Off to meet up with some friends who live in south east London in a couple of weeks with our families and fancy cycling with a picnic in surrey somewhere. We will be coming up the A3 from Hampshire.
We will have two 4 year olds between us both capable of 5-7miles plus 2 year old in topeak rack seat and a 10year old.
Any one suggest or recommend a venue easily reachable from m25/a3 nearby major roads? A cafe and loos would be very useful nearby.
Thank you
Devils Punchbowl - just off A3. NT CP and loos. Easy riding on flattish roads/trails (not traffic) with great views. Suitable for everyone but may be too short for older ones.
Probably the Downs link. Not very exciting but the little ones can ride as much as they want.
Cool thanks open to any more ideas.
Punchbowl is a good call.
Maybe Wisley common if it's dry, nothing spectacular but nice heathland tracks and lunch/loos in the RHS (there's a tea room by the car park, so you don't have to pay to go in)
http://www.surreywildlifetrust.org/reserves/show?id=7
A couple more ideas:
1. Newlands Corner. Flat ride along NDW east or west and cafe / loos and brilliant view at car park.
2 Denbies - up the Tarmac path to the top of the vineyard, great views of Box Hill, then back to the car park for tea at the visitor centre, or round the corner at Pilgrims Cycles by Box Hill railway station.
Was going to suggest Downs Link too but it's not a great view or ride, but flat (old railway line) and easy for all.
Sounds like the trail round richmond park is what you are looking for.
Very easy access from A3, 7 miles with a couple of little hills and its a good surface. Several places to stop with kids for food/drinks and loos.
Nice views and herds of deer. If the kids like feeding ducks, taken them to the pen ponds in the middle
Tend to go there with the wife and nipper when I can get him to stay in the weeride.
Newlands Corner has big car park, kids play area, great view, cafe and is a short drive to Shere if you wanted a pretty village/pub lunch. The riding along the NDW isn't that inspiring as you are in the trees and it's out and back as any loop involves a descent and climb so not really family friendly. Newlands is very busy and quite a bit of dog mess sadly. If you skip the cycling idea I can send you a nice family friendly 1hr walking loop from Shere with pub stop options.
If you went to Wisley you could ride the canal / river towpath, you could do this from Guildofrd too (towards Godalming)
Another idea would be Frensham Ponds, quite nice with the lake and not so hilly but it's quite sandy so not ideal riding ground.
I think TMH's suggestion is probably the best one so far
Virginia Water and Windsor Park are good places to go with kids.
Alice Holt Forest near Farnham (only ten mins from A3, less from A31) has family cycle trails, nature trails, cafe, Go Ape tree top walks, etc, etc.
Some stunning countryside nearby too!
Winsdor Great Park. Think it is off the A30, just off the M25/M3.
Virginia Water/Windsor great park is great for childrens cycling. Alice Holts family cycle trail is surprisingly hilly and the 4 year olds might struggle.