Ride8
RIDE 8
The Surrey Hills
Distance: 85km
Difficulty: Pleasant roads but some steep hills
Time: 3.5–5.5 hours
This one requires you to take the train out to Cobham from Waterloo, cycling out of the station and into the bucolic surrounds of Surrey. This pastoral ride partly follows the circuit used for the 2012 Olympic road race (although they had to do nine laps, whereas we think one is more than enough). Follow undulating lanes, skirting around Dorking, before taking on the iconic Box Hill via the infamous zig-zag road. This big climb is not steep but it is long (4km). Luckily, there’s a bustling cafe at the top so you can have a well-earned break, before heading downhill all the way back to the start.
How to follow the route
We recommend a free app called BikeGPX (no login required).
Once installed, follow the link below to access the route.
Alternatively you can download the gpx file and use it in a cycling app.
Ride with GPS and Strava are great but you will need a subscription.
You can also view the route on Google Maps (but this option cannot be used for point-to-point navigation).
Safety tips
Make sure you can safely attach your phone to your bike – you can find holders online here - and remember to focus on your surroundings as well as the screen.
Please cycle responsibly: always wear a helmet and remember to account for the distance of the journey. It’s also good to have the map downloaded, in case you lose signal while on the road.
Make sure you can safely attach your phone to your bike – you can find holders online here - and remember to focus on your surroundings as well as the screen.