A Group ride from Leatherhead, 20th November

Our route today skirted Holmbury Hill, along Holmbury Hill Road. Often it's ridden in the opposite direction - but either way it can provide views over the Weald, towards the South Downs. Today the atmosphere was clear, enabling some stupendous long views, albeit fleetingly from the saddle.

What I recently discovered was that an ancient Iron Age Hill Fort sits atop the Hill - at 261m above sea level, not much lower than Leith Hill (294m). It's walkable from the road and mountain bike aficionados probably bomb up there, but views-out are comparable to Leith Hill - (visited after lunch), or Box Hill. Not that our ancestors were bothered with nice views - strategic position was everything. Want to know more?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmbury_Hill
https://www.surreyhills.org/surrey-hills-60/holmbury-hill-fort/

Further along Holmbury Hill Road we passed the entrance to what was originally a Victorian mansion, set in extensive landscaped grounds, but now has a sign board, UCL, MSSL. I've often wondered what went-on in there? Well, for time-travellers amongst you, it's the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, the UK's largest university space research group. (Mullard was an early manufacturer of radio valves, who started-out in the 1920's around the corner from where I live in Southfields). Now MSSL develops cutting-edge hardware for multi-national space missions - orbiting around the Earth, Mars, Venus and Saturn.

Strange world! Less than 500metres apart is evidence of life before Christ, juxtaposed with a site making machines looking for life - that will take up to 4 years to reach Saturn, 1.2 billion kilometres away! Check it out. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/mssl/mullard-space-science-laboratory

Back to cycling. Brian recently extolled the virtues of the recently resurfaced - and 'transformed' Lyefield Lane, off Ockley Road. It was our intended route to Walliswood. Well, unbeknown to us, SCC were still putting the finishing touches to the road. Road Closed. CCTV in operation. There was no choice -  turn around and back-track, rather than getting road bikes dirty along untried horse tracks!

Thirteen sat down for lunch at the Scarlett Arms - after a shortened route, and only a few minutes later than planned.

And there was still time to pose for the traditional 'outside the pub' photo.

 Afterwards it was a quick thrash up Leith Hill, through Coldharbour, (and another photo-opportunity) to tea at Pilgrim Cycles, Westhumble. (Well, at least eight made it to tea, the rest aiming to get home in daylight).

32 miles from elevenses to tea, and 2,500 ft of climbing, made for a very enjoyable late Autumn ride.

Many thanks - as usual, to Mike B for back-marking, and for due diligence from everyone on the corners and gapping.

 Geoff. G and Steve D - hope you're back with the As soon - there's plenty of time to get some rides in before the end of the year.