[Closed] Devils Punchbowl

Have a look here - http://www.vcgh.co.uk/routes/offRoadRoutes, you should be able to find something suitable. Riding in the Punchbowl is somewhat cheeky as there only a few bridleways running through the Punchbowl itself and it's rather popular with families and walkers, especially at weekends.

Parking at Peaslake/Holmbury/Leith Hill is only 20 mins east ...

There is some cracking stuff around the Punchbowl and only really busy around the carpark. Unlike Peaslake etc. it's not ridden that much and therefore a lot less trashed at this time of year. If I get a chance, I'll try and write some notes of the route I ride around there. There are also some downhill tracks hidden away that were supposedly built by Brendan Fairclough as his training runs!

I may go and get an OS map and just go exploring but that link looks pretty good.

heihei.. that would be awesome if you do. Many thanks.

Heihei is right, I'm a lifetime local and can attest that there's lots of good stuff around the Punchbowl and Gibbet Hill. Most of the DH stuff is on the Gibbet side of the A3. I'd offer to guide but I'm injured and elsewhere this weekend. Have fun :o)

I grew up near there and have never ridden in. There is also some good downhill stuff (if that's your thing) near Rogate a few miles down the road. I think I'll have a look at the Punchbowl this year.

OK - here's my favourite loop around here. Prob about 2hrs - longer if you stop for tea and cake!

Park in Thursley (either the layby just by the A3 or by the cricket pitch) and head south along the road past the church.
At the end of the road, turn R to drop down to a river. Cross by the bridge, head up the other side to a road. Go straight on (W) for 300m then take the bridleway on the L heading S. Follow this all the way to the top where you'll find the NT car park and (very good) cafe. Have some flapjack - it's ace!
Cross the A3 and then head E to get to the Gibbet (stone cross & triangulation pillar). Nav gets tricky now and worth having the 1:25,000 map!
Pick up one of the small trails thru the heather heading S / SSE to drop quite steeply down to where 4-5 trails meet. Take bridleway heading SW which starts to climb (250m contour line on map). Most of the downhill tracks are on the left here. Keep on bridleway for about 3/4km till you come to another junction of 3-4 tracks (close to Hurthill Copse on the map).
Take R bridleway heading SW then after about 250m take a path that goes steeply uphill (push). At the top, follow the path for about 300m but keep an eye out for a cheeky trail on the R. Take this - it's awesome.
Keep on the cheeky trail as it flows for maybe 500m, crossing a main path, before it spits you out on a main path above Coombe Head. Turn R onto bridleway heading W, then take the left bridleway (singletrack) which heads steeply down W. At the bottom, go straight over the junction.
Start climbing on a double-track (easiest goes R / N then L / SW to meet the road-head at a school.
Turn R almost back on yourself and follow the BOAT NNE to bring you back to the Gibbet.
Go N and pick up the BOAT (now sufaced) which goes beside the A3. When it meets the A3, cross the road and pick up the track that goes over a cattle grid on the other side. Immediately after the cattle grid, pick up a little path on the left that climbs a small hill via some steps / rocks. Great views!
From the top keep going N, dropping down to a double-track. Turn L onto this, and head down a cracking rocky then rutted track for 1.5km till you meet the road at Upper Highfield Farm.
Drift along the road back to Thursley, and enjoy a pint at the pub!

I've only ridden at night and in the snow so haven't clocked the downhill stuff but agree with heihei some of the cheeky trails are fast and really good fun