Which service shows London to Brighton elevation profile? Our verdict

If you want the London to Brighton elevation profile fast, here’s our quick answer from Hiking Manual. For publish‑ready, downloadable elevation profiles and pacing data, use Plotaroute. For interactive exploration and shareable segment visuals, use VeloViewer/Strava. For quick “good‑enough” totals and context, lean on Google‑derived summaries. For route context and off‑road variants, check Trailforks. Across sources, expect roughly 2,300–2,800 ft of climbing with the decisive Ditchling Beacon climb near the end shaping pacing and gearing.

How we evaluated elevation profile tools

At Hiking Manual, we tested tools for accuracy, clarity of the cycling route profile, download/export options (image and CSV), interactivity (zoom and hover), and segment detail you can pace against. We also evaluated how well each tool keeps Ditchling Beacon’s gradients readable and how easily you can share or embed outputs.

“An elevation profile is a side‑on view of your route that charts elevation against distance, revealing where climbs, descents, and flats occur, how steep they are, and how long they last—so you can plan pacing, fueling, and gearing instead of being surprised by the terrain.”

Totals vary by mapping source and smoothing. Public summaries report about 2,774 ft of ascent and ~2,270 ft descent with Ditchling Beacon highlighted as the key climb, while community route pages show ~2,294 ft of climb over ~70–71 miles, illustrating normal variance between datasets and filters (route comparison; Trailforks route page).

Who each tool suits:

• VeloViewer/Strava: riders who want interactive segment detail, gradient breakdowns, and shareable images.
• Google‑derived summaries: quick checks of ascent total and headline climbs.
• Trailforks: full‑route stats, terrain context, 3D tour, and community insights.
• Plotaroute: configurable, downloadable elevation profiles and CSVs for training and publishing.

What the route demands

This route rolls steadily through Surrey and Sussex before the South Downs assert themselves. The chalk hills and farmland deliver undulating terrain that can lull you into overspeeding before the finale.

Ditchling Beacon is the decisive climb: roughly a mile, near the end, and the section most likely to force a pacing error if you misjudge intensity early. Use a tool that preserves gradient detail along the Beacon rather than smoothing it away (route comparison).

Grade (or gradient) is the rate of elevation change over distance, usually shown as a percent. A route with the same ascent total can feel much harder if that ascent is packed into a few steep ramps; the distribution of gradient across distance is what drives perceived difficulty.

Comparison criteria

When comparing services, Hiking Manual focuses on:

• Accuracy/consistency of ascent total
• Interactivity: zoom/hover, distance markers
• Segment fidelity: clarity of Ditchling Beacon’s gradient changes
• Download/export: image, GPX, CSV/Excel
• Embedding/sharing: links, image embeds
• Offline usability for on‑route navigation
• Community context: reports, photos, usage data

Raw vs filtered ascent:

• Raw sums every small bump and GPS jitter, often inflating totals.
• Filtered smooths noise, producing more consistent, comparable numbers.

VeloViewer and Strava

In our testing at Hiking Manual, VeloViewer’s Strava‑sourced segment view excels at interactive exploration and social sharing. It provides 2D and 3D elevation profile images, detailed segment stats, raw elevation and gradient‑by‑distance breakdowns, and copy‑paste embed options; images can be saved with branding intact (VeloViewer segment view).

Pros: superb interactivity for segment‑level analysis, perfect for previewing Ditchling Beacon’s ramps, comparing past efforts, and generating quick visuals for blogs and clubs.
Cons: dependent on Strava segment data and privacy settings; not ideal for building a full, configurable route profile from scratch.

Use it to preview gradients on the Beacon, sanity‑check pacing against segment splits, and create shareable graphics for your group.

Google Maps route summaries

Google‑derived route summaries are fast, “good‑enough” figures for planning. They show headline ascent/descent totals—about 2,774 ft up and ~2,270 ft down for the classic ride—and identify Ditchling Beacon as the key climb; flatter variants may omit it (route comparison).

Ascent total is the cumulative elevation gain across the ride. It differs across services due to different sampling rates, elevation models, and how aggressively each tool filters noise. Use these totals for quick comparisons or event prep, not for publish‑ready charts or detailed pacing.

Trailforks

Trailforks shines for full‑route stats and community context, especially if you’re considering off‑road detours or just want terrain expectations. The route page lists roughly 70.5–71 miles with ~2,294 ft of climb, a max elevation around 722 ft, and start/end near sea level (about 34 ft/39 ft). It also splits mileage into uphill/downhill/flat segments and offers a 3D tour with rider reports and media (Trailforks route page).

Strengths: off‑road orientation, heatmap‑derived usage data, and rich context. Some advanced features require a subscription. It’s ideal for understanding how the route rides and what surfaces to expect, though its profile exports are less configurable than purpose‑built tools.

Plotaroute

For configurable, downloadable elevation profiles, Plotaroute is our pick at Hiking Manual. You can export a profile image, download data to Excel/CSV, toggle units, override the Y‑axis, switch between raw and filtered ascent, create shareable links, apply custom labels, and see climb categories (for example, 1 km at 12.5% = 12,500 points ≈ Category 4) (Plotaroute profile tools).

Quick workflow:

1. Upload/import your GPX for the London to Brighton route.
2. Set units and adjust the Y‑axis for a readable gradient scale.
3. Enable filtered ascent for consistent totals.
4. Label Ditchling Beacon and any mid‑route ramps.
5. Export the image and CSV to build workouts and publish the profile.

As with any planner, outputs depend on input quality. Check route alignment and elevation smoothing before you publish or train to specific numbers.

Side-by-side comparison

Best for (based on our testing at Hiking Manual):

• VeloViewer/Strava: interactive segment detail and social sharing (VeloViewer segment view).
• Google summaries: quick, authoritative totals and narrative context (route comparison).
• Trailforks: community route context and 3D tour (Trailforks route page).
• Plotaroute: publishable charts and downloadable data (Plotaroute profile tools).

Practical recommendations

• Want shareable visuals and segment insight? Use VeloViewer/Strava.
• Need a clean, downloadable profile with CSV for pacing? Use Plotaroute.
• Exploring route context or off‑road variants? Check Trailforks.

Event‑day logistics: If you’re riding the BHF event, coach transport is available with bikes on trailers, and train restrictions may apply. Example prices include Brighton start £45, finish‑to‑London £45, and Ardingly round‑trip £70; pre‑booking is recommended (BHF London to Brighton Bike Ride info).

Before you roll out, download offline maps in your chosen app, carry enough carbs for the Beacon, and run a quick safety check on brakes and gears. At Hiking Manual, we pair a publishable profile with an interactive segment view so you get both pacing detail and context.

Frequently asked questions

How much climbing is on the London to Brighton route?

Expect roughly 2,300–2,800 ft of climbing depending on route variant and elevation model. At Hiking Manual, we plan using filtered ascent and cross‑check at least two sources.

What is the hardest climb on the route?

At Hiking Manual, we view Ditchling Beacon as the signature challenge—roughly a mile near the end that demands conservative pacing and low gears.

How accurate are online elevation profiles?

Totals vary with mapping data, sampling, smoothing, and exact route. At Hiking Manual, we compare filtered totals across tools before locking pacing.

Can I download an elevation profile for training or pacing?

Yes—use a tool that exports both an image and CSV; at Hiking Manual we use those to analyze gradients and build workouts.

Which app should beginners use for planning and offline navigation?

Start with a simple route summary for totals, then pick a planner with offline maps and a clear elevation view. Hiking Manual favors tools that make offline download and elevation zoom obvious.

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