'A' ride Wednesday 1st April 2026

 Twenty-two signed up for this ride to The Milk Churn, Rudgwick via the North Downs.

I had three sub-leaders, a decent forecast of a dry mildish day & a familiar route along some of Surrey's quietest & nicest lanes.

Sue F was away first:

Andy C gave us a masterclass in planning a ride on Wednesday; great route complete with a perfect number of hills before lunch, just the right length for the time of year and an excellent, well priced and a no pre-order lunch at The Milk Churn in Rudgwick. Admittedly we can’t credit Andy with the perfect weather but that turned up too.

It could have turned out differently however if this sub leader had been a slightly wider proposition and not hurled herself into the side of the road at the Raikes Lane/ Horsham Rd junction to avoid being squashed by a delivery van. Anyway thoughts of a near miss were banished by a superb downhill swoop to Ockley Rd. We were over hauled by Frances’s group on the descent but I am pleased to report that we kept their rear lights in our sights all the way to Rudgwick.

Top marks to The Milk Churn for the quality of their cheese on toast and I heard reports of some excellent sandwiches.

Bluebells and gorgeous spring flowers lined the lanes on our return and we rounded off a thoroughly good day with well earned tea and cake at Brockham. Thanks to my group of Gill H, Ged, Steve D and Gina for their patience and good company and big thanks to Andy for planning such a good day out.

Followed by Brian:

I'm quite familiar with the route to the MIlk Churn but Andy put in a few twists and turns so I had to pay attention to the route. The detour round the back of the "Isle of Wight" on Bookham Common was new to me even though I knew the bits both sides and Manor House Lane was an interesting change. The long drag up High Barn Lane warmed us up and we overtook Sue's group at the top. After that it wasn't all downhill but certainly always felt as if we were making good progress and arrived first at the Milk Churn to a short queue, unlike the others who arrived en masse behind us. The return was straightforward and blessed with some warm sunshine though the northerly wind made itself felt on the last stretch from Parkgate to Brockham. 

A lovely route and good company. Thank you all and to Janice for back marking. 

Ed - In Brian's group - Janice D, Fiona B, Guy D & Dave E.

Frances was next away:

My group of 5 were prompt, keen and very willing 🥳 as we headed out from Cobham and fortunately over the mainly dry Bookham Common.

We enjoyed the slog up High Barn to Ranmore but at least the crossroads at Whitedown were dry - no wet feet this time.

It was downhill, and uphill but lovely quiet roads, good road surface in many places and the temperature was rising nicely as we neared the Milk Churn.

It was busy but the sun came out for our outside table and the cheesy options were well received.  I managed to miss the whole group photo but we had a good photo of our group at the Weare pond too.

Off we set again at a steady pace into a little headwind up Coles Lane, through Capel and on to Brockham tea stop just before 3pm.  Several stopped and I was glad of a tea break as the ride was more hilly than I checked! Needless to say it was a lovely spring day, great riding with a very considerate group throughout and it hopefully set us up nicely for Easter.🐣

Thanks to all, Patrick, Clive, Sue, Simon and Peter for his back marking. 

Frances & her group at the duck pond on Weare Street - Photo credit Clive.

In my group - Dave B, Dave W, Hans, Mike & Richard.
Beech Lane/Critten Lane or High Barn Road?

cycle.travel opted for the latter & I was happy to go along with that...... " more scenic" as Mike quite rightly pointed out.

Traffic was light as we crossed into Raikes Lane then to Holmbury St Mary & The Volunteer pub that closed in 2022....its future still uncertain.

Continuing South on the Horsham Road - a well surfaced 'lane' slightly undulating took us to the right turn of Furzen Lane.

On a ride where traffic lights were absent, we were slowed by workman lights in two locations (no workmen present).

The groups arrived at lunch en masse creating a humungous queue.

Despite this, spirits were high & the folks at the Milk Churn run a well oiled machine so we all ordered, paid, were served & fed well within the hour.

Reviews were mixed on the quantity rather than quality but overall I think folk were satisfied.

A few brief glimpses of the sun on the return was welcomed slightly lifting the temperature.

We were stopped in our tracks by an articulated lorry making a delivery at a new build in Weare Street causing us to slightly go 'off-road'.

Most stopped for tea (or a rest) at the Reading Room, Brockham.

That tandem @ The Reading Room & the bent seat tube.

Group photo sans, Dave W, Frances, Sue & Gill - Apologies! 👀

Thanks to Brian, Frances & Sue for sub-leading & Dave B backmarking my group.