Surrey Hills

[.Adam.]

I keep hearing that there is good mountain biking in the Surrey Hills, and being in Kent, it's not too far away. Is the cycling there on dedicated tracks, or is it a case of roll up and find your own routes?

[theboymoon]

.Adam. said:

I keep hearing that there is good mountain biking in the Surrey Hills, and being in Kent, it's not too far away. Is the cycling there on dedicated tracks, or is it a case of roll up and find your own routes?

Abarthchris your thread has arrived!

I was through there a few weeks ago riding with a bunch of folk including Chris on here. Despite the fact the hills are quite small there are a whole load of really fun trails - I have to warn you though that the locals all give them ridiculous names like yoghurt pots, ballon animals and telegraph poles (lower)!!!!

Its the kind of riding that doesn't really give you a feeling of having achieved a big loop but there is defo loads and loads of fun stuff that can be unlocked with a bit of local knowledge. There's also a cracking little cafe in a village at the middle of it all (with a very grumpy girl who makes the tea!)

Someone more local than me will no doubt fill you in with some more detailed info soon.

it is fun

[Gazzab]

Until I moved I used to do lots of great trails in Hascombe, Chiddingfold etc plus Devils Punchbowl at Hindhead.
Great singletrack, lots of short but steep hills. A blast.

[Mandog]

I usually ride round Reigate Hill but should be able to get out to Pitch Hill and Holmebury more often once I've picked up the new lifestyle vehicle on Monday.

[Minnsy]

Living on edge of Ashdown Forest (where cycling is barred) make the trip up to Leith Hill now and again.

Bit of info here http://www.diaryofamountainbiker.co.uk/routes_nort...
And here http://redlandstrails.blogspot.com/

Holmbury Hill is good as well (where the so called Yogurt Pots can be found)

Cheers

[AbarthChris]

theboymoon said:

.Adam. said:

I keep hearing that there is good mountain biking in the Surrey Hills, and being in Kent, it's not too far away. Is the cycling there on dedicated tracks, or is it a case of roll up and find your own routes?

Abarthchris your thread has arrived!

I was through there a few weeks ago riding with a bunch of folk including Chris on here. Despite the fact the hills are quite small there are a whole load of really fun trails - I have to warn you though that the locals all give them ridiculous names like yoghurt pots, ballon animals and telegraph poles (lower)!!!!

Its the kind of riding that doesn't really give you a feeling of having achieved a big loop but there is defo loads and loads of fun stuff that can be unlocked with a bit of local knowledge. There's also a cracking little cafe in a village at the middle of it all (with a very grumpy girl who makes the tea!)

Someone more local than me will no doubt fill you in with some more detailed info soon.

it is fun

Yep, the trails do have ridiculous names! makes it easier to remember them though as the terrain can be quite difficult to navigate as it all looks the same and being in the trees means you dont have any landmarks!

Leith Hill is quite good but can get boggy when its wet - It has a couple of maintained trails of which Summer Lightning is pretty good.

Holmbury Hill again has some good maintained trails but can also suffer when wet. both the above hills can get very busy on weekends so you may be better heading out earlier.

Pitch hill is very good all year round, and you can link all the hills together for quite a large route. As Moonie said, there is a good little cafe in Peaslake which you can do a nice little downhill trail to get to - its called Barry Knows Best or BKB (havent got the foggiest idea where these names come from!)

Nirvana Cycles in Westcott would help you out, they run regular rides from there or just turn up to the cafe in peaslake and ride up a trail in any direction, there'll be plenty of people willing to point you in the right direction.

[.Adam.]

Thanks for the replies! Sounds like the best starting point is the Cafe in Peaslake, is there parking available? We would most probably be planning to arrive early on a Sunday morning.