Surrey Hills

Saturday, Mar 7, 2015 Meet 9.00 am in Il Molino on Lavender hill if you want coffee in time to ride to Clapham Junction for a 9.38am departure to Box Hill station. The train takes 40 minutes to get right in to the Surrey hills and enables to miss the busier roads through Croydon. You can also meet me at Clapham Junction itself at 9.30am, by the ticket machines. Or ride to Clapham with me, leaving at 8.15am from The Eddystone Rd railway bridge in Crofton Park. Text or ring to confirm either of these meeting points. Alternatively, meet at the start of the ride itself, Box Hill and Westhumble Station at about 10.20.. Please ring me if you want to meet at these last two options. From the station, we ride straight up to Box Hill, and then down through the village, descending Pebble hill and riding through Betchworth, Brockham, around quiet farmland south of Dorking before heading back towards the town, via Spooks Hill, and turning west to head back into quiet wooded lanes in the Surrey hills proper. We'll visit Coldharbour and Leith Hill. If time and weather permits we can go to the tower. If time is tight and it's very cloudy, it's not really worth the detour. From there, down to Friday St, then on to Holmbury St Mary where we'll stop for lunch in a pub. Then on up Holmbury Hill, down to Peaslake and then, depending on time available, either a few more loops through the hills via Ewhurst and Winterfold Wood, or a quicker trip back to the last and biggest climb of the day, White Down. Some of us will ride, some of us may walk it, but we'll all get up it somehow! Then it's a lovely rolling ride across Ranmore Common, a terrific descent back down to Westhumble and the train home. Around 40 miles depending on our energy levels, weather and time available. Hard, hilly ride, but we do not race, and wait for all. However, if you have never done a hilly ride before, this is not the one to start with! Read our general ride information page http://lewishamcyclists.co.uk/rides-and-events/general-ride-information/ If you still have questions text or call Jane on 07826559603