Meet ticket office at Catford railway station at 8:40 for the 9:02 train arriving at Otford at 9:37. IMPORTANT TRAIN NOTE: This train normally starts from Blackfriars but today will be leaving from Victoria. Arrive early to maximise your chances of a Groupsave discount – tickets can be suprisingly cheap from here.

A seriously meandering loopy ride around some Kent lanes. Includes two slightly barmy bits – on one cyclists almost definitely will have to dismount – the other may be rideable by keen mountain bikers. But both are short and the ride has been reccied by one of our team on a lightweight road bike so it’s suitable for all bikes.

Pace moderate. A certain amount of climbing but in short bits. IMPORTANT: Make sure you have good brakes for this ride as you will be rewarded for your efforts with some good downhills.

We had hoped to return to the Golding Hop for lunch and we will be riding past it (we’ll return soon) but it’s not available today so we’ll be going elsewhere. Pretty early start to give us flexibility on lunch pub stops but you should be back in town fairly early.

Bring warm layers – it can be far colder in Kent than balmy Lewisham.

Bring lights of course.

Ride suitable for any bike.

Total distance about 35 miles.

NB: NOT Catford Bridge. Catford is the one of the two side-by-side stations closest to Forest Hill, just opposite the Halfords in the retail park. A fast ride from Greenwich by main roads (some good bus lanes) or go straight down the Waterlink Way. Check it out on old London Cycling map 15 or numbers 10 or 11 of new ones.

More info from Paul: 07957 209322 – NO TEXTS - I love your voice

A Lewisham Cyclists/LCC ride'

Report

A glorious glorious day. They came from West London, East, North and South to, er, Catford.

Forsaking the urging of Lewisham Council’s new fold-out brochure to spend a day in Catford and Hither Green, we hopped on a train and those of us on Groupsaves got a day return to Otford for a bizarrely reasonable £2.85.

By the time we all congregated at Otford railway station there were 17 of us - three had trained it from Victoria and two who I will refuse to flatter by naming had cycled out over the Downs. Off up a bit of the Pilgrim’s Way, through Kemsing where we ignored Saint Edith and her well – I’ll point it out next time – in the meantime read this about our sinful royals www.britannia.com/bios/saints/edithwilton.html

Then a gentle climb with glorious blue skies and open countryside opening up before us. Lanes, woods, more lanes, then a descent (walked) down a steep bridleway.

Onto a quiet road (after all there’s no way a car can get here) we came out just to the East of Underriver and maybe rather more safely in view of the challenging road descent to the White Hart there.

Then back onto a route some recognized from my first foray out to these parts, stopped to have a look at the rather enchanting Igtham Mote – a moated manor house. Not pronounced how it looks and Mote doesn’t refer to moat – anything to confuse American tourists. Spotted an as yet unidentified largish bird on the roof just before we left – if we’d had Barry along doubtless we could have catalogued it.

Then another climb (if you want good legs join our rides) up to the crossroads at Ivy Hatch. At first couldn’t find the sign that Jane claimed to have seen directing snails but it was apparently eventually found and restored.

More lanes, descended to within a perfumed-smoke-wafting distance of the Golding Hop but veered left for a series of twists and turns, climbs and descents and wide open views that took us past the Plough pub as we climbed and then back to the same place. Past the Golding Hop where we would have stopped but Eddie the landlord was entertaining a largish buffet party for a group of 40 or so. Didn’t stop to show people the open spring it relies on for water but will next time. Despite warnings of disease and madness from some I haven’t come to any harm yet – it tastes fine.

Ian got a puncture at the top so we waited a while -we’re nice like that and he has waited up to half an hour for me to faff/perform the world’s most finely polished repairs.

Cries of “when’s lunch” and “are we there yet” started to tug at my finely tuned heartstrings so as we passed the Plough for the second time I made a quick call to the George and Dragon at Wrotham to see if they could take 17 hungry cyclists and when I hit the engaged tone a few times decided to squash into the Plough.

Just managed it as we’d arrived early. The food took a while to come but I think we’d overloaded their kitchen a bit and there were rumours that a call had been sent out for an emergency chef to whiz in to handle us. Food good though and very reasonably priced if with a few bizarre twists – some of the dishes were menued as coming with “appropriate accompaniments” – in my case this meant rather nice light steamed veg, in Ian’s it meant baked beans. Good beer as well including 8 per cent Biddenden cider of a rather curious hue but I couldn’t resist it. All in all a good stop and we will return – though maybe next time with less of us.

Past Old Soar Manor House which I managed to spot this time. Free entry apparently so we’ll very probably return once it’s reopened after its winter break and maybe picnic as well.

Three decided to drop out as we approached Wrotham as we’d been making slightly slow progress, we needed to speed up if we were to be back in daylight and there were, strangely enough, more hills to come. They were directed up the Pilgrim’s Way – a straight flat run back to Otford station which must have given them a good ride in the winter sun – and a pleasure we missed.

We then climbed up an unrideable bit, up the encouragingly named Labour in Vain Road, looped round past the rather wonderful war memorial at Stansted, then more climbs and freewheeling downhills.

Past the Swan pub (a good stop for another ride – does food all day on Saturdays and Sundays) then down to the bottom where I discovered that I didn’t have my creepy yellow tinted glasses in my bag. Just the shades I’d been wearing in the bright winter sun. Worried that I’d be on the darkening Kent lanes in glasses more suited to the Med I pushed folks on - sorry, especially as I found them when I got home. Terri and Ray escaped to head homewards, the rest were driven on up the rather challenging Hills Lane (can’t say they didn’t warn you) then up towards Romney Street where Andrew and Trevor left to drop down towards Eynsford and paint it red, or puce.

Another dip, followed of course by a climb where a few had to get off and walk, then a mega drop to Shoreham – still daylight – just.

I think everyone enjoyed it – or no-one dared say that they didn’t - an interesting mix of pleasure, pain, fresh air, and great views. We’ll return this way soon.

Apologies to Jo for mistaking her for William from the back – the difference is obvious really – William’s the one in the shorts.

Tally – one puncture, a few Katies – neither delayed us much

Thanks to all for coming and taking two bizarre bits in their stride. Next month we swing over a small river– bring your own rope.

Paul