Sunday, 12 July 2026, RIDE

 Good afternoon everyone.  This Sunday's ride is a short gentle roll from the stable yard cafe at Polesden Lacey (National Trust) to Epsom (Whetherspoons) where its a chance for club members to get together and enjoy each other's company.  For those who would appreciate a longer ride I'm happy to head on after lunch to the Pheasantry cafe in Bushy Park.  Have a great rest of the week...Bernard

Taken at Polesden Lacey when we did our recci earlier today, Tuesday.

Ride Report - Sunday 5 July 2026

 

As usual, I had done my best to deter people from joining my ride, in this case by threatening an 'off-road special'.   I was only partially successful - Terry L, Pam J, Dave J and Tony H did arrive at elevenses intending to return straight home, but Andy C, Niall C and Steph W insisted on joining me for the rest of the ride!

We contended with a few miles of crumbly towpath from Coxes Lock as a warm-up' for the intended 'main event', the rickety, creeper-ridden, and previously virtually impassable (as this photo from 2022 demonstrates) footbridge over the Wey

on the Send Church to Sutton Green footpath.

Imagine my surprise and disappointment, to find not only that the overgrown approach to the bridge had been cleared of all stinging nettles, but that the bridge itself, previously too dangerous even for an SAS assault course, had been totally refurbished with new, readily-accessible stairs, and that all traces of creeper had disappeared!

I was flummoxed, and continued the ride somewhat subdued, and my spirits were only slightly lifted by inflicting the tortuous stairs of Woking station public subway on the group!

After lunch at Wetherspoons we took the shady towpath back to West Byfleet, and then the usual route back to Walton Bridge where there was a parting of the ways!    I will not be done down and my spies are already out looking for fresh, hideous obstacles to include in future rides led by me, so if you ever see the words 'off-road special' on the rides list in future, you have been warned!

Many thanks to Andy and Niall for their excellent photos, and to Andy for back-marking.

Sunday 28th June 2026

 The wind was coming from the south....or was it south-west but frankly it didn't matter & I was grateful after the past week of record breaking temperatures where humidity won over any chance of a breeze.

As per usual on a Sunday, Tanhouse Farm was rammed with roadies but thankfully choosing the takeaway van leaving the main café for china cup loving cyclists.

Gina, Keith, Eric, Neil, Dave joined myself leaving Dave V, Dave W & Terry.

We took the normal route to Colgate where there were no objections to some off-road through St Leonards forest (thanks Keith).

Flat or downhill & virtually straight, it was a joy to ride on this pretty good surface.

NOTE: Amended from route map below

Southwater Country Park was lunch for us but the large lake proved a draw for families & keen kayakers.

Terry rejoined us at Mickleham church teas together with Simon who was on a recce but the lure of homemade cakes was irresistable to him.

Thanks to Simon for most of the photos, Eric for backmarking & everyone else for your company.

The Leith Hill Greenway

I'm leading a ride to Leith Hill Tower in a month or so, and I had the questionable idea of riding back to tea along the Leith Hill Greenway.  First discovered by Brian in 2021, and then ridden in part by Mark G on a beefy e-bike, but with very little comment on what it was like to ride.  I decided to go and recce it.  It's described on the website as suitable for all types of active travel, although mountain bikes or gravel bikes are recommended.  How bad could it be?

I got up to the start at Leith Hill tower with no trouble (actually that's a lie, it was hard work).  An excellent pasty in the sunshine and fresh wind and I was ready to set off.  An innocuous track sloped gently down to the east.  Here goes.

So it begins...

The track is in three parts: Leith Hill to Coldharbour,  Coldharbour to the A24, and then the A24 to Denbies.  I'll describe them separately.

Leith Hill to Coldharbour.   Only for brave gravel riders.   Within twenty yards, the track had turned into a full-on mountain bike track, too steep to ride and with a choice of root covered high ground or a rubble-strewn gully.  I walked.  After 10-20 yards I was able to ride again, with care.  After that it was generally a good surface, but very steep (up and down) in places.  A few big puddles or patches of mud, but I was able to ride round them all. I went past the incredibly flat Coldharbour cricket field, looking very out of place in the hilly terrain, and was very pleased to arrive at Coldharbour. 

20 yards later

Steeply down to Coldharbour

Coldharbour to the A24.  Overall this is nicely rideable and gently downhill all the way with a few lovely views, but there's one tricky section.  It starts on a tarmac track, which gives way to a good clay-surfaced track, wide enough for cars and gently sloping down.  This continued a long way, through woods and a few lovely views but mostly enclosed in trees.  There were a few sandy patches but so long as you went for the shallow bits it was rideable.  After  2 1/2 miles I came to a junction.  The smooth wide track carried straight on, but according to my Garmin the Greenway dropped down to the right, on a narrow bridleway, so I followed that.  I was tempted to follow the wide track, but I could see I would have to take a footpath a bit further on to rejoin the Greenway.  

So, the bridleway it was.  A bit steep, a bit narrow, and with loose stones in the middle, it was mostly just rideable with a bit of walking.  It levelled out and became a rideable surface but very narrow between a few nettles and brambles.  This all only went on for about a quarter of a mile and I came to another junction, with the footpath I mentioned earlier.  A sign (the only one I saw) confirmed I'd chosen the correct route, and the alternative looked a bit steep and narrow too.

A bit more narrow but easily rideable bridleway bought me to Rookery Drive, a nice ride down to the A24.

The long easy section

Short narrow section

Short end section

A24 to Denbies.  A nice ride if you don't mind a bit of gravel, with a  decent hill.  Almost straight across the A24 (freshly re-gritted after the heatwave) and you're into Balchins Lane.  I carried along Balchins Lane to Hole Hill (not a hill) and then on a concrete path leading across fields and under the railway line to Landbarn Farm.  The track zigs up to the left and zags right as it climbs up towards Ranmore road, with lovely views down the valley to Dorking.  It's gravelly but rideable if you pick the right line.  A surprise - a tunnel under the road, and you continue on a nice tree enclosed track above the road.   A sharp left turn takes you uphill for a short distance - it could be ridden but I chose to walk.  Then you turn right into Denbies vineyard and ride on generally good tracks.  You have to be careful at the few corners as the surface gets churned up and there can be a lot of loose stones, but it's generally good riding with nice views, back to Denbies.

Concrete track to Landbarn Farm

Sloping up

and up...

Under Ranmore Road

Into Denbies

And through the Denbies estate.

Would I do it again?  Yes!  Maybe not the top section to Coldharbour.   And I'd choose the weather.  When I rode it, we'd had a lot of dry weather with a few downpours a couple of days ago, but the surface was almost completely dry.   I rode it on a road bike with 28mm road tyres.  I wouldn't be keen to ride it after a lot of rain.   But it's a really enjoyable traffic-free route down the hill, if you don't mind a bit of rough stuff.

And what about the ride in a month's time?   Well, I'll see what people think, consider the weather and will at the very least provide an alternative route to avoid the Greenway for those who don't fancy it.  Let me have your thoughts, and watch this space ...

Marlow ride

 8 intrepid C&M explorers made it to the far reaches of the galaxy, the Windsor farm shop for elevenses.

Tony and Pam set off on their own adventure, while Simon, Dave w , Niall, Steph and Carolyn joined me, on a route suggested by cycle.travel , it followed some cycle tracks to Eton dorney, then bray , where Dave w left us, then Maidenhead, cookham to descend to Marlow, Steph and Carolyn opted for lunch in the park, whilst, us three amigos headed to the spoons pub, which was packed ( father's day) .

After lunch, we gave the climb back up the hill a miss and opted for a route I had found over the A404 via a footbridge to little marlow, then the main road back to Maidenhead, it was now getting rather warm, so we took the route along the jubilee river to datchet , and then tea at the NT cafe at Runnymede.

We then all made our different ways home, a big shout out for Steph and Carolyn who had cycled all the way from Morden.

This report is a bit late due to me only just having access to the blog 

Mogador! June 14th

Mogador!   A name to strike terror into the hearts of regular cyclists.  But why?   Perhaps they have heard of the mountains that must be conquered to reach the destination, or the awful bogs that are created by the slightest bit of rain.   Or maybe they are just confusing it with Mordor in the Lord of the Rings?  Other people simply shrug and say "Where?".   To which the answer is near Walton on the Hill.

Despite all these connotations, a goodly number turned up at Henry VIII's favourite Wetherspoons, The Nonsuch Inn at North Cheam. It was good to meet Crystal, a C&M rider from quite a while back, who knew Keith and Andy.  The kitchen was on a go-slow and so there was quite a long delay waiting for breakfasts to turn up.   Eventually we got away in two groups of about six, leaving Colin, Lorraine, Dave V and David J to enjoy unlimited coffee and chat in the pub.

The route I'd chosen was based on some earlier Wayfarers rides led by past members Paul K and Rob M who now mainly rides with the Beginners.   We went up the track from Carshalton to Oaks Park, up a bit more to Woodmansterne, swooped down to Coulsdon and then up again to Chipstead, before the undulations of Mugswell.  Around half past one we arrived at The Sportsman, said to have been one of Henry VIII's hunting lodges.   Pete B, who had been waiting there for nearly an hour, was on his fourth pint and on the point of going home, but we were so pleased to see him that he stayed for an enjoyable chat in the sunny garden while waiting - again - for the arrival of Christina & Dawn's hot meals.

Party atmosphere

Niall and Neil have a serious man chat

Pete offered to lead us across the golf course back to Walton on the Hill - maybe as retribution for our late arrival.  It was off road, as expected, but also had quite a few very large puddles and patches of mud which were difficult to avoid.  Neil, Gina, Keith and Crystal made their own way home, to enjoy some different mud.   We did a bit of a loop via Tattenham Corner to enjoy the views, before rolling down to Epsom and Alexandra Park for tea (no connection to Henry VIII, sorry).

The bogs of Mogador

Tea at Alexandra Park

Thanks to all who came along for the ride or just for the coffee, it was good to have your company, and great to see all your photos.   And thank you to Keith for co-leading, and Jennie for back marking.

Plans for Sunday June 14th

Sunday's ride will be as advertised, from Wetherspoons at North Cheam to Mogador, where we will visit The Sportsman pub.   Tea will NOT be at the Flying Saucer Cafe at Bourne Hall Park, Ewell, because they're closed (another cunning plan is in preparation), and there's some off-road on the return from The Sportsman, as we cross the golf course.   I hope you can join us.