What goes up must come down! Once again the increasingly popular, tried and tested, Little Lumpy is back for 2023. Now in its 15th year, we offer you the chance to experience the charms and challenges of the proven designated routes. Setting off again from Haslemere, we take you through the prettiest parts of the Sussex and Hampshire Weald to the South Downs at South Harting where the Challenge and Epic routes branch off to take you over some testing little climbs.

Little Lumpy is a ‘not-for-profit’ event, with monies raised being distributed between Haslemere Festival and an elected partner charity. We are very pleased to announce that 2023’s partner charity is ‘Undershaw’ a special needs school and monies from Little Lumpy will be spent on providing outdoor play / sensory regulation equipment

We have three routes to choose from, ranging from 40 to 100 miles - please note that e-bikes are welcome and those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

As in previous years, you will be able to enjoy the warm welcome and home baked cakes at the feeding stations around the course. This is only possible due to the dedicated group of volunteers and Haslemere bakers, whose efforts seem to have become legendary, with the tempting selection probably the best to be found at any Cycling Sportive throughout the country. In addition, at the start there will be a free breakfast on offer, comprising tea / coffee plus a bacon butty or equivalent vegetarian option. At the finish, the bar will be open and a hot meal will be available at a small price. So stay and linger to enjoy the company of your new found cycling friends and share your experience of what is one of the top Sportives in the South East of England. 

Enter via event website.

Info for Riders

Little Lumpy - Three courses in one.

Sport - 40 miles (64km) with 3131ft (954m) of climbing and two feed-stops at South Harting and Lurgashall.
Avoids the South Downs but still has a couple of testing climbs.

At South Harting you will wave goodbye to your madder colleagues doing the Challenge and Epic routes as they face the first of their daunting climbs, the North Face of Harting Down. Your route will take you back through the pretty villages of Elstead, Stedham and Lurgashall, with a couple of testing climbs at Woolbeding Common and Blackdown, before finishing at the top of Woolmer Hill. You will encounter two food stops on route.

Challenge - 60 miles (96.5km) with 4587ft (1398m) of climbing, over the South Downs four times and with three feed stops.

The Challenge follows the same route as the ‘Sport’ to South Harting. There you will encounter your first ascent of the South Downs up the North Face of Harting Down. After a gentler ascent back over the South Downs you will return towards Haslemere via, Blackdown, the highest point between the Downs before finishing with a last hurrah at Woolmer Hill. You will encounter three food stops in total

Epic - .

100 miles (160km) with 8434ft (2570m) of climbing, eleven climbs and five feed stops.

Follows the Challenge route to South Harting, up the North Face of Harting Down, to Chalton (feed stop first time) before climbing Holt Down, Butser Hill, Stoner Hill, Teglease Down (feed stop), Wheely Down, Wether Down, Butser Hill (again, but up the steep side this time), before returning towards Haslemere via Chalton (feed stop if required), South Harting (feed stop), Lurgashall (feed stop) and Blackdown, the highest point between the Downs, before finishing with a last hurrah at Woolmer Hill.