[Closed] Holmbury St Mary

The trails may be more interesting - does anyone know how much snow there has been?

Be warned after the big snowfalls last yr it took me 40mins to get to the top of Pitch Hill. T-trials were just about ok and the Yog Pots on Holmbury were impossible. BKB was goods.

Anything more than 3 inch could be a waste of time but still may be ultimately preferable before it all turns to slush.

I very much doubt it at the moment!

I'm now told it's going to be heavy rain on Sunday there so it should be fine.

Last year I think we got about 100 yards from the car before we called it a day in the deep snow.

Roads in Gomshall where I live are OK.
You could always park at the railway station and ride up from there.
small roads are still tricky in places, but it should be OK by Sunday

season's over dude

Snow is about 12" and very powdery - not the best to cycle in! The rain may see it off I guess.

Road through Holmbury is currently packed snow and lots of parked cars. Most of the car parks will be tricky to get in and out of.

To be honest I wouldn't bother driving here 'til it improves - the roads are tricky enough for essential journeys, and the cycling won't be up to much. A walk would be a lot more enjoyable.

Might ride out tomorrow morning and come back in along Stane Street. should be OK.

This pic is yesterday, doesn't look any different today. Holmbury is same (pic is Abinger Common).[img] [/img]

Rode Winterfold yesterday afternoon on my own at least 8" powder snow it was hard going. Mud has thawed as it's protected from frost.
I rode up from home, so no driving, the side roads are sheet ice

OK well maybe not then. Thanks for the heads up chaps.

After pushing my bike 1.5miles in 2.5hrs last winter up there I'm waiting till it clears up a bit!

Not so sure on the driving to Holmbury but the riding should be okay, shouldn't it? Intending to ride out tomorrow and do Holmbury and Leith.

Was out on Denbies and Ranmore earlier in the week and it was harder work but still could be ridden particularly where walkers had already compacted the snow a bit or where the snow was thinner under the trees. It was great fun.

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Is that second pic the top of White Downs/NDW?

Sorta depends on your idea of fun. I've just been up Holmbury Hill on foot with the dog - I think you'd struggle to ride up, because walking is quite heavy going. It is getting a little trampled flat in places though. I'm not going to bother personally, and I haven't got to travel anywhere.

Edit: It is going to be warm with a bit of rain tomorrow, if the forecast is to be believed...

leatherhead webcam here if that helps..
http://www.lavendercam.net/

i was riding this week, very hard going! difficult to stay upright in the deep powder snow. Its better under the trees, i think it'll get VERY muddy though, all the snow is just going to hold the water on the trails.

Deffo wouldn't drive to holmbury though.

[i]Sorta depends on your idea of fun.[/i]

Alright, it was different and imo different can be fun particular when we don't get snow very often. Plus at least it's not the soaking-wet-covered-in-mud of previous weeks.

[i]Is that second pic the top of White Downs/NDW?[/i]

Yep...bridleway alongside Picketts Hole on the OS map

Overnight rain has altered the situation to officially being a bit of a mess. Bumpy slush would be about right. Lots of standing water. Hope it melts fully before the -6 on Sunday.

Roads not as lively, but still need a bit of caution.

Conditions are indeed pretty grim up on the hills and not much fun...I hate it when people are right 😉

Being stubborn, I did persist and cycled from Dorking > Abinger > Holmbury > Leith > Wolverns. Took a lot longer than expected.

To be fair I think if it had stayed like Friday's conditions it would have been alright but given the rain and general thaw, paths have become very hard to ride on in places. Only if the tyres cut through the slush could you ride it, if the slush was too deep it was very difficult to ride on. In places I found myself cycling on the uncompacted snow...it was harder work but the grip was slightly better. Lots of slow speed riding and balance practice 😀

Impressed that you stuck with it. Not sure [i]why [/i]you did, but credit anyway.

Well that first picture of Denbies and the Downs justifies the exertion - stunning - was that actually the light or did you photoshop it to have colour in the foreground and not the background