Surrey Hills Options

[Jambalaya]

Plenty of tracks to follow on deadkenny's tracker link (nice ski tour too !)

Persoanlly I'd say if you are going to drive any distance it makes sense to park near the hills for max hill and trail riding. However for a bit more XC you can park at Newlands Corner (nice bacon rolls and burgers) or one of many pubs like William Bray in Shere if you want a beer (Shere Drop or Ranmore Ale)or something to eat and be a bit of a tourist in a Surrey Village (commonly featured in movies, pretty church, old buildings, feed the ducks), plenty of XC routes to/from the Hills from here.

[DrBike]

When I've been there I've always parked in the car park just past the Youth Hostel on the B2126 between Sutton Abinger and Holmbury St Mary. I have to admit that I'm usually following Marc, but we tend to head up the bridleway directly out of the car park, cut across to BKB, down to Peaslake, up past the cemetery towards the top of Pitch Hill, across to Winterfold and then back again down to Peaslake before the long road climb to Holmbury Hill to finish off with Telegraph Road.

[deadkenny]

Typical place to start for me is Walking Bottom car park in Peaslake Village (down past the bike shop and church).

Climb from there up to Winterfold and/or Pitch hills, and a good set of trails, jumps, drops, rolls, downhill bits, whatever you're into basically. Nothing there is obvious and no official trails but a lot more there than on Holmbury Hill (up Radnor Road from Peaslake), which is really only good for BKB, Yog Pots and Telegraph which can be busy as that's where most go.

On a long ride, descend over from Holmbury and climb Leith and all kinds of fun hidden round there, and possibly go further still.

p.s. got other tracks on my link that you can't see publicly due to dubious routes involved. Can add as a friend to see them or can send some privately. Mainly stuff involving Redlands, Ranmore and bits on Winterfold that are outside the Hurtwood (plus places like Tunnel Hill as had requests not to publish GPS routes round there).

Talking of Hurtwood - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4uZE_oIpRs

[Stan Leigh]

Excellent link deadkenny , re posted it on the Trolls' forum !

[marcliam]

He never rides anywhere at the moment, a bit like me Too many other commitments currently, I don't think I've done this little riding or been so unfit for 10 years.

I drop by the forum and everyone is talking about me 'tis true though, my waist line is growing by the minute....

[ken]

finally managed to do a very good loop around surrey hills/north downs

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1181653

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xJxnQi9mN0

started at 9:30 am at westcott(nirvana cycles) then to leith hill, holmbury, pislake, windmil and some other places, well not sure about names but was very good ones and took about 4.5 hours with some stops for cake at pislake.

[Jambalaya]

Surrey Hills Stomper Oct 15/16 - if nothing else you'll see some of the better trails on the less frequented Ranmore side

Williams Extremem Events - Surrey Stomper

[deadkenny]

Facebook page for that too, for those into Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=164562520288416

Ranmore has some great stuff hidden away. Good place (except in the wet. Clay, all goes yucky).

[Jambalaya]

For those unfamiliar with the area whether looking for guiding and to get a few tips or take a full lesson I'd recommend all biked up

I did a 3.5 hr "coached ride" with them this weekend over Holmbury and Pitch Hills (possibly with same guide Richard as deadkenny referred to in his post)

Also any of the regular rides from Nirvana although as these are free they are likely to feature more riders

[mbElf]

Looks like its going to be sunny tomorrow (according to the beeb website) - who up for a surrey hills ride?

[deadkenny]

Beeb said it was going to be dry to me on the radio this morning, but got caught in major Swinley downpour.

Would like to do Surrey Hills tomorrow, though no plan and no idea who's about.

P.S. Condition report from Surrey Hills MTBer

"Conditions update: Most trails are now getting pretty cut up and generally mashed. Mud and standing water everywhere and that's before this afternoon's torential rain. Winterfold is best avoided completely. Some parts of Pitch & Holmbury are still reasonable but deteriorating. Best conditions can be found on the last section of Telegraph Row, first section of Champagne Supernova, the bits of BKB where maintenance has happened and the end section of BKB that was "properly" constructed which is still in almost perfect condition - go figure."

Not sure about avoiding Winterfold as it's the best bit on the Peaslake side, but can see the DH bits off the top will be a right mud slide. They were already weeks back before the wet set in. Still can be fun though. Haven't checked out BKB since the recent maintenance.

Don't know, trundle about Pitch and Holmbury I guess. Leith will probably be worse for mud.

[ken]

Looks like its going to be sunny tomorrow (according to the beeb website) - who up for a surrey hills ride?

I am up and you? :-)

[deadkenny]

Was thinking of heading for Peaslake at 10 or 11ish myself in the absence of other plans. Walking Bottom car park perhaps. If it's chucking it down at the time, probably not.

[mbElf]

I am up and you? :-)

Not sure Ken, from what i have seen, surrey hills is best avoided if it rains... i would love to do Caesars Camp or Tunnel Hill... they drain well.

[deadkenny]

SHills drains okay, it's just the popular bits will be muddy whereas TH isn't so popular. Usually less of a swamp than Swinley but depends where you go.

Mud is good anyway, and SHills is perfectly ridable in any condition (except Ranmore and Redlands - different soil, nasty in the wet)

[ken]

Not sure Ken, from what i have seen, surrey hills is best avoided if it rains... i would love to do Caesars Camp or Tunnel Hill... they drain well.

yeah but who will be leading there?

[mbElf]

SHills drains okay, it's just the popular bits will be muddy whereas TH isn't so popular. Usually less of a swamp than Swinley but depends where you go.

Mud is good anyway

Ok, lets say 11 am at the Walking Bottom car park which i assume is the car park near the cheese straw shop

yeah but who will be leading there?

Ken, because some areas are too muddy, we wont be able to follow the Satnav... I hope DK or Suren can lead... they are the original surrey hill boys!

[ken]

Mud is good anyway

[deadkenny]

Ok, lets say 11 am at the Walking Bottom car park which i assume is the car park near the cheese straw shop

The big car park just along the road from the cheese straw shop, heading past the little bike shop and pub. It's the base of the climb up to Pitch and Winterfold.

I'm crap at leading, but know the area a fair bit. 11 is good.

[ken]

Suren is coming I Will ask him about leading if u think my trail wount work

Suren is coming I Will ask him about leading if u think my trail wount work

start at Westcott(nirvana cycles) - Leith Hill , Holmbury, Peaslake, including Yog Pots, Telegraph, Summer lightening )

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1181653

check this out. i can lead over here and presume DK is pretty aware of the area so no warries. bSuren said he cant do leading but he wants to come anywaysl.