Shere, Surrey

DISTANCE 8.6km (5.3 miles) CLIMBING 200m (656ft) TIME 45mins to 1hr 30mins

Start/ inish Shere car park (grid ref TQ 073/480, postcode GU5 9BS)

Route summary An easy introductory ride to the Surrey Hills, taking in a mix of natural trails, forest roads and farm tracks, plus some fun singletrack too

1

Go back to the road and turn left and then immediately right, to pass through the village of Shere. Keep ahead to start to climb back out the other side. Turn left on a minor road after the houses (The Spinning Walk). Continue past more houses and keep straight ahead at the end, on a narrow track.

2 Keep left at the end, by some houses, to join a lane. Follow this to a road junction. Continue ahead at the grassy triangle, past a bus stop and along the road, until it bears left. Go right instead, on Towerhill Road, under the bridge with a ‘dead end’ sign.

3 Take the second track on the left, on the other side. Pass the farm, turn right at the junction (on Wonham Way) and then keep left at the fork. Turn left on the A25. Before the road bears right, turn right, onto a lane with a ‘dead end’ sign (Beggars Lane).

4 Follow the lane under the railway and steeply uphill, keeping ahead until you reach a good, wide bridleway at the top. Turn left on this forest track and continue to follow it as it becomes part of the North Downs Way, over a track crossing and then right at the fork.

5 Keep ahead until a staggered track crossing with a barrier. Go right here, then immediately left, past Hollister Farm. Go left (by the bins) just before the track bears sharply right. Follow this trail into the trees, where it becomes narrower and steeper (downhill). Caution: There’s a tough rocky, rooty section by the large trees just down here.

6 Just before the road, turn sharp left, down a steep slope (best to walk it). Go right on the wide but rough track at the bottom. Pass through a short (but dark) bridge/tunnel, on uneven ground, and emerge back at the car park in Shere.