Croydon, Farthing Down to Chaldon to Coulsdon Common, Purley, Croydon

Revisiting Farthing Downs, Chaldon, Coulsdon Common and the pseudo-countryside lanes between them. We head south, taking in some leafy lanes and woodland tracks before enjoying a rest at Poppy Cafe in Coulsdon Memorial Ground, with its copious outdoor seating. Then we will ride up Farthing Down and pause at the top for the sweeping view. Then we loop round on the beautiful Ditches Lane to Chaldon to Coulsdon Common to lunch. Returning, we have more scenic riding before the side street business of getting back to Queens Gardens.

We will lunch at a cafe that has four outside tables on a terrace and plenty of comfortable seating inside. This is instead of one of the fine pubs with beer gardens nearby, just because the available food in those is only one or more elements of a main meal and is expensive along with being unsuitable for us.

Leave from Queens Gardens CR0 1GY at 10am. Although the route is only 20 miles long, since we have two relaxed refreshment breaks and slow cycling on the scenic parts we can’t expect to be back at the starting point before 3:30. There are packed gravel dirt tracks and uneven, bumpy ground so narrow tyres are not suitable. This is not one of our flatter rides. In particular, the climb up Farthing Down is strenuous.

You will need a water bottle. Please bring a spare inner tube.

Croydon Social Cycling's WhatsApp group is at https://chat.whatsapp.com/FA8sK41PspPG0NcJz7h3bE Expect to see other riders joining from there. Use it to stay in touch about any changes on the day and to locate us en route, enjoy social chat and find other rides.

https://www.komoot.com/tour/3023566640?share_token=akTFuATBeTATz1KLz8KM3VZfBug3K3Z2H74A585yXPEyAbpU44&ref=wtd&t_s=referral&t_cid=route_share&t_ref_username=1091979579015