Ride Report - 18th August 2024 (Clandon and Shalford)

For some time I had wanted to re-visit the lanes south of Blackheath and Bramley, and finally the opportunity arose. You know what they say when you want something doing - I did, so I did. 

Clandon Park Garden Centre is a great venue for elevenses, you can park your bike safely round the corner from the outdoor seating area and they serve the best cheese scones ever. Ten of us gathered to join the ride, one gathered with us but came no further, one appeared mysteriously somewhat later and then three more turned up, as they had planned, after the ride had left. Curious but I think that's points to everyone?!  

The gathered

The ten riders took in a little shortcut over Merrow Downs before turning south through Chilworth, Blackheath and Shamley Green. After that it was a lot flatter and a lot of Commons with several high-lights - rolling fields, tree-shaded lanes, pretty cottages and of course, the horse heads visible from along Thorncombe Street ( https://www.nicfiddiangreen.com/artwork/trojan-head/ - if you'd like your own, the price is available on request)! 

Obligatory sign-post photo

 

Lilian and horse head #1

Niall and Christina passing horse head #2

Eventually we came back to the Downs Link at Bramley, and followed that along to Shalford where we stopped for lunch at The Snooty Fox (not cheap but they have a proper deli counter for build-your-own sandwiches, and a village shop a couple of doors away providing alternative options). 

Obligatory station sign photo
(without Andy's oversight, taking photos was like trying to herd cats)

Here was the point of great departure - David and Graham had not stopped for lunch, Christina and Keith decided to head for the hills, and Lilian for the train. So it was Martina, Niall, Eric and Simon who carried on with me towards Guildford, using the cycle track into Guildford before getting onto the canal path in nearly the right place. Niall and Eric left us at Stoke Lock (apparently the oldest lock in Surrey, thanks for the intel Simon!) for more off-roading while the remaining three made a beeline for Pinnock's. And that was a very good decision, as we were no sooner ordering our cakes than we were joined by Colin Q. 

My thanks to David and Simon for back-marking before and after lunch, to Graham for introducing me to these lanes nearly 2 years ago, and photo credits to Simon, Niall, Christina and Steph.  

P.S. Kudos to the late-comers....sorry we missed you!