Good roads in Surrey
Discussion
I'm after a bit of local knowledge. Can anyone recommend some good driving routes in Surrey?
I'm looking primarily for scenic routes and places of interest (particularly those with a motoring connection) but bonus points if it's also a decent driving road.
It's for an article on the area. I'm already planning to do something around Brooklands, Box Hill, maybe something around the area where the Campbells (of Bluebird fame) used to live... Trying to line up some others.
I'm looking primarily for scenic routes and places of interest (particularly those with a motoring connection) but bonus points if it's also a decent driving road.
It's for an article on the area. I'm already planning to do something around Brooklands, Box Hill, maybe something around the area where the Campbells (of Bluebird fame) used to live... Trying to line up some others.
I’m pretty sure it’s just inside the the Surrey boarder but apologies if not...
You can’t beat the Hindhead tunnel for an entertaining diversion. Not only is it an interesting structure, it’s bloody wonderful if you’re in anything that sounds even half-decent.
Windows down and BWAAAAAAAAAARP
(Just be careful - speed cameras)
You can’t beat the Hindhead tunnel for an entertaining diversion. Not only is it an interesting structure, it’s bloody wonderful if you’re in anything that sounds even half-decent.
Windows down and BWAAAAAAAAAARP
(Just be careful - speed cameras)
A lot of Surrey roads that were fun (at least over on the west side, where I am) have had 40 or 50 limits stuck on them (or even lower, talking about you, B3012 and Mytchett Place Road! 
), and a lot are pretty busy at pretty much any time of day.. I normally head out west and south heading for the A32/A272 (Hants) or down into West Sussex..
), and a lot are pretty busy at pretty much any time of day.. I normally head out west and south heading for the A32/A272 (Hants) or down into West Sussex..Edited by Strugs on Thursday 24th September 22:39
MDifficult said:
I’m pretty sure it’s just inside the the Surrey boarder but apologies if not...
You can’t beat the Hindhead tunnel for an entertaining diversion. Not only is it an interesting structure, it’s bloody wonderful if you’re in anything that sounds even half-decent.
Windows down and BWAAAAAAAAAARP
(Just be careful - speed cameras)
You can’t beat the Hindhead tunnel for an entertaining diversion. Not only is it an interesting structure, it’s bloody wonderful if you’re in anything that sounds even half-decent.
Windows down and BWAAAAAAAAAARP
(Just be careful - speed cameras)
The tunnel traverses the border and is definitely recommended if you have anything that sounds interesting!
Strugs said:
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Edited by Dizeee on Friday 25th September 16:27
Dizeee said:
The thing with the bends is they are all on military land - I am sure that means they are not easily enforced. Having lived on that network of roads ( Pirbright / Normandy / Frimley ) since 2009 I have never ever seen any form of van or enforcement method - I am pretty sure owing to the fact it is MOD they can't easily enforce it. There is also the fact that the layout of the road and verge make it almost impossible to enforce anyway. Not advocating speeding, but you can be relaxed with your approach there.
Strugs said:
The tunnel traverses the border and is definitely recommended if you have anything that sounds interesting!
The tunnel is entirely in Surrey, as you head south the Hampshire border is a little over a mile from the southern end of the tunnel.
It is excellent with the windows down
Have to agree Hindhead Tunnel is great with the windows down and some engine noise. 
Although now it's pretty quiet the old A3 up to Hindhead might be fun, and the scenery at the top looking down on the Devil's Punchbowl is stunning.
For scenery the A25 from Clandon all the way to Dorking (and therefore Box Hill) is pretty good with Newlands Corner and places like Abinger Hammer, but it's not a great drive - unless maybe it's 2 or 3 in the morning! It also tends to get swamped with Lycra cyclers at the weekend and as much of it is pretty narrow you need to be aware of that.
The A24 from Leatherhead to Box Hill used to be fantastic round the Mickleham Bends, but since one lane got closed and cameras went up there's no fun to be had there any more.
I used to work in Woking and had a mate who lived in Ash and getting there via Brookwood and Cemetery Pales, Pirbright and the A324 used to be a great drive - but that was back in the 80s so it may have changed a bit.
The back roads between Langley Vale, Headley and Box Hill used to be great fun on a motorbike, but they are a bit narrow for modern cars!
There are some car connections other than Brooklands. McLaren have a stunning site between Woking and Ottershaw. Cooper Cars used to be based in Surbiton and Connaught ran F1 cars from a base in Send, Nr Woking many years ago.
Good luck with the project.
Although now it's pretty quiet the old A3 up to Hindhead might be fun, and the scenery at the top looking down on the Devil's Punchbowl is stunning.
For scenery the A25 from Clandon all the way to Dorking (and therefore Box Hill) is pretty good with Newlands Corner and places like Abinger Hammer, but it's not a great drive - unless maybe it's 2 or 3 in the morning! It also tends to get swamped with Lycra cyclers at the weekend and as much of it is pretty narrow you need to be aware of that.
The A24 from Leatherhead to Box Hill used to be fantastic round the Mickleham Bends, but since one lane got closed and cameras went up there's no fun to be had there any more.
I used to work in Woking and had a mate who lived in Ash and getting there via Brookwood and Cemetery Pales, Pirbright and the A324 used to be a great drive - but that was back in the 80s so it may have changed a bit.
The back roads between Langley Vale, Headley and Box Hill used to be great fun on a motorbike, but they are a bit narrow for modern cars!
There are some car connections other than Brooklands. McLaren have a stunning site between Woking and Ottershaw. Cooper Cars used to be based in Surbiton and Connaught ran F1 cars from a base in Send, Nr Woking many years ago.
Good luck with the project.
Edited by Mr Tidy on Friday 25th September 23:30
The roads around Ash, Pirbright, Normandy, Mytchett and Tongham are all very useable, multiple national sections, not much traffic and plenty of opportunity for fun. There are a fair few roads in Woking that link out that way that are also good. Ripley and environs have a surge in cyclist activity, but there are routes that avoid them. Personally i would be looking at Old Woking > Smarts Heath Road towards Worplesdon > Any combo or loop of Goose Rye / Burdenshott Road / Salt Box Road > Pirbright or Ash via Normandy then A324 or Pirbright Bends and you can loop these continually > a whole heap of roads around Shackleford / Puttenham / Elstead / Thursley. You could then return via the same route as above. I have been driving and cycling these roads for years and years, always scant of traffic as well as any form of enforcement van / personnel.
Having lived near Brooklands for most of my life good driving roads were in an abundance until 2012. Now they are the playground of the cyclist especially at the weekends. I try to get south of Dorking before conditions improve but then again you have to cope with the poor state of some roads.
Mr Tidy said:
Have to agree Hindhead Tunnel is great with the windows down and some engine noise.
Although now it's pretty quiet the old A3 up to Hindhead might be fun, and the scenery at the top looking down on the Devil's Punchbowl is stunning.
For scenery the A25 from Clandon all the way to Dorking (and therefore Box Hill) is pretty good with Newlands Corner and places like Abinger Hammer, but it's not a great drive - unless maybe it's 2 or 3 in the morning! It also tends to get swamped with Lycra cyclers at the weekend and as much of it is pretty narrow you need to be aware of that.
The A24 from Leatherhead to Box Hill used to be fantastic round the Mickleham Bends, but since one lane got closed and cameras went up there's no fun to be had there any more.
I used to work in Woking and had a mate who lived in Ash and getting there via Brookwood and Cemetery Pales, Pirbright and the A324 used to be a great drive - but that was back in the 80s so it may have changed a bit.
The back roads between Langley Vale, Headley and Box Hill used to be great fun on a motorbike, but they are a bit narrow for modern cars!
There are some car connections other than Brooklands. McLaren have a stunning site between Woking and Ottershaw. Cooper Cars used to be based in Surbiton and Connaught ran F1 cars from a base in Send, Nr Woking many years ago.
Good luck with the project.
Great stuff. Thank you. Although now it's pretty quiet the old A3 up to Hindhead might be fun, and the scenery at the top looking down on the Devil's Punchbowl is stunning.
For scenery the A25 from Clandon all the way to Dorking (and therefore Box Hill) is pretty good with Newlands Corner and places like Abinger Hammer, but it's not a great drive - unless maybe it's 2 or 3 in the morning! It also tends to get swamped with Lycra cyclers at the weekend and as much of it is pretty narrow you need to be aware of that.
The A24 from Leatherhead to Box Hill used to be fantastic round the Mickleham Bends, but since one lane got closed and cameras went up there's no fun to be had there any more.
I used to work in Woking and had a mate who lived in Ash and getting there via Brookwood and Cemetery Pales, Pirbright and the A324 used to be a great drive - but that was back in the 80s so it may have changed a bit.
The back roads between Langley Vale, Headley and Box Hill used to be great fun on a motorbike, but they are a bit narrow for modern cars!
There are some car connections other than Brooklands. McLaren have a stunning site between Woking and Ottershaw. Cooper Cars used to be based in Surbiton and Connaught ran F1 cars from a base in Send, Nr Woking many years ago.
Good luck with the project.
What Dizeee said.
I also live near Brooklands, its a s
t hole round there so no idea why you would want to drive around other than for the museum. Best you'll get near Brooklands is probably from Ripley driving down into the Surrey Hills where the lanes can get narrow so gunning it round might be a bad idea. With anything in Surrey its usually short bits of fun before you enter the next village or something.
Its also busy unless you go out late or very early.
Watch out for cyclists (please) theres plenty about
I moved from East Yorkshire to Surrey 7 years ago and living down here has made me fall out of love with driving. The traffic is so bad and people drive like such arse holes, you'll be lucky to even get to the speed limit. It just runs the experience, in fact I find driving around here a frustrating experience. Many good roads are now 40/50 limits as well, probably because of cyclists.
I also live near Brooklands, its a s
t hole round there so no idea why you would want to drive around other than for the museum. Best you'll get near Brooklands is probably from Ripley driving down into the Surrey Hills where the lanes can get narrow so gunning it round might be a bad idea. With anything in Surrey its usually short bits of fun before you enter the next village or something.Its also busy unless you go out late or very early.
Watch out for cyclists (please) theres plenty about
I moved from East Yorkshire to Surrey 7 years ago and living down here has made me fall out of love with driving. The traffic is so bad and people drive like such arse holes, you'll be lucky to even get to the speed limit. It just runs the experience, in fact I find driving around here a frustrating experience. Many good roads are now 40/50 limits as well, probably because of cyclists.
Chris71 said:
Mr Tidy said:
Have to agree Hindhead Tunnel is great with the windows down and some engine noise.
Although now it's pretty quiet the old A3 up to Hindhead might be fun, and the scenery at the top looking down on the Devil's Punchbowl is stunning.
For scenery the A25 from Clandon all the way to Dorking (and therefore Box Hill) is pretty good with Newlands Corner and places like Abinger Hammer, but it's not a great drive - unless maybe it's 2 or 3 in the morning! It also tends to get swamped with Lycra cyclers at the weekend and as much of it is pretty narrow you need to be aware of that.
The A24 from Leatherhead to Box Hill used to be fantastic round the Mickleham Bends, but since one lane got closed and cameras went up there's no fun to be had there any more.
I used to work in Woking and had a mate who lived in Ash and getting there via Brookwood and Cemetery Pales, Pirbright and the A324 used to be a great drive - but that was back in the 80s so it may have changed a bit.
The back roads between Langley Vale, Headley and Box Hill used to be great fun on a motorbike, but they are a bit narrow for modern cars!
There are some car connections other than Brooklands. McLaren have a stunning site between Woking and Ottershaw. Cooper Cars used to be based in Surbiton and Connaught ran F1 cars from a base in Send, Nr Woking many years ago.
Good luck with the project.
Great stuff. Thank you. Although now it's pretty quiet the old A3 up to Hindhead might be fun, and the scenery at the top looking down on the Devil's Punchbowl is stunning.
For scenery the A25 from Clandon all the way to Dorking (and therefore Box Hill) is pretty good with Newlands Corner and places like Abinger Hammer, but it's not a great drive - unless maybe it's 2 or 3 in the morning! It also tends to get swamped with Lycra cyclers at the weekend and as much of it is pretty narrow you need to be aware of that.
The A24 from Leatherhead to Box Hill used to be fantastic round the Mickleham Bends, but since one lane got closed and cameras went up there's no fun to be had there any more.
I used to work in Woking and had a mate who lived in Ash and getting there via Brookwood and Cemetery Pales, Pirbright and the A324 used to be a great drive - but that was back in the 80s so it may have changed a bit.
The back roads between Langley Vale, Headley and Box Hill used to be great fun on a motorbike, but they are a bit narrow for modern cars!
There are some car connections other than Brooklands. McLaren have a stunning site between Woking and Ottershaw. Cooper Cars used to be based in Surbiton and Connaught ran F1 cars from a base in Send, Nr Woking many years ago.
Good luck with the project.
...heading London-bound out of Hindhead...
...or this...
...approaching the Punchbowl coast-bound from Guildford ('new' A3 bypass to the tunnel being built down on the left)...
...then you'll be extremely disappointed to find that this...
...is all that is left of the old A3 after they scrubbed it up to let it "go back to nature" upon completion of the bypass through the tunnel.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hindhead/@51.127...
https://toddledoddle.com/hindhead-commons-and-the-...
You can cycle or walk the route of the old road, but not drive it. There is also a sealed surface cycle path higher up the hill if you don't have a mountain bike. And the National Trust have a car park and cafe at the Hindhead end of the old road, but while it is definitely "pretty quiet", it is in no way a driveable "road" anymore. FYI
Edited by yellowjack on Wednesday 21st October 14:30
yellowjack said:
You can cycle or walk the route of the old road, but not drive it. There is also a sealed surface cycle path higher up the hill if you don't have a mountain bike. And the National Trust have a car park and cafe at the Hindhead end of the old road, but while it is definitely "pretty quiet", it is in no way a driveable "road" anymore. FYI
That's a shame - just shows it's been a while since I last went there. Edited by yellowjack on Wednesday 21st October 14:30
Strugs said:
A lot of Surrey roads that were fun (at least over on the west side, where I am) have had 40 or 50 limits stuck on them (or even lower, talking about you, B3012 and Mytchett Place Road! ), and a lot are pretty busy at pretty much any time of day.. I normally head out west and south heading for the A32/A272 (Hants) or down into West Sussex..
The speed limits are necessary otherwise you could fast approach a mile tailback trying to get pass the obligatory peloton of Le Tour de France wannabes. And that just about sums up Surrey roads nowadays. ), and a lot are pretty busy at pretty much any time of day.. I normally head out west and south heading for the A32/A272 (Hants) or down into West Sussex..Edited by Strugs on Thursday 24th September 22:39
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Don't know where the boundaries are for Weybridge. Area round the shell garage is a st hole. Brooklands is a sthole. Byfleet is a st hole. Addlestone most definitely is a st hole. Weybridge is nice, dont consider it to be Brooklands, though I'm sure you'll prove me wrong.Ranmore Common Road out of Dorking, towards Horsley, but only when it’s quiet.
It’s a proper switchback and a chassis testing 5miles.
A29 from Beare Green. Pretty much keep going all the way to Fontwell Park.
Some fantastic stretches and sequences along there.
Then turn right and Goodwood is 15mins up the road.
It’s a proper switchback and a chassis testing 5miles.
A29 from Beare Green. Pretty much keep going all the way to Fontwell Park.
Some fantastic stretches and sequences along there.
Then turn right and Goodwood is 15mins up the road.
Since the lower speed limits around the Pirbright bends came in they've become the go to location for both liveried & parental driving lessons. If you're lucky you'll be able to do the actual posted speed limit. If you're unlucky, you'll be doing at least 10mph plus under the limit depending on how experienced the learner is.
AlexRS2782 said:
Since the lower speed limits around the Pirbright bends came in they've become the go to location for both liveried & parental driving lessons. If you're lucky you'll be able to do the actual posted speed limit. If you're unlucky, you'll be doing at least 10mph plus under the limit depending on how experienced the learner is.
Yes, I've noticed that also so I've given up on that stretch of road.Bathroom_Security said:
Don't know where the boundaries are for Weybridge. Area round the shell garage is a st hole. Brooklands is a sthole. Byfleet is a st hole. Addlestone most definitely is a st hole. Weybridge is nice, dont consider it to be Brooklands, though I'm sure you'll prove me wrong.
Never seen such rubbish. Completely the opposite. What are you comparing it to? Its lovely around all of there,t hole. Brooklands is a sthole. Byfleet is a st hole. Addlestone most definitely is a st hole. Weybridge is nice, dont consider it to be Brooklands, though I'm sure you'll prove me wrong.Gassing Station | Thames Valley & Surrey | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff