The ride which starts and finishes in Sevenoaks (only 24 minutes from London Bridge) skirts the ridge overlooking the Weald, through Goathurst Common and Ide Hill before dropping to Edenbridge. Just past Edenbridge we’ll make a short detour to look at Hever Castle which overlooks the River Eden. From Hever we head south and cross the River Medway just before Fordcombe. On through Speldhurst we head north and cross Eden Valley and the Medway again at Leigh before climbing the big One Tree Hill back into Sevenoaks.

Speldhurst at 24 miles is about 3 to 4 miles from Tunbridge Wells Station and is a possible jumping off point for anyone wanting to cut the ride short.

This is a hilly ride (91 feet of climbing per mile) entirely on roads and is suitable for any kind of bike.

Bring lights.

We’ll find a pub for lunch.

Report

Photo slideshow
Photos geo referenced to a google map showing the route 

There were eleven on the ride today.

Ian, Paul, Jo, Jessica, Judith, Mick, William, Tom, Bill, Norish and Anil.

Out of the station, onto the bikes and then straight away we going up the first of many of today’s hills.  It was going to be one of those rides when you’re either going up or down. Whilst talking with Tom I told him we were going to climb over 3000 feet in total. “We‘re going to cycle a Munroe” he said.

Ide Hill and Toys Hill have featured on several of our rides before but what I’ve never seen before is someone’s head dissipating a plume of steam from the effort of the climb. The photo doesn’t quite do it justice but look closely and you’ll see Mick smoking like one of the best engines from another era. From Toy’s Hill there is a fantastic 2 mile descent to Four Elms and still descending it’s onto the River Eden at Edenbridge.

I’d said in the pre amble for the ride that we’d take a look at Hever Castle, unfortunately it’s well hidden behind giant hedges and the only way to get a glimpse of this Tudor building is to pay the £8 plus entry fee. The entry fee would have been fine if we’d had a couple of hours to spare to have a good look around but we maybe had 10 minutes and only really wanted a glimpse of the walls. Anyway, Hever village is a nice little place and worthy of the off route one mile detour.

From Hever, it was on through Markbeech towards Cowden. Just past Cowden we turn left into a beautiful and secluded little valley running by the side of Kent Water before a stiff climb out to White Post. We cross Kent Water at Fordcombe and stop at the Chafford Arms for lunch. Mine was Cottage Pie with steamed veg and was £8:20. A couple of log fires enabled us to relax properly and air some of the sweat from our outer layers.

From Fordcombe we went through Speldhurst and at Leigh, the 30 mile mark, Jessica left us to get the train home. Jessica, on her first cycle ride and on a borrowed bike had done brilliantly to make it this far on what was despite the short distance a demanding ride. Well done!

From Leigh we went through Stocks Green and the climbed 500 feet in five miles with 300 feet being done in the last mile, the formidable One Tree Hill located on the nameless ridge just to the south of Sevenoaks.

Back at Sevenoaks the group split with some opting for a train to Catford and some going back to London Bridge.

Despite the murky weather, I had a brilliant day and I’m looking forward to the ride next week which runs to the west of Edenbridge.

Stats
37.6 miles
3.45 hours moving
6.30 hours total
10.0 mph moving average
5.7 mph overall average
38.1 mph max speed
3344 feet of climbing
91 feet of climbing per mile
798 feet max elevation

Photo slideshow
Photos geo referenced to a google map showing the route

Ian Pendleton