[Closed] Leith Hill - New trail from the tower to Summer Lightning

Lots of updates on FB, look for "All Biked Up"

WaywardRider - official opening is 1st April but sections will be rideable as soon as they can be.
The digger has finished work and if the rain would agree to hold off for a couple of days, the new surface will settle and compact.
As said above, keep an eye on All Biked Up and Head for the Hills FB pages for updates and details.

And anybody, feel free to head up there and lend an hour or two and tbe whole thing will be rideable so much sooner.

Can I just add: Please please do not ride it if it is taped-off. It takes several weeks for the sand to compact and harden - if you leave it it will go hard and water will sheet over it as designed. If you ride it it will rut up and hold water.

A hell of a lot of effort has gone into this, and it is pretty unfair if the builders have to repair it all the time.

In good time you will find that this trail contains some awesome stuff!

Oooh didnt know about this good news!

There are sections of machine-built, with berms and jumps and rollers an' all that. They will weather-in and look and feel more natural after a while. The strip of yellow sand should hod up pretty well and shed water. Will be a bit like Sumer Lightning but pumped-up. There will also be hand built sections with more of a classic Leith Hill flavour, but with better drainage.

Helping hands are needed - contact Richard via All Biked Up fb page. [url=

Biked Up[/url]

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Looks fun, quite Swinley-esque in being very easy to ride, but increasingly challenging the faster you go!

Looking good with great work done by the crew, would suggest adding logs + ditches near the sides to stop the strava heads cutting the corners and trashing the flow.

would suggest adding logs + ditches near the sides to stop the [s]strava heads[/s] crap riders cutting the corners and trashing the flow.

FTFY 🙄

That's just one particular bit - there will be lots of variety, for example a massive step-up. It will be possible to roll through it all, or add speed and turn the experience into something a bit more full-on!

I noticed that a bit of the new trail (starts by the steps down to the quarry car park)isn't taped off and looks in rideable condition.

BTW What's a step-up?

Opposite of a step down. Hth. 😀

It does look fun, roll on the 1st April

Without seeming like a troll or being over-negative I don't like that ^

I like the North Downs etc as its very nice rolling/flowing natural singletrack. ^ that aint.

Looks great, can't wait for it to open.

Hora - it's a fair point but the trails round us carry so many riders these days that having a mix will be a nice bonus. Still loads of natural rooty stuff around.

Hora - without patronising the f out of you, you do realise that it will weather-in and look a lot more natural?

You do realise that undergrowth, er, well, grows?

You do realise that if you don't build the trail base out of mineral (i.e. the sand that lies underneath the black mulch) then water will never drain off and a perpetual mud-fest will prevail?

You do realise that the above IS rolling/flowing single track?

Or maybe you don't.

Oh and one more thing Hora - do you realise that this isn't even the North Downs?

It looks at best like a pump-track to me.

Maybe incorrectly but I've always referred to Leith Hill as in the North Downs, its Surrey hills but still I DONT LIKE IT. Live with it. It'll never be singletrack. Do you know what singletrack is? Its not that wide. You know, you'll always have people who don't agree with you or like the samething.

hora - Member

It'll never be singletrack. Do you know what singletrack is? Its not that wide.

You'd be amazed the number of trails that are now skinny singletrack, that started out the width of a canal path. The idea is you build wide, then as debris and vegetation encroaches, the ridden line remains clear. So you end up with a narrow ride line, supported by a solid margin on either side.

(or at least that's the plan, it doesn't always work)

I do like the natural singletrack on the Surrey Hills, we're pretty lucky to have the variety, but it is nice to mix it up with some of the other built trails, especially this time of year when its a mud-fest and trails like this are a welcome addition. There are people that like to go out and ride a variety of trails and there are people that spend all day going up and down BKB without ever experiencing some of the great stuff within a short pedal! Thats life!

Whatever - it [i]is[/i] narrow, or rather it will be when it weathers and grows in. It is not possible to build a durable and sustainable high-traffic singletrack without this method, or something similar. It is hardly double track!

It doesn't matter to me that you won't want to ride it, I only wanted to explain a few basics about trail building.

The general idea is that this trail will be sufficiently attractive to take a good proportion of the bike traffic - I think that once people give it a try (rather than slagging it off based on a picture of it not even finished) then this will be the effect.

Just a public hats off to Richard for working on this and for the frequent fb updates. I'm looking forward to riding it and it will be more interesting than prior xc style link on the tracks.

Looks a lot of fun to me. Thanks for all the hard work Glen and the others. I'm helping the Hurtwood Trail lot this Sunday, otherwise I'd offer to give you a hand. Will try and get over there at some stage soon.

Yes. Hats off to all involved. Thanks.

Btw isn't Richard from all biked up often cited as being richmtbguru. Is this a case of mistaken identity? He always seems a really nice bloke in the flesh. Still intrigued at the personal hygiene section. The old LH fork used to give me the willies.

Good work trail builders! Looking forward to riding it to summer lightening!

Also looking forward to riding the other 99.9% of the Surrey hills that's natural! 🙄

Have my doubts about this, it seemed to be solving a problem that to my mind didn't exist, but whatever, not looking for a fight, it's done & we live with the consequences.

My question is which direction is it meant to be ridden in? from the Tower presumably, that being the highest point. The bit I've ridden (that ends at Chicken Skin Revue) could legitimately be bi-directional.

^^ that's a stupid question I guess, the answer is from the Tower.

@matt, yes. Rich posted a while back that it's to be ridden from Tower to Summer lightening.

Most people don't realise the majority of what they call 'natural' trails in the Surrey Hills are in fact built with much time and effort from certain pixies who also keep them maintained. Most are not what people assume, ie animal tracks that just got worn into singletrack by riding. Many bits of scrub at edges are often deliberate to block off short cuts or reduce trail creep. Berms that don't appear to be machined or dug but are, drainage most wouldn't realise is there, 'natural' jumps and drops that are created deliberately from the resources around, etc.

That said the SL extension is a full official trail, first of its kind for many years, and for all to use and all weather. So yes it's going to start out looking less natural. That said it looks fun and the route didn't have much that was that great or wasn't already in dire need of maintenance. Keeps the walkers of our backs too and gets us to the good stuff either end with some extra fun.

When I first saw the stuff near the steps I thought oh dear, having seen the bit near the tower, I think it looks a lot of fun.
Nice to see some new trails that hold something for all riders. Seeing the image above I can imagine a '[i]nodder[/i]' rolling over that real slow and still having a big smile on their face (Hora - someone like you) Or a very experienced rider (DMR boys/Bren) gapping the lot

If it keeps the masses off the unsanctioned stuff and reduces rider/pedestrian conflict in busy areas it can't be a bad thing

Richard/Glen and anyone else involved, I salute you 😀

You see, I always think this is a bit sad. New trail is getting built, a lot of work is going in to it. Richard is a top fella, and I always stop for a chat when I see him.

It's progression, and a great advert for all biked up. Until glen comes on here, picking and pedanting the hell out of anyone who raises a valid discussion point.

Shall we just all chill out a bit?
Lots of people are putting the effort in to try to please the majority and make a more sustainable trail for everyone to enjoy. If some people don't like the look of it then I'm sure they won't bother to ride it. No point getting all personal about it. It's only biking and we're all one big happy family . 🙂

Actually with a bit of coffee in me and having done 3hills two weekends ago down there I think its agood idea. It was like the Somme in part-shocked me just how bad. Some great bits are now eroded right down. Alot of what used to be hidden is now ruined/over ridden. One or two trails are still good prob as they are still under the radar.

So I think I'll back pedal on this one.

[i]You'd be amazed the number of trails that are now skinny singletrack, that started out the width of a canal path[/i]

It all seems to work the other way around here 🙁

Looks great but

official opening is 1st April

Really?

Looking forward to popping back there later in the year. The mud in the South certainly is tenacious and any trail surfacing helps with the mud wrestling and erosion, especially somewhere as popular and protected as LH.

Sorry - I was being defensive and argumentative. Personal failings. I am 100% behind Richard and wish I could spend more time helping him out with this. As well as being a massively hard worker for mountain bikers, he is also a best friend and drinking buddy.

The delay to opening is just to let the mineral bed consolidate and not get rutted.

3/4 of the new trail now open. Absolutely brilliant... So much air... Got to be the best trail in the Surrey Hills... Leith Hill is going to get a lot busier... Reclaim its crown from the Peaslake upstart!

Big thanks to All Biked Up who built it.

For the record I don't go by the alter ego richMTBguru....thtat must be someone else. If you enjoy the trail when finished ,great. If you don't there are still plenty of others to choose from. I fully appreciate people who have preference for trails in the state of nature but with massive increase in numbers ridng the Surrey Hills they just don't stay good for long. Permission is only granted for trail development where a new trail is seen to solve a problem. I don't think we could have pushed the design much further and still made it appeal to a broad range of abilities. It may be a bit of big bmx track but it is fun to ride and I challenge you not to be smiling at the end. It won't stay super smooth and it will narrow overtime but we hope will be dry year round and catch a lot of the traffic. You wil have to pedal though so don't expect gravity to do all the work. Happy riding where ever that is and whatever your trail preference. ...and please slow down for horses and if their riders are rude be the better person, smile in the knowledge karma is on your side.

Rocks and roots?

Not on new ebuild section but waggledance and Summerlightning have plenty. The build process is scrape off mulch and replace from borrow pits with mineral.....which is sand with small stones we dont have a budget to import rocks.

Richard, first great job here, thank you. Second, also great that those folk who confused you with richmtbguru were wrong, I have only chatted to you in passing and a couple of times at WP (once you helped me with a rear clutch problem) and the whole thing didn't make sense to me.

Looking forward to riding the new trail. Great effort.

Is the middle bit of SL still a bog?

Original summer lightning is running petty well. We did a fair bit of deberming before Christmas . The latter aprt is. Bit boggy but the vst majority is good. Not a regular on here so not seen richMTBguru posts.......guessing he is a bit outspoken! Hope I didn't make your mech worse, be good to put a face to a name sometime,. See you on the trails.

Has this been done yet? [url= http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/cycle-path-plan-surrey-accident-horse-riders/# ]Horse & Hound - new route is 'an accident waiting to happen'[/url]

richardkelly - Member

For the record I don't go by the alter ego richMTBguru

pffft! Just admit your trolling login got busted 😆

Went up there today and was a little disappointed the section by the tower was still taped off. More disappointed that people had torn the tape and ridden the trail anyway. Looks good and should separate cyclists from hooning down from the tower towards the cricket pitch. The section from near the cricket pitch to summer lightning was signposted and open. Quite nice, some bombhole type bits, bit pedally but a more interesting way to get across there. Could do with "one way" signposts as it's quite inviting to ride back up it, which could be a problem on a busy weekend. As it was really quiet, I did it anyway! IMO there is just about sufficient signage to prevent someone running into a horse (thanks horse and hound), at least the bikes are off the bridle way.
Mildly off topic, anyone know if a nicer way back to Peaslake direction than green sand way to top of yogurt pots? Or a loop?

Descend all the way to the A25 using the wiggly trail next to the greensand way, go across the road and turn left onto a bridleway, follow to the bottom of Whitedown, ride these two trails of you want, then go across Abinger roughs and turn left at the end after a mile or so onto a road that drops down into Abinger hammer. Little bit of road to the car park at the bottom of telegraph on Holmbury then climb back up again.

@mountainofsussex, I think Greensand Way past High Ashes Farm is a decent enough way back to Holmbury from Leith Hill. There are a variety of other routes taking in some "features" on the way from top of Leith down towards the A25 then over to cycle path 22 before linking into Gomshall/Peaslake Village and climbing to YP, but these are longer than GreenSands. My normal Holmbury / Leith ride would climb via GreenSands Way and return via a bit of cycle path 22 having ridden a few trails on Leith, either Tower/Deliverence/Summer Lightening plus extension bit lower down then bridleway to bottom. Send me an email if you want a map/other suggestions but all my routes head basically North from the Tower to bottom of Leith as I ride Holmbury trails first and if want a final descent I link to top of Barry Knows Best/Golden Birdies.

@gee I think the wiggly track you are referring to is next to Wolverns Lane not GreenSands Way - @mountain there are a few options which link into this section @gee is referring to which is a twisting path above the sandy Wolverns Lane with trees/bushes one side and barbed wore the other, at the end of that section you cut onto a bridleway which has a few fun fast sections but note its used as an mtb climb too and by horses.

I rode SL2 a couple of weeks ago, along with some stuff in Redlands+Holmbury. Thought it was very well made. Certainly makes the most of the natural ups+downs! You could do with riding it slowly a few times though as a few blind hips can catch you out (I hit a tree!). Top part, by the tower was tapped off - I can certainly see why, no wonder Horse riders see it as a hazard, it cuts straight across a what looked like well used BP. A simple gate/fence/dismount+mount should suffice though.
Leith Hill has me completely lost though, always need guiding (Thanks Mr Jacobs!). Loads of stuff hidden away in the trees 🙂

Riding this tomorrow weather has been very wet over the last couple of days so should make interesting riding 🙂

There will be plenty of slop about on Leith Hill but the new stuff seems to be pretty good in the wet (so far) and there are other techy trails that drain and ride well if you know where to look.

Staying in Forest Green and riding to Leith Hill and following my nose hopefully will find the trails cannot find much info on locations though!

I'd go to Nirvana in Dorking at talk to the chaps there. Following your nose doesn't work very well on Leith Hill as there is a maze of stuff you will miss.

Yes but it's also easy and fun to explore. From the Tower start by exploiting all the stuff to N and NE - just follow your. One and the tyre tracks. Easy to pass a couple of hours there. Then follow new trail and explore all the stuff over by the cricket pitch (small bomb holes etc) before continuing to SL.

I haven't ridden the new trail though, as I tend to ride winterfold, pitch and Holmbury more often.

Have a great day.

If you're about this evening there'll be a bunch of us riding from Nirvana at 6.30. You're welcome to join us.

Great ride found loads of great single track was peeing it down but everything was rideable 🙂 might get up again this evening 🙂
Rich

Is the trail fully open? Might go up tomorrow if it is.

anyone care to volunteer guiding an exiled northerer round these here fabled surrey hills/north downs? im hoping to fetch my MTB down from the beginning of July... note it will have to be a weekday evening...

i would have to get the train over from Farnborough too, where would i get off, Dorking?

The new man made trails by the cricket ground just don't work. There's barely any flow and no fun. They've basically ruined the fun natural stuff that was there in the first place. There, I've said it!

i would have to get the train over from Farnborough too, where would i get off, Dorking?

Yep, use the Reading-Gatwick line, getting on at North Camp and off at Dorking Deepdene is probably your best bet as the fast trains stop at both of those. Farnborough North is the slow train only.

You could get off at Gomshall if you are aiming more at Pitch or Holmbury than Leith. But not many trains stop there, sometimes there is only one every 2 hours.

funkhouser, we ride from Nirvana in Westcott every Wednesday at 6.30 and we'd be happy for you to tag along.
http://dorkingcocks.freeforums.org/rides-f3.html

tasteslikeburning, not sure I agree. There's no doubt the stretch from the end of what used to be Chicken skin review to the Deliverance area is a bit pedally but actually it just drives you to pedal harder because it's smoother and a more defined trail. There's plenty of interest before and after that.

Yeah, £££££££'s spent on a mostly uphill gravel path built over what was some fun natural terrain. Whatever!

tasteslikeburning,

I rode it last week for the first time and totally agree, save for one part that has 2 fade away jumps, it seems to be more to keep cyclists off the main bridleways (which is fair enough and more interesting i suppose) but little flow for the most part and kinda dull. Its a bit like Swinley forest if you ask me, good every once in a while for a pedal, but not really a laugh. good for newbies tho.

Doubt i'll ride it much more to be honest.

It's very difficult to get any flow - especially on the first part which is mainly trending upwards. I was hoping for something a lot more like Summer Lightning

Yeah, I think nearly all of the new Swindley is pants. I'm on a roll today!

It's a bit pedally I must admit but still good a effort given the terrain.

Easy to follow though, signage is good enough and its great for newbies and separating bikes from walkers/horses etc.
I think the first section from the tower was built by a child given the fact most of the jumps have low branches hanging over them, anyone over 3foot will take their helmets off on them if they give it too much effort!

What are these Natural trails you speak off?

So start from the top (Tower) was called Personal hygiene - it was mullered from years of use, the new part of this is far better now. It stopped at the bridle track. From here it's been extended all the way down to the crossroads.

Next bit, near the Landslip track - nothing used ot exists in there bar a quick cut through, so the "uphill" bit has actually gained you something decent to ride on other that the bridlepaths.

Next Bit, into the old (I think it was called) Moonbase - this was also mullered and no fun to ride in the wet. The track through there now is ver good, with some decent airtime to be had.

Then out to the Cricket pitch, into the old "Filbert Street massacre", that too was mullered, and nothing like it used to be, again new trail, loads of improvement.

Then into what you would've know as Roller Coaster - this hasn't exactly changed much with the exception of some hardcore going down.

So I fail to see exactly where the trails have been sanitised or not improved. it all flows a lot better than it used to.

Any news on whether this is fully open yet? Got the day off tomorrow and am planning to head to the Pitch Hill side but may have a look at this if it's open.

Certainly appeared to be, loads of people riding it.

Don't know if it's officially open, but last time I was up there it was "well used" for a closed trail 😉

Cool, will take a look. Anyone know how it's riding at the mo, well bedded in now I assume?

Is the start really obvious from the tower on Leith Hill?

Heading up there this weekend and haven't been to Leith for quite a while

Pretty obvious!

If you head down towards cold harbour way, the track starts pretty immediately to your left.

When you get to the bottom of the first section, make sure you follow the little sign for summer lightning and it will take you up a sweeping left hander to the start of the next section.

Then when this is finished by the cricket pitch, follow on towards cold harbour again, and it is on your left just after the field.

They've done a great job! As good as any trail center!