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Surrey Hills Mountain Biking

Surrey Hills Mountain Biking
Avg 3.85
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup
Number of Reviews (20)

*You can claim this trail if you are the trail owner

  • Information:
  • Type: Natural Trails
  • Grades: Blue,Red,Black
  • Riding: Cross Country,Downhill,Wild Trails,Enduro,Freeride
  • Distance(s): Under 5km, 5-10km, 11-20km, 21-30km, 31km
  • Country: England
  • County: Surrey
  • Website: Surrey Hills
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Trail Network & Rider Segments

Trail network status from Trailforks and recent rider segments from Strava (see full mapped routes and details in the Tracks tab).

Trail Status

status via Trailforks.com

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Description

Surrey Hills Mountain Bike Trails consist of a set of trails that crisscross the North Downs. 3 of the most well-known ride spots are Leith Hill, Holmbury Hill, and Pitch Hill.

Like this?

Each can be ridden individually or looped together. This set of hills is a combination of natural feeling and purpose-built single-track. There is both a large amount of sanctioned as well as unsanctioned off-piste riding in the area. Check out the car park guide, rock up, and just explore or check out the resources section for route guides

Leith Hill

  • Leith hill is probably the steepest of the three hills and home to The Tower the highest point on Leith Hill as well as the highest point in the North Downs. Hence there are tough climbs and some really rewarding descents. Although facilities are limited there is a neat little kiosk for tea and cake at the top of The Tower. Nirvana Cycles in Westcott is a decent shop and a common place to start. They have maps and also organise informal rides.
  • Summer Lightning is the waymarked official trail. It starts just below the iconic Leith Hill Tower and runs to connect up to the old Summer Lightning section. It's a red-graded trail and around 8.5km in length.
  • Leith Hill is a combination of National Trust, Forestry Commission, and private land. Keep to the rights of way of cyclists and dedicated MTB trails only, keeping off footpaths and unmarked trails.

Holmbury Hill

  • Holmbury Hill can be started from the village of Peaslake. Famous here is the village store for tea and cake and trails such Barry Knows Best. a flowing track that traverses down the final descent, the Yoghurt Pots full of rolling dips as you descend, and the Telegraph Row which is fast singletrack.
  • Holmbury is part of the Hurtwood and you, therefore, have the 'right to roam' which means you can ride on all trails unless there are signs specifically denying bikes so long as you follow the Hurtwood Bikers' Code.

Pitch Hill 

  • Pitch Hill is as rewarding as the others with the same abundance of singletrack. Famous trails are Supernova, Curly Wurly, Vauxhall Nova and the set of trails known as the T Trails (which are rooty and flowy).
  • Peaslake is also a good place to start for these trails (see car parking guide below).
  • Pitch Hill is also part of the Hurwood and you, therefore, have the 'right to roam' which means you can ride on all trails unless there are signs specifically denying bikes so long as again you follow the Hurtwood Bikers Code.

Resources and Routes

    Surrey Hills Mountain Biking  

  • Great site with a good selection of the official and tolerated trails across all the hills. Includes descriptions and GPX and a good starting point to explore 

    • MBR 

  • MBR has a neat 30km route around Peaslake with a detailed description of the region

Trailforks CC 

  • Probably the largest selection of GPX with ride reports.

Groups, Rides and Clubs

Car Parks and Other Stuff

  • Parking: Don't park in the middle of Peaslake! Hurtwood Car Park 2: Walking Bottom is the closest to Peaslake. Postcode GU5 9RR will take you to the centre of Peaslake. The car park is just outside the village - follow the road out of the centre past the Hurtwood Inn/Pedal & Spoke and the car park is about 300m on your left. A handy local map with many of the car parks etc can be found here.

Share

  • If you have ridden any of the mountain bike trails in the Surrey Hills then why not share your experience with the community and post some pictures, videos, and reviews.

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Joe Janes:
Avg 1.76
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

SL

Make it flow - the old trail before the cricket pitch was way more fun, why didn't they use that.

What do you like?

Last section is fun

What could be improved?

1st section is a little boring and doesn't flow

Would you recommend?

*No*

Date written:

20/11/2016 - about 9 years ago

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1
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Terry White:
Avg 3.90
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

A Great Combination

I have to say i live in Hampshire and this is well worth the hour drive. After many rides i have got together a great 18 mile route starting from Peaslake and ending with Barry Knows Best, taking in Yoghurt Pots, Telegraph Poles and Summer Lightning.I would class my route as a hard ride but very rewarding combing great natural and man-made routes, with many climbs and descents 

What do you like?

Lots of natural singletrack combined with 3 great developed trails - Yoghurt Pots, Summer Lightning and to finish off Barry Knows Best downhill excellent. Combine this with Telegraph Poles and natural trials then this is a fantastic place to ride. Also halfway around my route is the Tower Cafe serving coffee and cake what more do you want!! Pretty good all your around apart from the last 1/2 mile of Summer Lightning which can get very very muddy after rain.

What could be improved?

Not way-marked apart from Summer Lightning.To get a good route you need to go with someone who knows or just explore and you will eventually get a decent route but takes alot of time.Some parts can get large puddles and get very muddy after prolonged rain.Be prepared for quite long climbs as although in Surrey you are pretty much going up or down.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

28/01/2016 - almost 10 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

3
^
Elephant graveyard:
Avg 3.55
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

You will need to come and come again to get the best out if this.

A bit of everything. A bit of a muddle to though.

What do you like?

Great sand base which helps in the wet. Sone great fun single track. So massive jump sections. Some a little to big if you have a job to go back to. But there is so much here there is something for everyone. You will need to explore for along time to piece together some great routes. I have been a few times but only sratched the surface. Contantly evolving.

What could be improved?

Extremely busy as its so close to the big smoke. No real centre. No way marking so gps or if your a proper rider exploring and learning from others. Getting a bit to extreme in some parts! Take it easy if you dont know the trail. No warnings of what over the next jump. You have been warned.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

18/10/2015 - over 10 years ago

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1
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gilesmartin81:
Avg 4.26
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

First time but not the last

Go once and keep going back.

What do you like?

This was first time In the Surrey hills, it won't be the last. I followed a route I got from this website to start as I have not been before and I was aware there are not many way marked routes. This was a great way to get started riding here, it was great to know you were going to find a few decent bits without looking too hard. I stayed on holmbury hill and rode a few trails a number of times. Next time i will go back and explore more as it is really an amazing network if trails. Also the views are epic! It is worth going to stop and take them in.

What could be improved?

None really, you could say the lack of signage, but really I like it that way. It is refreshing to have trail centre quality trails without the feeling you are tied to routes to be followed. Get lost and enjoy it!

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

02/10/2015 - over 10 years ago

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1
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tjmoore:
Avg 4.40
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

There's more than just the 3 hills

There is also Winterfold hill, along with a cheeky hill that won't mention, but that gives 5 hills along the south of the hills, but the Surrey Hills also includes the North Downs on the other side of the A25, including Ranmore and Box Hill where there is more to be found, with many cheeky spots to ride. That side involves a lot more climbing, but some sweet descents and play areas. Technically the Surrey Hills even includes the Hogs Back along to Farnham, but that's one for the more long distance xc oriented rides. DH - well no, it's not a DH venue, though there are DH spots. Problem is the best are cheeky so you'll just have to ask around to find them or just explore. I'm not a DHer myself though I give it a little go on occasion. I'd prefer somewhere with an uplift for that, but I see plenty with full DH rigs playing in the hills, and there are big gaps about that you won't necessarily find in some DH trail centres. XC - yes there's plenty of that in all kinds of variety. However the good stuff is general singletrack which can vary in nature from simple natural trails, to singletrack with berms, jumps, gaps, roots, rocks, and whatever thrown at you. Some flat, some down, some even up. Flat? - not really, unless you stick to Holmbury ;) - explore beyond the tourist trails and you'll find the cracking descents, though you will have to deal with the climbs back up.

What do you like?

Huge variety, vast area, always changing conditions, something for everyone, not a trail centre, cheese straws and meat slices in Peaslake store. Plenty of places to start from. Fast running flowing trails in the dry. Mud and slippery roots when wet (see also bad points). Depending on the hill, some areas drain better than others. Great fun in the snow also. Bike shop by the trails in Peaslake, bike shop in Westcott, more in Dorking and surrounding areas. Lots of demo opportunities on quality trails.

What could be improved?

Mud and slippery roots when wet (see also good points). Very busy at weekends and parking can be an issue in Peaslake, especially on a Sunday (p.s. *Please* don't park in the village, use one of the Hurtwood car parks). Parking in Westcott is limited also for Leith, though there are many car parks around Leith or if you don't mind a bit of a ride to get there, park in Dorking or even make it a long one and park Peaslake way and ride all the hills! No trail signs - but that's more of a good point. It's not a trail centre.

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

18/12/2013 - about 12 years ago

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1
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Tom Hoult:
Avg 3.00
Grin Factor
Trail Variety
Skills
Trail Quality
General Setup

Good enduro practice, but too easy

I am a DHer, but recently competed in the megavalanche. Much of my training was based in the SH due to the great number of trails and the effort factor that is involved. I once rode 60km in one day all off road and not riding the same trail twice! However I find many of the trails bland and easy, and I hate the holmbury hill loop! Far too flat! As a DHer, it really does not feed me enough thrill. There are also too many snotty roadies around for my liking. Despite this, nothing compares to the SH in the south east if all you want is a long, social mtb ride. Which is what most people want... So it may not be to my taste (hence the low score), but I can see why its one of Britains most popular mtb areas.

What do you like?

Lots of it, long rides, long trails, many trails

What could be improved?

too easy and mostly flat

Would you recommend?

*Yes*

Date written:

11/08/2013 - over 12 years ago

Was this review helpful to you?

0
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