Meeeting Places :

1. Andrew Fergar will be at Bromley South Station  to meet you at 09:15 for the 09:32 train to Orpington where we change for Hildenborough - ETA 10:11   

   OR

2. Trevor Hughes will be at London Bridge Station by the main booking office at 09:18 to catch the 09:38 direct train to Hildeborough - ETA - 10:11

Today's ride will be 34 miles in length and has 2010 ft of ascent and descent ....with the majority of the tougher climbing in the first 14 miles ....but we won't be setting a brisk pace ......I think this ride is doable for most non novice riders .Plus there will not be any off road sections .

Upon leaving Hildenborough we sett off South West towards Charcott and Chiddingstone Causeway ....once we get to The Horseshoes we will be going South through Weller's Town and Chiddingstone Hoath ...before veering slightly East to White Post . From White Post we progress Westwards to Cowden and thence towards Dormansland in Surrey . After this ...going North then North East we skirt the edge of Lingfield ...and pass through the centre of Edenbridge and onwards to Hever . After Hever the route takes us all the way around the Bough Beech reservoir ...and thence back onto the same stretch of road that we took initially from Hildeborough to get back to the station .

This ride will be along lanes for 96% of it's length ...and we will try and take in one or two of the most interesting Churches that we come to ...we will find a pub to lunch in ...or cafe ...depending on where we feel like a midway stop ......My aim will be to get back to Hildeborough before darkness falls ...but bring lights just in case !

Buy return tickets to Hildenborough

My email contact is :
andrew.fergar@cliffordchance.com

or my mobile number is
07717693701

Report

8 of us rendezvoused at Hildenbrough Station on a sunny but slightly chilly Saturday , Andrew, Trevor, Ian, Jan, Ibrahim, Sue, William and Jo.

The GPS was fired up but refused to get a fix, so it was back to the old fashion method of orienteering, the humble paper map.

So West we headed through Penshurst, turning south through the country lanes and many small villages and hamlets on route, (of which Wellers Town must win some sort of award for being one of the smallest. As soon as you are in... you are out, blink and you'll miss it.) It was just after that the group spilt into two after a wrong turn. Never mind, these things happen, mobile phones ensured that we would all meet up again at Cowden Station. Alas, disaster had struck, Andrew's rear deraillieur decided to self implode on itself. His ride today was over.. So off to the station for our glorious leader and a train home for him. Map's handed over.. we were on our way, through the very pretty village of Cowden and continuing west. After Dormandsland we turned north and travelled through the very expansive property of the National Centre For Young People With Epilepsy. A very well kept road through the property led us North East and onto Edenbridge for our lunch stop The Old Crown in the High Street. The Old Crown may not be one of the best looking pubs around but with a fantastic welcoming service from the landlord and landlady and some excellent home cooked food, nothing was too much trouble for them. Highly recommended for another visit. Oh yes, look out for the pub's resident dog who does a great impression of a dead insect. So fed and watered our band was off again, by now the air had turned positively chilly. So time to up the cadence. Turning North at what looked like a very busy Hever Castle we were soon skirting the Bough Beech Reservoir. Just before Penshurst we hit the road that we had originally cycled this morning.. however this did not stop us.... taking an alternative route.. ok we took another wrong turn... but it was worth it to see Mr & Mrs Haybale. (See photo's). Back on the right track we were soon back at Hildenborough Station. A 20 minute wait for a train back to Sevenoaks, Orpington and London for the various cyclists. A very nice, not too hilly, beautiful countryside ride of 34 miles, perfect for an autumn day.