SHERE, SURREY HILLS
DISTANCE 28.7KM (17.8 MILES), 650 METRES OF CLIMBING, 2HRS 30MINS TO 4HRS
THE ROUTE: This route explores the myriad trails on Holmbury Hill and Pitch Hill, as well as the countryside and cafes in this wonderful location. There are various options to cut it shorter or explore further singletrack
START: Hurtwood car park 7, Shere (postcode GU5 9HF, grid ref TQ 070/469)
1 Go right on the road then quickly left on a bridleway. Descend, fork right twice and continue ahead. At the crossroads, bear left into Shere for the cafe or straight on Spinning Walk. Follow the bridleway to some houses and cross the road. Ride past a bus stop, turn right under a bridge then left on a bridleway, keeping ahead/right.
2 Turn left by some houses, to the A25. Go right to Abinger Hammer and take the first left. Follow the NCN22 off-road, right, between some fields, into woodland and turn right at track crossing. Cross the A25 onto a lane opposite, joining a bridleway ahead at the farm, uphill.
3 Past some big houses, turn right at the T-junction, then left by the pub on Water Lane and right at the junction. Go left on the road, fork left and go right into Hurtwood car park 9. Follow the forest track out of the back, uphill. Fork left, go right at a crossing and keep left to a viewpoint.
4 Go back 100m, right into the trees. Head right at the forest track, back to the track crossing. Join a trail under telegraph cables. At Hurtwood car park 14, go left and left again to climb. Bear right at a track crossing, then keep left to the top and a large stone. Go right here.
5 After 200m, go right on some singletrack. Keep ahead, bear left to a fork and right before the dip. Cross a forest road, go left at the second one, then right after 50m. At the forest track, go left to climb to, and around the left of, the reservoir/clearing, then right through the gate.
6 Cross the road onto some singletrack. Turn left at the road, then quickly right on a bridleway. Keep ahead at the top for 0.6km. Go right, ride 100m then head right. Fork left to a junction and keep left, uphill. Go over a track crossing, ride for 250m to a junction and turn right.
7 Soon after, go right, cross a fireroad, then bear left at a forest track. At a track crossing from before, join a trail between the tracks ahead and left. Keep ahead, bearing left to a car park. Go right on the road to Peaslake, or left, uphill. Fork left, then head right by Peaslake House.
8 Follow the bridleway, cross a road and bear right. Continue left and downhill, then keep ahead and right at a fork by a house. After 200m turn right on a bridleway. Keep ahead on the track at the end, then go straight, off-road. Climb to some houses and keep ahead to cross the railway bridge, left. Follow the trail back to the car park.
THE LOCATION The Surrey Hills have some of the best off-road riding in the South. It’s busy, but there’s a lot to explore.
GETTING THERE Shere is off the A25, east of Guildford. There’s a car park by the sports field, or another (Hurtwood Shere Heath car park 7) in the woods south of the village, at the top of the hill, on the right before the railway bridge. Gomshall, just down the road, has a station.
FACILITIES Rookery Nook B&B in Shere is good. The Dabbling Duck cafe has fabulous breakfasts. Peaslake village stores serve light bites, while the Hurtwood Inn can provide something more substantial. The Bray and White Horse pubs are decent, and the William IV in Little London is brilliant.
MAPS & BOOKS Ordnance Survey Landranger 187: Dorking & Reigate. South East Mountain Biking: North & South Downs by NIck Cotton (Vertebrate Publishing)