[Closed] Ranmore Common and North Downs Way

It's been incredibly dry for ranmore this winter. That said, it's often one of the earlier places to get unpleasant, so after a few days of rain all bets are off. I do use the ndw between the scout camp far and about whitedown, just carefully and politely. Further over the Dorking end is too busy to be subtle in my opinion

I was up there twice thus weekend and it’s running well .... for January...lots of great trails on Ranmore now but the ride over to Shere is a nice XC ride

Rammore is muddy now on the top...and once muddy it stays muddy in the winter particularly given the weather next week. Route 22 isnt so bad at the bottom of ranmore. A nice xc loop i like is NDW over to newlands corner, south to st marthas then back along route 22 from shere...but be prepared for mud

The Northdowns gets very claggy in winter - the descent down into Shere is on green chalk which can be lethal after a wet spell. I'd head across the A25 to the Greensand areas including Leith Hill which are far better draining

I’d head across the A25 to the Greensand areas including Leith Hill which are far better draining

I hear this said but just think its bollocks 😀: I think of riding wolverns, The Mother, any of the connecting BW & paths and they will leave you a mud mess just like everywhere...and as for the trails

Id say holmbury & pitch have better draining metalled tracks to get you up to the summit though but as soon as you're off them its back to the mud.

This fella -

http://www.oaktreeroutes.co.uk/the-maps/4589831658

- does some nice little maps with descriptions of all the "legal" trails in the area (e.g. muddy, rutted pitted earth along field or , preferably, Firm Gravel Track)

Echo the comments above - Ranmore can be a boggy mess in the winter, and the scar on my leg can testify to the chalk on the NDW being a bit slippy in the wet. I'd be more inclined to go over to Mickleham Down & Box Hill.

Thanks for the info guys. I'll give it a go. I was gonna take the Maxxis DHR off the rear and put an Ardent on - but I think I need all the grip I can get. I presume the bridleways would be easier going? Rather than the byways, which are open to motors and ppl green laning chewing it up?

Thanks for the warnings about the slippery green chalk. I'll be avoiding anything remotely technical.

Thanks for the tip about the Oaktree Routes Off-Road maps, they look like good value. I've got an online account for OS Maps and I've just bought a 1.25,000 sheet of the Ranmore and Box Hill area.

I've located the following areas to try from your suggestions.

Ranmore Common
Mickleham Down & Box Hill
Holmbury & Pitch Hills
Greensand Way/Leith Hill
Route 22
North Downs Way

I also see there's a bridleway going from near the centre of Leatherhead under the A246 and all the way to Tanners Hatch. It's about a 6k ride with 5k on the bridleway https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29243758 Should be fun with a loaded saddle bag. Later in the year I'll be looking to do the NDW as featured here https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/north-downs-way-riding-in-the-shadow-of-the-rat-race/ but over several days.

You’ll be fine on all the main tracks. Ride west to Newlands corner then back on the far side of the A25 for a nice XC loop

Just back from Tanners Hatch YHA. With all the rain over the past week I decided not to take the bike and instead have a walk and get a feel for the place. When it's drier I'll be back to explore the trails. Photo of copse to the north as seen from Tanners Hatch YHA this morning.

There is a nice flowing bit of singletrack down to Tanners Hatch from the Ranmore road, so definately don't use the bridleway. Have a look on Strava (if you use it).