A Group Ride, 2nd September 2026 from Cobham to Guildford and Dorking.

We rubbed shoulders with academia during lunch at the Sir Ronald Wates - the new Wetherspoons located on the Stag Hill, Guildford University campus. There was a young and lively studently vibe abut the place, with a smattering of lap-tops in evidence - quite different clientele from that found in our normal High Street 'spoons visits. Refreshing!

Trying to find an original route from Cobham is a challenge. Using the new cycle paths and bridges from Pointers Lane alongside and across the M25 and A3 was a good start. Even in the rain! Thereafter it was reasonably familiar roads through Woking, followed by ingenious cycle paths onto the University campus. A modest 22 miles and my group arrived as Fiona had her group seated for lunch.

Fiona noted that unusually for this summer, her group set off in rain jackets. A different and interesting route out to Guildford. A new stop for lunch at Wetherspoons, where the ladies toilet provided interesting instructions on how and how not to use the facilities. A straight forward route back to Clunkers in Dorking for tea and cake. Thank you to Mike for back marking and thank you to all my group for being supportive and keeping me on route.

Eight pictured below stayed for tea at the Old Clunker cafe, not realising Fiona's speedy group had already been and gone.

Many thanks for Brian for sub-leading a moderately paced group, and also for suggesting some clever tweaks to my original route following our recce. Chapeau to Fiona for leading her group without a recce - having been called away on urgent family business. Finally thanks to a very visible Dave V for backmarking my group.

Report for B Group - 2nd September

With many people away on holiday, and several others who hadn’t yet adjusted to our old custom of getting wet on Wednesdays, we had a low turnout for this ride. But Terry, Ian and Dawn were at Elevenses to chat before we all took off. Grant was there too but opted for a cycling adventure with the Easy Riders. We were sorry that Sabina, Tim G and Dawn wouldn’t be able to ride with us after hoping that they could. John rode with Bernard until around Effingham when he departed for home and Grand-dad duties.

Bernard, in his proud new incarnation as the Sparrow of Motspur Park, in honour of his cycling hero Federico Bahamontes, the Eagle of Toledo, took off with his flock at the appointed time, swooped down through Effingham and soared into the hills of White Down and Abinger Common. When they alighted on Abinger Common to admire St James’s Well our second group caught up with them, whereupon they all took off again and were not seen again until lunchtime.

Team Bernard at St James's Well

Our team got away a little after 11 despite the rain still threatening to spoil our fun. After Effingham the route I’d planned had us turning off Beech Avenue into High Barn Lane and then heading up Hogden Lane. However, there was an apparently formidable barrier closing High Barn Lane and we didn’t feel like taking a chance on making it all the way through. When we arrived at lunch we were embarrassed to learn that Bernard and his team had negotiated a safe passage through the closure and had stuck to my original route. We had been shown up and were mildly humbled by the more adventurous team which preceded us, not least because we arrived at The Crown Inn just after them. Chapeau to Team Bernard.

One of the great pleasures of the ride, apart from the descent of White Down, was the time we spent riding through the forests, particularly in Abinger Lane and Leith Hill Road. It isn’t quite Autumn yet but after the recent rain the atmosphere in the forest was fresh and lively.

Action in Abinger Lane:

Francis back-marking

Mags sprinting up the lane

We frequently pass The Crown in Capel so it is a mystery that we hadn’t had lunch there before. But I had learned that my default choice of pub, the Inn on the Green in Ockley had closed down. So, I made the arrangements with Vanda at The Crown, agreed to ask for pre-orders and we thoroughly enjoyed going there. The good food and friendly hospitality left us looking forward to a future visit.

 

Team Bernard

Team Tim C

As the morning ride had been a challenge a shorter afternoon was called for but rather than the customary parade up to Leatherhead the six of us who remained rode up Little Switzerland to Headley and across Langley Vale to The Olive Tree café at the Ashtead Park Garden Centre to enjoy our coffee and cake.

A big thank you to Bernard for his heroic feats of leadership, to our back-markers Steph and Francis, and to our hardy and cheerful riders who were up for this challenge in the hills and forests of Surrey.

~ Tim C