Today's 'adventure' took us in an easterly direction, rare for C&M in recent years but I was determined to get to Westerham, whatever it took.
These days the 'official' start is at 11's but keen to attract a little more interest, I opted for a 9.40am start from Oaks Park, Carshalton.
Dave W, Alan & Chris were already there when I arrived at 9.39am & I hastily called the troops together for the descent into Purley via Foxley Lane.
The climb of Purley Downs Road was long but thankfully relatively traffic free & we arrived at the elevenses stop in Selsdon, a Wetherspoons.
Julian Huxley was a evolutionary biologist who grew up at Shackleford, Surrey but helped support the Selsdon Wood Nature Reserve & the pub bears his name.
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| Old Farleigh Road or Selsdon Hill as it was called pre 1918 looking towards Selsdon and apparently the cottage on the left is still there & we rode past it today! |
Our quartet was joined by Martina, Gina, Eric & Keith plus Dave V popped by to say hello whilst on a recce for a future ride.
Noticably cooler than of recent days courtesy of a north-easterly breeze but pleasantly sunny all the same.
We bid farewell to Dave V & continued on Old Farleigh Road to eventually pick up the Limpsfield Road still climbing to the top of Westerham Hill.
Fast descent to Titsey church & onto Pilgrims Lane going east.
Just after we waved Dave W off who continued going east, Alan had a rear tyre puncture.
Keen not to slow the ride, he sent us on & rejoined at Westerham where we had decided to lunch.
A pleasant town to linger & linger we did.....including the odd charity shop!
Our brief visit into Kent at an end, onwards & upwards (literally) to Farleigh Church for tea & cake(s).
The photo op was at an art installation.......
Inspired by the very creatures that, 65 million years ago, formed the foundations of the North Downs Way, ‘Coccolith’ invites visitors to take a seat and immerse themselves in this rolling and quintessential landscape.
This ‘Inspiring views’ commission, designed by artists INSTAR (Trish Evans and Nick Humphreys), is built using traditional dry-stone wall techniques, using a hand-picked selection of local ironstone rock excavated from the Titsey Estate along with ‘clunch’ chalk.
https://www.surreyhillsarts.org/permanent-works/coccolith/
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| Coccolith |
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| Eric loves off-road! |
The route thereafter was via the delightful Beddlestead Lane to the brutal Hessiers Hill at 15.6%.
A 'closed' road (SES Water) 500yds from the church didn't impede us but I was astonished by the queue at St Marys Church!
Grade 1 listed, built late 11th century it is clearly popular with locals with not a spare table in sight!
Forty-six miles for me with a sprinkling of hills & hillocks.
Thanks to Dave for backmarking & everyone else for your company.
Ride data from plotaroute:
Uphill 24%
Downhill 25%
Flat 51%
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