[Closed] Surrey Hills conditions today

There's quite a bit of surface water but in-between the puddles it's quite grippy

If you keep to the original trail line rather than puddle-dodge then you will end up with a lot of sand on your brakes and drivetrain after a couple of trails which will make things sound a bit agricultural

(was up there last night)

(I see the ranger has finally got fed up of the rooty stunt drop next to Holmbury lookout - or fed up of people moaning about it - either way it's blocked for good now. I assume it was Ranger someone has felled a bloody great tree across it)

Yep, it was pretty wet up there last night, puddles on the flatter stuff. Also must have chucked it down last night judging by the amount of surface water on the road when i left this morning. Pitch hill side will be better if you go imo; would stay away from telegraph and yoghurt pots.

Take a dinghy for Park Life/Yoghurt Pots.

Thanks for the info. 🙂

The others have pulled out and re-arranged for next week. So will give it a miss.

@winterfold, that tree was down on Tuesday afternoon although I didnt examine what it had blocked off.

I'd still head down if I were you. Nice cool conditions. It's great there when the weekend warriors aren't around.

I only really ride there during the week these days.

Ditto most of the above.

Pitch Hill usually okay under the trees and valley sides. Stay away from Holmbury. Leith Hill holds up well after rain. Avoid most of the more popular trails, avoid valley floors, look for the steeper stuff where it drains better. Ranmore will be deadly!

As it's poured with rain all morning I'd say you're right to avoid it! We'll have no trails left at all otherwise!

Proper weeing it down now and weather forecast is looking similar for rest of the day...dog walk and Westcott bakery for me 🙂

3.5-5hr trip to get there and back for me, so local trails later when its stopped tipping down.

Yoghurt pots being a boating lake was the final straw. 😉

@chunky, never been (or intend to go) at a weekend. So cant comment.

Thanks for all the advice. 🙂

Yeah good to avoid it, absolutely pissing it down!

Slippy and wet up there tonight. W'fold area better than Pitch but second crash on wet routes on Pitch told me to call it a day after 90 mins or so. Didn't like the idea of messing myself or the trails any more.

What is the technique for countering slipping on wet off-camber stuff? Back wheel slipped away a lot - not good for the trail or my confidence!!

Go faster. Don't brake. Keep your weight back and stay relaxed. The faster you go, the less time you spend on the slippery root and the sooner your tyres find traction again. Try and hit the roots dead on if possible. Keep yours eyes looking ahead. This way you can anticipate hazards in good time.

Lower pressures can help too, and relax!

skaifan - I guess its the same with normal off-camber stuff? seemed to slip mainly when I lost speed - more a confidence thing. Wet root flipped me off near the top of T1 (I think) but I felt unsure on most of the off-camber stuff.

At the end of T1 there are two tracks to cross the forest road. What are the names of the two obvious routes on the other side - the higher, longer one and the lower, more off-camber one?

Speed is your friend. It seems counter intuitive at first, but it does work.
With off camber, I try and point the bike slightly uphill and ride the high line. I find it helpful to drop your outside pedal too, then you can point your body slightly uphill. It get your hips over the downhill side of the bike, which encourages the tyre to bite. When I used to race motocross, you would drag the rear brake whilst keeping the power on. This also helps the rear tyre bite, but its not so helpful on a mountain bike as it robs you of your speed.
Theres some good off camber trails on Holmbury hill. One in particular that crosses telegraph row would make for good practice. Try it in the dry first though. Its pretty rooty.
Im not very good with trail names, apart from the well known ones. I tend to ride on my own, so rarely have to describe where Im headed!.

With off camber, I try and point the bike slightly uphill and ride the high line. I find it helpful to drop your outside pedal too, then you can point your body slightly uphill. It get your hips over the downhill side of the bike, which encourages the tyre to bite.

Interesting - a bit like skiing in that the best body position seems counter intuitive at first

Theres some good off camber trails on Holmbury hill. One in particular that crosses telegraph row would make for good practice. Try it in the dry first though. Its pretty rooty.

I know the exact trail that you mean. I have ridden it once (in the dry) and it was at my limit. I don't mind speed in general but I am still a wimp on off-camber rooty sections. When you hit the roots straight on there seems no problem but plenty of SH trails have nice slopey ones to keep my attention fixed!!

I'm rubbish at that trail, there's a bank of roots right near the start that I always screw up and then it just goes to pot haha!

Awkward rooty bit up there is when you come out the bombhole at the top of pitch and it goes straight into a tight right. There's a big ol' root that cuts diagonally across the corner, right where your front wheel comes down after the bombhole. Nearly stacked it several times.

Its a lot like skiing in some ways. Certainly the looking ahead part. Wherever you turn your head, your shoulders then hips, and then knees and bike will follow, so always look to where you want to end up, not at the huge tree you're worried about hitting. Looking ahead over the roots make them appear smaller than when you look down at them. This keeps you off the brakes. When you brake, you transfer your weight to the front of the bike, which makes the impact with the roots feel a lot bigger and causes more upset to the direction of the front wheel. Your back wheel will always follow the front, so as long as the front wheel is pointing the right way, the back end will sort itself out and follow the front.
When you hit a section of roots with a healthy dose of pace, you can use the impact with the first root to unweight yourself from the bike. This allows it to skim lightly over the next few roots. Its just like pumping moguls. You will find the roots feel smoother like this.

You sound like an ideal candidate for this...
http://www.mountain-bike-guiding.co.uk/mountain_bike_skills_training.htm

Awkward rooty bit up there is when you come out the bombhole at the top of pitch and it goes straight into a tight right. [b]There's a big ol' root that cuts diagonally across the corner, right where your front wheel comes down after the bombhole. [/b]Nearly stacked it several times.

Sounds exactly where I came off for a second time yesterday!! Hit that root badly and with not enough speed. Cure - splat into the mud!! Only small bombholes (if that?) if we are talking about same trail but right on the RH turn and followed by a few more little holes. I think that this is T1.

You sound like an ideal candidate for this...
http://www.mountain-bike-guiding.co.uk/mountain_bike_skills_training.htm

skaifan - thanks for the advice.

so always look to where you want to end up, not at the huge tree you're worried about hitting. Looking ahead over the roots make them appear smaller than when you look down at them.

This reminds me of my blindspot near the top of BKB. I rode this the very first time I went to the SH and about my second time on a mtb on proper trails. For some silly reason, I wimped on the drop quite near the top with the tree on the left. Despite riding much harder stuff since, I always approach that bit with a sense of doubt. Always look down not to where I want to end up on the other side and become fixated with the roots just on the lip. It is still a complete mental block which is silly because its a straightforward bit of trail!!

Yes, quite possibly the same place. They're not really bomb holes, just holes. Jump down the rooty section after the fireroad with a right turn into the first one, then the root of doom and then the second one...

I think we are at the same place Gotama. Normally easy enough but got me last night for sure 😉

Anyone got an update on conditions? Fancy a trip up tomorrow.

I always ride W/PH and Holm. Have yet to venture onto Leith. Which is the best way to connect Hol with Leith? Do you juts follow Greensands Way? Is Summer Lightening in good condition and is it obvious when you are at the bottom and how to get back?

I will probably park at Peaslake and feel like a longer round ride rather than my usual of sticking to one area?

Any suggestions welcome!!

THM my normal loop starts at box hill taking in ranmore and holmbury, leith and summer lights. I have meetings all morning but maybe able to head out in the afternoon, will let you know. In the meantime happy to send you a gpx of my loop

Thanks mashie - Ranmore's a bit hairy isn't it?

Not sure what you mean by hairy!

"Hairy" = steep and technical. Just an impression as I have never ridden there. I did see a few give a way signs on the side of the road (WD) that looked interesting, so must have a look some time.

Masie, it would be good to see your gpx tracks.

I fancy a change from usual Pitch/Winterfold/Hombury roots (joke!) and will probably start with some fun on Holmbury. My key questions are:

1. What is the best way of linking Holmbury with Leith. Do you go up the Greensands Way or just follow roads? I read somerwhere about an alternative route via Abinger Common but this doesnt seem obvious on the map. I am sensitive to the usual posting on the internet comments, but this is all pretty much well known stuff I am talking about.

2. I will simply explore around the top of Leith with the idea of working my way towards Summer Lightening. I guess this is easy to find. I am used to running the LH Half Mara and am assuming that this ends at much the same place as the mid section of the route. How do you get back from the end of SL? Do you climb back to top of Leith or is there a better alternative for looping back to Holmbury for a final loop up towards BKB and the car?

3. If you go back to top of Leith Hill which is the best way of linking back to Holm?

Cheers

TH

Masie - sorry typo, mashie!!

[i]What is the best way of linking Holmbury with Leith. Do you go up the Greensands Way or just follow roads?[/i]

[i]If you go back to top of Leith Hill which is the best way of linking back to Holm?[/i]

Both Greensands Way. Simplest route there is.

[i] How do you get back from the end of SL? Do you climb back to top of Leith or is there a better alternative for looping back to Holmbury for a final loop up towards BKB and the car?[/i]

If you head west from the end of SL you'll end up descending further (Could head into Broadmoor and then climb back up on the BW running south) or head east and join Wolverns.

TBH given you're doing Holmbury and Pitch you might be better starting in Westcott. Personally I prefer not to loop right back up to Leith after SL and would just head down Wolverns/Rookery which is not a bad finish particularly towards the end of a cycle.

To head out from Westcott, just follow Route 22 and then follow the BW down to the A25 just before Abinger Hammer, through Paddington Farm then over to the Volunteer pub. Can then head up to Holmbury via either the road to the YHA or what I tend to do is go through Car Park 9 and follow the BW up from there.

Thanks Nuke - yes, that would be a good idea to have a change and start and finish at Westcott. What/where is route 22. Is that N side of A25 ie, Deerleep Wood etc?

Is it easy to park in Westcott?

Yep north side of A25...basically take the BW west from Balchins Lane (Starts as a tarmaced road then becomes gravel road, then by Park Farm a track) and keep following it past Park Farm etc There are a few signs saying Route 22 on it. Just make sure you take the right path when you get to what is showing as Broomy Downs on the OS map. It should lead to a gate after about 50m from the main path then head through a field before another gate then a faster descent down to the A25. After you've crossed the A25 it's just a case of following the road around the pond and up through the farm. Bit of a climb after that.

[i]Is it easy to park in Westcott?[/i]

It's alright certainly on a work day. Not an expect as I live locally so don't tend to park there (Well except when going to the bakery). Around the green or up near the church I believe is the main areas 😕

Thanks Nuke - I will try it out!! Didn't fancy the climb all the way back up from SL!!

[i] Have yet to venture onto Leith.[/i]

So you haven't ridden Leith before? Or Wolverns? Do you know roughly where the trails are?

I'd show you myself today if I wasn't looking after the puppy dog 😐

In the summer Wolverns lane on the left and the Rookery are like an extension to SL.

The climb up the Rookery on the way out is also a good way to justify what you are going to eat at the Tower 🙂

I have run over/around Leith lots and have seen bits of SL. I know roughly where the trails are and will explore the area around regurgitator etc before heading down to SL. I normally stick to narrower areas repeating shorter runs around Pitch and W'fold but fancy more of a tour today. Need to shift the weight put on after 2 weeks of low exercise!!

As always - there will be a mix of finding new runs and getting lost at the same time. The joys of Surrey Hills!!

THM - GPX on its way.

oh whats your email address?

Thanks all for the advice - great 19 mile round trip today in surprisingly good conditions. Only a few puddles (Parklife as you would expect) and off-camber stuff generally in good nick.

Took Nukes advice and parked by Westcott church and enjoyed the pipe-opener on the other side of the road. Missed the turn through the gate at first! Crikey the road comes on you quickly at the bottom and was a bu&&er to cross!

Followed you idea including CP9 (much better) and didn't know about those short switchbacks and rooty bits nearby (nice little detour!!). Went up to the top of Holmbury via a few deviations on trails I hadn't seen before and then YP/Parklife a couple of times and TR. A few puddles but nothing to worry about!

Then Greensand up to Leith. Made mistake of going into quarry instead of going left and then right and got slightly lost there. But surprisingly easy climb on that side of the road. Wow, so much to do and explore. I didn't know where to start. Lovely mucking about at the drops and bombholes near the Tower. Does anyone fly that rooty lip to the RHS of the more obvious drop? Stumpled on Deliverance later but bottled it (maybe next time, with some company to push me) and then down the trail to the side (is that the one you are meant to go up?).

First time on SL - I am the only one to make the mistake at the start? The signpost points you down parallel to Wolverns. Fortunately realised quickly and was able to turn back and UP to the actual start. I was surprised by (1) how little erosion there was on such a well-know trail, (2) how much fun it was at the end of the day and (3) a couple of surprisingly little jumps including the n shaped one just before you emerged from the trees.

Good day out - only saw two other bikes all day (on TRoad). A bit of a cliched route I guess but found lots of nice stuff on the side of the well known trails but a nice change from usual shorter up and down repeats. But there does seem to be a disproportionate amount of climbing versus downhill particularly if you stick to the obvious recorded routes.

Went into Nirvana on the way back. Some great stuff and good prices but felt a little bit intimidated as a relative novice and didn't stay long.

Thank again for the advice. I hope this doesn't break the code of hidden messages too much. Didn't mention any of the less obvious stuff, only the trails everyone knows about.

Did you go far on the trails going N from the tower?

So many lines, so much fun, worth following all the way to the log rolls

The gully at 1'30-2' ish in the vid below is splendid.

The gully

That looks like the bit we call Trench Warfare. Starts of with ducking under a fallen tree?

Which means WW looks like the bit that starts between the two short exits (one of which is just past what used to be that single piece of shore) that spit you out onto the more fire-roady type trail. WW then starts on the opposite side, goes across the little play area and heads off about 1/3 mile or so? Can turn right near the end and go down the steeper section or carry on and head back up? Looks totally different on that vid.

EDIT: hmm, looks like a totally different trail nearer the end. Maybe there's a split we're not seeing?

There's about 3 or 4 splits off that trail that you can take

No Winterfold, sadly I was starting to run out of time. So messed about on all the dips quite close to the Tower (@600m radius at most). Clearly need to go back and just explore Leith alone. There seemed to be tracks everywhere even criss-crossing the main track up from the road.

That looks a great video. I need to study carefully to work out where the start is. I guess you just have to head N/NW and just explore?

I live the other side so tend to be lazy and park at Winterfold or Pitch Hill Quarry or Peaslake. Now I see the incentive to drive a little further.

Where is the best place to park for exploring Leith? I would prefer to avoid the ride up from Westcott.

Where is the best place to park for exploring Leith? I would prefer to avoid the ride up from Westcott.

Starvael (about 1/4 mile west of the tower. It's the CP you pass when you come up from Greensands Lane.

Or Coldharbour but parking is limited there. That said, I'm starting from Starveall tomorrow as it's more convenient for a ride including Holmbury and Pitch.

Next time, I guess its a question of just exploring the whole area on the N side. As I came up from HA Farm there seemed to be quite a few trails crossing from the RHS, so I guess you also have to explore both sides of this trail.

I have watched the WW video but can't work out where the start is? Hopefully someone could show me when I am up there. Not good form to give is away on here, I understand!!

Aside getting someone to show you, tbh the best way is to go for a walk up there. Since getting a dog, the number of trails I know has gone up significantly...amazing how much you miss when cycling along as opposed to walking.

Nuke - took your advice and went for a walk with the dogs to Gibbet Hill. Wow, some riding there!! I think I need another 6 months to hone my confidence and technique though as everything was just that little bit steeper than similar looking trails on my normal areas. I am looking forward to being able to tackle those sorts of runs in the future. Looked quite wet and rooty today!! Not sure how you climb back from the very bottom - that needs another dog walk!

Gibbet Hill? Is that not over Hindhead way?

Yep - I went that way for a change. It would be interesting to have some sort of grading idea for trails. Would Gibbet Hill be described as downhill or simply singletack/XC like Pitch/Leith/Holmbury etc. All looked a tad more serious up there today.

Have only heard about stuff around Hindhead/DPB, but not been myself. So can't comment.

Not sure if anyone would ever get round to grading various trails. Plus it's pretty subjective, e.g some people nail Deliverance like it's nothing more than a little roll-in, while others won't touch it. Plus making that sort of (locational at least) information publicly available isn't every local's cup of tea.

Speaking of which, I'm heading up that way in an hour or so 🙂 Ranmore, Leith and Redlands.

Have fun - I thought Redlands was OOB these days but the guy in Nirvana told me the opposite (pretty bluntly!!). I would love to pop out later, but need to do some work first.

I wasn't being serious about grading, merely trying to gauge how tough people would think Gibbet Hill is compared with other areas in Surrey Hills. Plus is that DH? It looked like one of those classic areas where you needed to have a high level of confidence to let the bike go - and then all probably ok. But is you lack that bit of technique and confidence it would just be a little too much.

Saw Deliverance for first time last Friday. I guess its the same thing. Let the bike go and I am sure its fine, but be slightly cautious and you will come unstuck. I guess its all about experience.

Not really sure what the official take is on Redlands. Loads of the old skool trails were wrecked long ago by logging and anti-MTBers etc. Then the politics came along. And now there's a film crew up there. MTBers not really deemed popular. Simon's argument, like you say, is pretty blunt. My take on it is that while it's still possible to pick up WOM > Mangrove Alley > some other trail heading downhill from the left, then I'll stick to that.

teamhurtmore....

...the Devils Punchbowl and Gibbet Hill are ok but its all packed into a fairly small area, i'm not a good rider but i didnt have any problems there earlier in the year.

From the bottom there are two hard packed trails that i know of to get back up and out, one used to lead onto the A3 where it snaked around the top of the Punchbowl but i havent been since the opening of the Hindhead tunnel so i dont if this is still the case?....and the other trail out from the bottom will bring you up to the cafe and car park....both hard going but no need to get off and walk.

I find this area frustrating because its hard to cycle straight across the punchbowl due to the logging and the bogginess at the bottom, it becomes a hike-a-bike session and i dont get any pleasure from this, there are also a few gates and stiles to lift the bike over which starts to annoy after a while....and by sticking to the trails and single track you WILL come across walkers as this area is popular with ramblers and tourists....that said there is an excellent descent with banked edges either side of you that made my trip there worthwhile, it was like being in a toboggan run!

I'm lucky to live within pedalling distance of Hindhead but find Ludshott common down the way from the Devils Punchbowl to be a better ride, far more open and no need to carry the bike at any point but not as technical as Gibbet Hill and the Punchbowl obviously.

Thanks Deviant. I haven't cycled on either but run up and round the punchbowl a lot. I imagine there must be some decent stuff on the Beacon Hill side. The normal trails off the punchbowl are bad enough to run, so they are not top of my list for cycling. But GH did look a lot of fun though. Its the first time I have been out on that side since the tunnel was open and I got quite a shock to realise that I was on the other side of the entrance!!

I guess the punchbowl area is ok if you are doing it as part of a longer XC ride? But that is why places like Pitch are so good. Reasonably short uphills and loads to do at lots of levels.

I would like to ride GH with this guy's confidence (and own his bike!):

http://www.whytebikes.com/2012/index.php#url

Whitmore Vale on the Beacon Hill side is very good, its a small wooded area that sits in the triangle between Churt, Grayshott and Beacon Hill itself and can be accessed from all three, some decent but achievable climbs and some decent downhill sections make it one of my favourite rides in the area, i've got some good pics of this area that i'll try to find later in the week and post up....been riding this area most of the year and seen 3 other mountain bikers since April!

That video has made me want to go back over to the Devils Punchbowl and Gibbet Hill and have another play!

Hmmm, might pop up there later on! Which is the best entry point? I will be coming from either Churt and up to BH or down from Hindhead X-roads.

Are the good downhills easy to find? Is it singletrack? Similar standard to GH or easier?

From Churt you can get in from Whitmore Vale Rd but it might be easier to start from Beacon Hill opposite the newsagent on the corner, just find the opening in the hedgerow and you're in, pleasant downhill section to the bottom and from there the trails become fairly obvious, you will have to go up to go down again though and i think this is what puts some people off.

[i]Not really sure what the official take is on Redlands. Loads of the old skool trails were wrecked long ago by logging and anti-MTBers etc. Then the politics came along. And now there's a film crew up there. MTBers not really deemed popular.[/i]

It's a mess up there at the moment. Most of the trails have been trashed due to the logging work going on. There's a couple still rideable but in general it's not worth the aggro etc. Some of the trails to the east side of Ranmore have now been trashed for a second time.

Seems that we have to be sensitive at the moment then DTP and on our best behaviour!! That's why I was surprised by the direct comments of the guy in NC on Friday about riding where you want and ignoring signs. I guess he has more at stake than any of us?

[i]That's why I was surprised by the direct comments of the guy in NC on Friday about riding where you want and ignoring signs.[/i]

That's Simon for you, calls a spade a spade. If the trails weren't trashed I'm sure he'd be up there. Can't see him wasting his time with Redlands at the moment though.

It's surprising just how much the centre of riding has moved west over the last few years.

We were out on Saturday over on Boxhill then along the top of the Ranmore and White Down before heading over to Pitch and beyond. I don't think we saw another rider until Peaslake. We didn't make it onto Leith but the last few times I've passed that way it's not felt as busy as it used to.

Probably a lot to do with the dry year we've had - Pitch area rides really slowly in the wet.

Deliverance *is* just a big roll in (though it's got really cut out this year). I used to ride it until I discovered that the trail that bypasses it is actually a lot more interesting.

Double-arse today. My chain, not content with snapping on Sat and breaking my Park chain tool (leaving me with a 5 mile walk to Nirvana), then decided to break 3 times on the climb back up from Windy Willows. Unfortunately it also took my mech hanger on the 3rd attempt. Still, had a lovely scenic 10 mile walk/freewheel/kick home.

Grrhh.

We didn't make it onto Leith but the last few times I've passed that way it's not felt as busy as it used to.

Agreed. I mentioned that here a few days ago. Loads of little linky trails (especially north of the tower) no longer appearing to be ridden.

Weird to see this thread again 🙂

Weirder, was out and about on friday with 4 others, so hello again if we bumped into you. Rode round holmsbury and pitch, was slightly wetter than usual, yoghurts was wet with a couple of puddles at the bottom and the loamy trails on pitch were a bit sketchier than usual but all good fun.

Missed you as only saw 2 people all day on Friday. Bu77er that as I needed help with numpty mechanical hiccup on telegraph road. Amazingly quiet day up there!!

Spacemonkey - sorry to hear that 🙁

Going to have a quick spin at Whitmore to see what its like!!

Shame, we didnt meet you. Im useless at spannering but a few of the others would have been useful to you.
Yeah, quietest day for a while, saw quite a lot of bikers but not many walkers or horseists.

Deviant - nice tip, thanks. Enjoyable little explore. Dropped in by telephone box and nearly hit the fallen tree round the corner!! Hit the x-trail and looped back up R thinking there might be more of the same. Ok, so now I know!! Back down same trial and out past pond to the ford. Up the boggy track on the other side towards road before climbing back up to the slighly hidden area with the 8-shaped loops. Found it hard to carry enough speed round those to maximise it - do motorbikes use that or only mtb? Dropped down the other side past the rope swing and climbed back up to the start. Tried to find different route after the phone box but all of 200m to the drive!! So rode up past the care homes and down the trail on RHS. Nice little switchback section near the forestry works and a stone seat. Climbed/walked the narrow trail on the other side and then rode back down again. Stupid and painful wipe out at the bottom. Climbed up valley bottom and did the switchback again for fun - if only that was a little longer it would be great. I can see why you like the area for a quick work out. Thanks for the tip.

Might pop up to Leith for an explore later. So is it best simply to focus on the obvious triangle on OS map between path down Wotton Common, Greensands Way and the track from CP up to Leylands? In other words, either side of obvious track up from just N of High Ashes?

Either that or see if I have the bottle for Gibbet!!

Went to Puttenham Common area instead - always a little disappointing as when you find a nice bit it is always too short. Nice for cruising around and a couple of big hills to drop down. Found old jumps area in woods nearby (not on common) but there looked a bit old/decayed to try out!! Again nice little sections around Britty Wood.

What is it about mtb that means you always hurt yourself? Never fail to take a chunk out of my shin, at least one crash etc. ????? I would feel a bit of a charlatan wearing loads of padding when cruising around but some knee/shin pads are starting to seem like a good idea.

So is it best simply to focus on the obvious triangle on OS map

To get your bearings I'd park at Starvael (0.5 miles west of tower), take the exit over the piece of wood in the far right corner, and head up to the tower. Takes 5-10 mins depending on fitness.

Once there, take the left immed before tower (by railings) and stand there for a moment. Hold your arms out and make a V shape. That's the area you want to start with. It stretches about 0.5 miles back to the carpark (left arm) and 1.5 miles to the right (right arm). Loads of singletrack, loopy stuff, swoopy stuff, linky bits, drops, rolls, jumps etc.

The other side of the tower is more expansive and probably easier to miss stuff because it's more spaced out. Plenty of stuff - you just need to find it.

Enjoy.

Thanks spacemoney. So I guess that this suggests both sides of straight track up from high ashes but with more on the NE side, using this track to get back to the start?

I look forward to exploring early next week. I only managed a brief explore around the first bit of holes marked on the map. But there was one lip in particular that looked worse than the straight shoot of something like Deliverance. There was an easier, drop off into the gulley and a more aggressive roots lip on the RHS which landed at right angles to the gulley. They were about 2 metres apart.

I guess I will just stumble of windy willows!!

Went to Puttenham Common area instead - always a little disappointing as when you find a nice bit it is always too short. Nice for cruising around and a couple of big hills to drop down. Found old jumps area in woods nearby (not on common) but there looked a bit old/decayed to try out!! Again nice little sections around Britty Wood.

Puttenham Common used to be my local patch, and I miss it despite having moved to Holmbury St Mary. Agree the sections are a little short, but there is some awesome stuff on there, easily the equal of some Surrey Hills stuff, and has the advantage of very low levels of usage and being sandier, so better all-winter riding. The stuff in this video is very close by, if you know where to look!!

[url=

Video[/url][

That's Simon for you, calls a spade a spade.

Here's my route if any use.

http://connect.garmin.com/player/111430970

Climb for half hour or so from Westcott
Down Barry into Peaslake, up the other side, more nice singletrack back to Peaslake. (That Winterfold anyone?)
Cheesestick
Climb out of Peaslake to Holmbury
Down Yoghurt Pots then straight onto Telegraph Road
Across to Leith then down towards Deliverance (I dont go down it though, cut to the left, is a lovely long swoopy trail that brings you out below the start of SL (again name anyone?)
Summer Lightning and then down the left of the dirt road at the bottom, all the way down, end up just above Westcott....(again whats the bottom bit called?)

Takes about 3hrs including a stop for a cuppa at Peaslake. Best XC riding I've done in England IMHO.

FWIW, I personally think the trails on Winterfold are better than those on Pitch these days, many of which are now really busy and cut up. That's a decent route otherwise though.

Some shots from the Devils Punchbowl and Gibbet Hill today, glorious weather!

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FWIW, I personally think the trails on Winterfold are better than those on Pitch these days, many of which are now really busy and cut up. That's a decent route otherwise though.

Went out on Pitch on Thursday and started following one of njee20's routes, can't remember where I got it from.

Only did half the route before meeting up with someone from Diary Of A Mountain Biker and doing his version of the 2nd half of njee's route.

Did the same route today with a little more exploring, did clawhammer a couple of times as it is so good, and yoghurt a couple of times as it is also riding well.

njee20 - Member

FWIW, I personally think the trails on W1nterf0ld are much worse than those on Pitch these days, and especially Holmbury, as the trails on w1nterf0ld are really cut up.

FTFY