We have really lucked out in the weather for these longer off road rides this year. It was dry in early August and the those of us heading out onto the North Downs were looking forward to speeding along the tracks. The cycling route starts at Farnham Castle but we nipped down to the metal pillars pointing the way.
I am not quite sure what it was in this particular area of the country that inspired Aldous Huxley for the landscape of the dystopia novel ‘A Brave New World’, but if he was cycling, I am going to bet on the deep, slippy sections of sand.
This part of the route is also counter-intuitive as it is not a straight line along the Hogs back to Guildford, but instead dips down into Tilford before heading up via Puttenham common. By chance, we met a road cycling club member in full FCCC kit, of whom we failed to warn of a road closure but only because we ourselves had just emerged off the tracks. He zipped past us later sprinting towards Godalming.
Passing just to the South of Guildford, Shalford Park had plumes of dust around the football players, (have I mentioned how dry and dusty it was?). We carried on up through the shady trees for the climb to St. Martha’s and stopped for a break to admire the view at the church just as the bells rang with the 5 minute call before the 11am service. We didn’t see anyone sprinting up the hill to make the service in time.
The ridge between St. Martha’s and Ranmore Common are popular spots. The Newland Corner car park was super busy with gathering of many motorbikes. Following the ridge, we were overtaken by keen MTB group who were off to ride trails. At Ranmore Common we waved to the packs of well uniformed roadies, (light blue). On the climb up Box Hill we were bemused to be overtaken by a power walker.
At Box Hill cafe the hot weather was evident as the queue for water was longer than queue for the ladies. At this point, our e-cyclist decided to reverse route to get home while the battery lasts, re-charging himself with an ice cream back at Newlands corner
The rest of us continued from Box Hill up(!) hill through various woods, occasionally missing the exact route and encountering paths a bit more rooty than expected for Gravel bikes or horses. It was a hot, hot climb up Ockley hill, but you can peer through bushes to see through to Battersea on the other side. Eventually the route takes us off the Downs, through a steep path into Oxted where ice-cream and trains awaited.
Thanks to those who joined on the ride!
Donna