A ride of about 40 miles around the Surrey Hills.

Train to Dorking leaves Clapham Junction at 9.33.  I will be on the forecourt at Forest Hill station to pick up people who want to ride to Clapham Junction.  Will be leaving Forest Hill 8.30 prompt to get the 9.33.  This train begins at Waterloo.  If anyone wants to pick it up there and meet us at Dorking, it's the  9.24 from Waterloo.

As the name implies, there will be some hills, with at least one fairly long climb. so if you hate hills it's probably not the ride for you  but I myself am no speed queen, so you don't have to be superfast, and we will wait.

Lunch probably at a pub.

Report

Ian and Hassan waiting at Forest Hill. We rode to Clapham Junction. Got a groupsave to Dorking. Just over a fiver each return.

At Dorking, pleasantly surprised to find William and Jo emerge from the other end of the train having joined it at Waterloo. We took off towards Box Hill pretty smartish to make the most of the warm sun and blue skies as rain had been forecast for late afternoon.

Box Hill is an easy one to get your legs into climbing mode- it’s longish but very gradual, zig-zagging up the hillside. It’s very busy with roadies and also with mountain bikes who enjoy zooming down it’s wide, chalk slopes. Lacks the tranquillity of the more westerly Surrey hills, with it’s visitor centre and easy access for cars but still pleasant enough. Then down through the village, heading south of Dorking, though pretty Brockham and then down some quiet country lanes which cross flat farmland south of Dorking. Through the southern suburbs of Dorking to get back in quiet wooded lanes and hills. Climbed up through the woods then down to Coldharbour- tiny hamlet with interesting old buildings- one old house has a clock set in its eaves. Then on to Leith Hill. Like Box Hill, this can also be a bit busy but today it was very peaceful- a few walkers, but not many cars. Then, I took a left too early, but we were spared retracing our wheels back up the hill as these lanes tend to link up at different points anyway. Taking a different route to our lunch stop in Holmbury St Mary just meant we missed out one of the hills- no-one seemed too unhappy about that.

Lunch at the Kings Head. Nice, traditional, old pub, Food tasty and more fairly priced than at some of the other pubs in this area- it’s tucked up a side lane just before Holmbury Hill though and easily missed. During lunch it began to rain and the wind was gaining strength. We decided to cut the ride a little short- my original route included a turn through the hills southward. The thought of the strong wind and rain in our faces was not enticing, so we decided to continue heading northward, keeping these, by now powerful, elements at our backs. Up Holmbury Hill, with lovely views of the Surrey countryside, impressive even on this overcast afternoon. Headed straight for the pretty village of Peaslake and then on up to Sutton Abinger, past the Volunteer public house. This is a great place to stop at the end of a ride on a sunny, warm, summer’s evening, sit outside and enjoy a drink or two. However, we were enjoying neither sun or summer, by this stage so we pressed on to cross the main road and head for our last climb- White Down. It’s quite a tough climb, but I always take it slow these days and no-one else was complaining about that! Some of the group even walked a bit- no problem, we had plenty of time. We were all amazed to see a family, with father towing a child on tag-along bike plus one child on a top tube seat and an eight or so year old on his own bike, all make it up this 18% hill after us- not stopping once! See, that’s the way to do it- start them young and hills are no problem!

After White Down it’s an easy ride along Ranmore Common and a rewarding descent down to Westhumble, where we stopped to see if a train was due- couldn’t see one indicated so headed the extra mile to Dorking where trains are more frequent- One just coming in as we arrived- superb timing! A great day, great company made it even more enjoyable. Thanks to everyone who came along.

Stats
36.5 miles
9.3 mph moving average
7.2 mph overall average
36.8 mph Max speed
3246 feet climbed
88.93 feet per mile
793 feet max elevation

Jane