Before the winter comes in hard, we wanted to have one more adventure. So we’re taking part a three day autumn cycling adventure down starting at Euston and finishing on the south coast at Hastings.
My memory of this amazing ride, is the diversity of the landscape as we go from London to the coast and the beautiful Autumnal colours.
Check out my routes on Komoot - Day 1 - https://www.komoot.com/tour/1928212566
Day 1
Caught the train down to Euston and then using London’s cycle paths, we go over Westminster Bridge down through south of London, passing through the leafy affluent areas of Dulwich and cris-crossing the tramway. There is a mixture of affluent housing and a great deal of social housing tower blocks. Cycle paths and passing through South Norwood country Park and Shirley Heath, following the London cycling network 23 which takes you all the way out of London.
You forget how big London is, and it was 19 miles before we entered rural Surrey. Much of the route was then on bridleways following the NCN 21 route. Picturesque & very muddy in parts, including part of the north Downs Way. Some steep climbs, for which Surrey is pretty well known for.
Along the ridge of Plantation Lane overlooking Woldingham School and estate and along Woldingham country lane. Incredible views of Surrey from the Gravelly Hill viewpoint which is just off the North Downs way before arriving in Redhill and looking for a cycle shop as one of our group got several punctures, which even the sealant couldn't hold.
puncture trail (avoiding some flooding)
Day 2
Mostly the NCN 21 today. Sections of the Surrey cycleway, Forest Way and the Cuckoo Trail and bridleway off-road section of the NCN 21. A few sharp steep climbs. The Forest Way runs for 10 miles through the High Weald Way of outstanding natural beauty and is a disused railway line, ironically passing past the house of Beeching at one point at Withyham (he was the British MP who led the closure of thousands of miles of railway lines which led to the creation of many of these cycle paths). A very busy section on the A road through East Grinstead - and one to be re-plotted if we do this one again! Avoid.
Some more off road before joining another disused railway line, The Cuckoo Trail. Really easy and pleasant cycling after the climbing of earlier in the day.
Miles and miles of off-road today, the beautiful autumnal leaves and a canopy of trees and old railway bridges. Idyllic really. Quite mild, weather wise. Lovely route with the exception of the A22!
The Forest Way
Starting the Cuckoo Trail
Day 3
Clocks go back, so extra hour in bed. Today was a totally different landscape - low lying Pevensey Levels. Beautiful quiet, but gravelly lane, Rickney lane. Great breakfast stop at Chilleys farm.
Onward to Pevensey castle, a Norman castle built by William the Conquerer when Pevensey used to be coastal, over 1000 years ago. Then to the coast finally, at Pevensey beach. Beautiful blue skies & crystal blue sea. Our route then became the NCN2 and continued onward along the coast to Hastings. What a stunning sunny day.
Loved this route. Diverse landscapes from Central to South London, then into Surrey then Sussex then an easy picturesque ride along the South Coast. Cycle superhighways, country parks, challenging bridleways, disused railway lines and miles of miles of tree lined traffic free paths and then the seaside. Loved doing this in Autumn, muddy, but the colours of the leaves and the trees made it memorable.
Pevensey Levels
Pevensey Castle
Both above are of Pevensey Beach