Peaslake – Barry Knows Best – Any Good?

I am down in Guildford way next week. Last year I visited the delights of Swinley Forest, and feel the need for a change of scenery.

So Peaslake and Barry Knows Best looks like an option ?

I can load a GPX in to my Garmin to follow.

Has it been much effected by recent storms, or will it currently be a mud fest?

This is the route I am thinking, although up for longer distance as on an eeeb.

https://www.komoot.com/smarttour/18754036

Ta

Surrey Hills is the only place in England that my riding group – from South Wales – makes a regular trip to ride. It’s good enough for people who regularly travel to the Alps, Spain, Scotland, etc. I’ve enjoyed every ride I’ve done down there, whether with that group or on my own. It’s also very different from Swinley which I don’t enjoy much. (Can’t comment on current conditions as I’m 180 miles away!)

I’d say your route will be a bit more challenging than Swinley and also more fun.

Conditions on the Surrey Hills are variable after the recent rains: the routes on Pitch Hill will have some muddy bits and plenty of slippery roots.  Holmbury Hill is more sandy and generally dries out quickly, except Yoghurt Pots which will be full of chocolate yoghurt in the dips.  BKB mainly has a good all weather surface.

As a mid level rider (ok on BPW reds but not red+) I’d find all that route ok, although the last bit on El Capitan is a bit spicy.

At the Peaslake shop I much prefer the sausage roll to the cheese straws in the Kamoot photo.

its Pork and Leak slice at the shop!!!!

Trails are OK considering the rain.  Barry’s stays largely unaffected as it’s a pupose built trail with good run-off.   The more rooty trails tucked away seem to get more affected as they don’t drain too well.  Otters pocket will have some nice big puddles in, but you can still ride round them without buggering the trail.  Crack pipe and the others from green bench have suffered storm damage and also a slop fest.

If anyone has any GPX is would be appreciated.

I rode pitch hill yesterday and it was pretty wet it really could do with drying out a bit. I did ride Barry knows best as well but the better trail is Barry knows nothing.

You’ll have plenty of better trails to ride compared to swinley. If you can get winterfold in as well it’s definitely worth it.

Barry knows best, and Barry rides a stiffee.

A phrase from an MBR review of a cove stiffee that is part the the reason I bought one and rode it for 15 years.

Nothing to add about the trail :  )

https://www.komoot.com/tour/1485611982?ref=aso&share_token=aQkCGY6ZQeBMJgaYU0oIWTfwY4vuiarMvoskbfjDLsBSGjTyVy

I think this route is from the STW article about the Surrey Hills.

https://www.komoot.com/tour/1485611982?ref=aso&share_token=aQkCGY6ZQeBMJgaYU0oIWTfwY4vuiarMvoskbfjDLsBSGjTyVy

I think this route is from the STW article about the Surrey Hills.

Is that the gravel ride that avoided any of the actual MTB trails? I’m sure it’s lovely but seems a shame to go there and not ride the best bits.

Darkside above has shared some of his recent routes with me, and I assume that Komoot I linked is the good stuff too.

hopefully I can make something of all of them !

That Kamoot in your OP looks pretty good.

Did that area for the first time a few weeks ago with a mate. Had a brilliant day! Days worth of stuff to find there, even if your just following your nose. Lovely winch and plummet stuff.

As a mid level rider (ok on BPW reds but not red+) I’d find all that route ok, although the last bit on El Capitan is a bit spicy.

Is el capitan the one that takes a right hander and then drops into 3 or 4 successive chunky drops? Did that a few weeks ago for the first time, it was great!

I’ve only ridden it once, on a fat bike in torrential rain. Destroyed a set of pads and two rotors, it’s a bit gritty

I don’t live in the area any more, but that’s a brief outline of a lot of the trails I would never ride.

I think if you were a newbie to the area, I’d befriend someone in the Walking Bottom car park and ask them to give you a tour – there are trails everywhere, a lot more interesting than what can be found on Komoot, but unless you know where you are going, you will end up hopelessly lost.

Awesome thanks but no drainage means loads of deep puddles all over tje place

I’d agree with @Hobnob – i went for the first time back in August. Had a fun time, but wouldn’t rush back based on that experience. Although I found a few decent tracks (Supernova/Bullethead seems to stick out in my memory) there were also some (El Capitan I think) that had so many options along them I’m not sure I took the correct turns, and a few that where fairly underwhelming. Finding a local would definitely help.

30km there didn’t really feel like much on an analogue and the climbs are tame so on an e-bike you’d have scope for way more riding.

Can send you my gpx if you like, but sounds like you’ve got plenty of options now.