and music from DJ Lisa E.
05:00-05:30: Sign On open.
05:00-06:00: Start Line open.
12:00-21:30: Finishers Festival with hot food, DJ and beer.
21:30: Finish line closes.
ENTRY
Hotchillee Premium Members can access a £10 discount on their event entry. If you are not a Premium Member, join the gang!
135km
Hotchillee Premium Members: £65
Non-members: £75
215km
Hotchillee Premium Members: £75
Non-members: £85
- Friday evening pizza party at Festival Fort
- GPX file and route cards
- Timing chip
- 3 x feed stations
- Musette drop (feed station 2)
- Dedicated mechanical and technical support
- Full medical team back up
- Finishers beer
- Bike wash area
- Car parking (Friday 12:00 to Saturday 22:30)
- Limited edition event merchandise
- Sponsor products
- Hot food and drink at the Festival Fort and finish
Accommodation
CAMPING
Immerse yourself fully in the Ekoi Stone Circle experience by staying overnight in our on-site camping field. Located just a few hundred meters from the main arena you’ll be able to soak up the festival vibes just a short walk away.
Self pitch your own 1 or 2 birth tent – £30 for 2 nights.
Hire a 2 birth bell tent with 2 camp beds – £150 for 2 nights.
HOTELS
Our friends at Sportive Breaks are with you for the ride. Book your hotel in Salisbury for 1, 2 or 3 nights and their team will be on hand during the weekend for any assistance you may require. Sportive Breaks are members of travel industry bodies ABTA and ATOL so you can book with confidence.
SPONSORS
TITLE SPONSOR
TIER 1 SPONSORS
PRESENTING PARTNERS
FESTIVAL FORT PARTNERS
Let's prepare together
From the point you register chat directly with fellow participants, the Hotchillee team, and industry experts on dedicated event groups on the Hotchillee companion app.
QUOTES
FAQ
- GPX file & Route Cards
- Timing chip
- Feed stations x 3
- Musette drop (feed station 2)
- Dedicated mechanical and technical support
- Full medical team back up
- Finishers pizza and beer
- Car Parking (Friday 12:00 to Saturday 22:30)
- Limited Edition event merchandise
- Sponsor products
- Hot food and drink at the Pre-Ride Festival and finish. Vegetarian and gluten free options available
- Bike wash area
Please note for certain mechanical and technical services there may be a charge for parts and/or labour.
The route is not marked except for critical and/or complicated turnings. A GPX file will be provided and must be uploaded to your navigation device before the event. You can also collect Route Cards at Sign On.
The ride opens at 05:00 and all riders must have departed by 06:00
The event is not a race but will timed and finishing timers listed.
The course closes at 21:30.
You must be 18 years or older on 24 June 2023 to enter.
The course is long and a very good level of fitness and endurance will be required.
If you are in doubt as to your fitness then we recommend you have a medical check-up before registering.
The events takes place from/to Old Sarum, Castle Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 3SD.
There are direct trains to Salisbury from London Waterloo, which usually takes around 1h 40m but can take just 1h 20m on the fastest services, with around 36 trains running on this popular route every day.
From Salisbury train station it is a 2.3 mile bike ride or by car 2.1 miles.
There is free parking at Old Sarum from 13:00 Friday to 22:30 Saturday.
The event HQ is at Old Sarum near Salisbury, one of the most historically important sites in southern England. It combines a royal castle and cathedral within an Iron Age fortification, overlooking the vast and beautiful Wiltshire plains.
Salisbury is a busy and bustling City with many hotels and B&Bs to choose from.
If you prefer to camp, a list of local campsites can be found here.
There will also be limited onsite camping available.
There is free parking from Friday 13:00 until Saturday 23:30.
If you aren’t driving to the event and need somewhere to keep bags whilst you are out on the course, we will have a secure location at the start you can use. However any items must be clearly labelled and are left at your own risk.
The route covers a wide variety of terrain including fast rolling gravel, woodland singletrack, field-side bridleways, disused railway tracks and road so the sheer versatility of a dedicated gravel bike running 38mm + tyres would be our recommendation.
However a lightweight hardtail MTB with fast rolling tyres or Cyclocross bike would also be suitable.
You will need to be self-sufficient for large sections of the ride and each rider will need to carry spares and tools necessary to deal with punctures and mechanicals.
We will have dedicated technical support and mechanics at the Start and each Feed Station to deal with more technical issues.
There maybe a charge for some parts and labour.
Yes there are 3 x feed stations for the 215km course and 2 for the 135km course:
Feed station 1, 60km
Feed station 2, 110km
Feed station 3, 160km
A musette drop option is also available. A clear bag is supplied at Sign On and can then be filled with any nutrition you require, the bag should then be dropped at the start point and it will be transferred to Feed station 2 (110km).
If for any reason you need to cancel your entry there are several options available:
- You are able to nominate a substitute rider for your entry (up to 30 days before the event start date).
- You may defer your entry as a credit towards another HotChillee event in the same or following calendar year (up to 12 weeks before the event start date).
- Entries are non-refundable
To substitute or defer your entry, please contact [email protected]
Yes! Would love involvement from fellow gravel lovers. If you are interested in getting involved please email us at [email protected]
SPEAK TO OUR TEAM
If you have any questions or just need some advice why not book a call with one of our team members.
