In the early noughties there were C&M all day rides to Amberley in West Sussex. Terry led the last in 2012 (see blog). The same roads were travelled by the all-night FNRTTC rides. These started at Hyde Park Corner and ended at the coast with return by train.
It's time for a revival! An all day ride could be too far for some so I'm proposing: ride to Amberley, train back. I assume most will travel via Clapham Junction and return from any of the following: Horsham, Amberley, Arundel, Ford, Barham, less likely Bognor, Littlehampton (for "Brighton").
It's 15+ miles from home to Dorking (18+ to the start). Thanks to my Freedom Pass/Senior Railcard, I need only pay for Ewell East to Dorking and Coulsdon South to Ford. I'll buy returns for both journeys.
Trains (hopefully accurate)
For Dorking the only direct service is : 08.11 arriving Dorking 08.53.
No Sunday service south of Dorking.
Elsewhere
(1) the only Southern direct service is hourly from Victoria to Bognor (via Gatwick etc). A second service terminates in Horsham (unless heading to/from Spoons you might be waiting 30+ minutes. Shunting?
(2) From Ford services run west to "Portmouth" and east to "Brighton".
(3) Redhill to Betchworth might be fun (Surrey's least used station)! but arrival time is 0915.
(4) Thameslink has services (mostly direct sometimes nonstop)
from East Croydon to Horsham at xx53 and xx23
from Horsham to East Croydon at xx20 and xx50
Possible Route
Plenty of alternatives except south of West Chiltington
Start: Brockham Reading Room (open 0900)
ride 15 miles to Horsham(11s) Wetherspoons (1100)
from station to Spoons:
S/O station rbt into Hurst Road, at end turn L onto LB2237,
at fork bear R to cyclists' traffic lights, S/O dual carriageway. Spoons is R.
ride 18 miles to Amberley Riverside(Lunch) 1300)
Has 2 or 3 pubs, 2 or 3 tearooms, Museum, Castle, Store/PO
Traffic lively on B2139. Tarmac footpath from village to station verges sometimes trimmed!
miles to coast: 0(train home, not step free), 5 (train to Arundel then ride), or 15 (over Downs)
To whet your appetite:
Over the South Downs https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/21792
Gurkha Bridge https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4936877
other routes (walks and kissing gates guaranteed)
Arundel
full of tourists and shops catering to their needs
long step-free footpath beside A27 connects platforms (not signposted).
Cycle path (with subway) from/to town centre.
A27/A259 traffic often nose to tail and overflows onto side roads.
No more hills max: 25 feet
ride 2 miles to Ford
level crossing, prison
ride 3 miles to Climping Beach (cycle path beside A259)
Clear view of the sea thanks to Environment Agency's
new embankments, extra concrete blocks
No touristic attractions (café or loos)
The End
Return from Ford - step free
Miscellaneous Notes
No lifts except Horsham but plenty of steps.
Getting back other ways (not investigated)
(1)Thameslink(from Horsham) see above
(2)ride from other station eg Christ's Hospital(Downslink) to Dorking and home.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sJ1ucwdtXpTH1mMFmGcahwVhdMebh83b/view?usp=sharing
this link should allow you to copy a GPX file of seven "routes".
The smallest is Horsham Railway Station to Horsham Wetherspoons.
The largest is Dorking to Amberley.
No comments:
Post a Comment