A Group 29 Jan - the Leith Massif Traverse

After the mist and rain of recent days, it was a delight to see the sun today.  Massed ranks of Wayfarers descended on Weybridge like a swarm of locusts, consuming gallons of tea and tons of cake, bread pudding and sausage rolls.  Having attending to our figures, we then assembled for a group photo to start the the Midweek Wayfarers' 40th Anniversary celebrations.

Perhaps it was the sunshine, perhaps it was the photo opportunity, or maybe it was the chance to complete the traverse of Pitch Hill, Holmbury Hill, and Leith Hill that attracted 22 A group riders on this memorable ride.  Not many people attempt the Leith Massif Traverse for some reason.  It's hard to say and also hard to ride, but today was the perfect day for it.  A very simple route:  through Pyrford, Ripley and East Clandon to get to the foothills of Staple Lane; regroup in Shere and straight up Houndhouse Road to reach the summit of Pitch Hill. which I believe is the second third* highest road in Surrey at around 775 ft.  The keener riders sped up the hill like a pack of eager whippets, and arrived at lunch well before 1pm, while the rest of us took it at a more measured pace, still arriving by 1pm, so there wasn't a massive queue to order lunch.

The Bull's Head at Ewhurst did a great job, serving delicious food promptly, and we were ready for another photo-shoot before 2pm.  Two hills to go.  Well, two named hills: Neil pointed out that there were slightly more ascents than that.  First we had to go a little way back up Pitch Hill to get to Peaslake Road, a nice traverse with great views to the south.  This was the only part of the route that was wet and mucky, and unfortunately David Jackson punctured here - he sent word that he and Jennie would make their own way home.

From Peaslake we went round the south of Holmbury Hill on Radnor Road; the whippets a bit slower now but still keen.  At Holmbury St Mary it was crampons and oxygen masks on for Pasturewood Road to Abinger Common, then the long drag to the summit of Leith Hill Road: the second* highest road in Surrey at 831 ft, before rounding Coldharbour and descending to Dorking.

I had a few sleepless nights imagining the consequences of taking a group down Coldharbour Lane only to find it closed and impassable at the bottom, but the real heros of the day are Terry Lowe (who wasn't even on the ride) and Mark (who was):  Terry checked it was open on Tuesday, even riding up to Logmore Lane to check there were no further closures further up, and, just in case SES Water had changed their mind overnight, Mark volunteered to ride down to check, then come back and tell us!  Luckily he met another cyclist coming up so didn't have to go all the way.  All was clear for the final enjoyable descent, with eight of us electing for tea and cake at Denbies.

My thanks to Mike Barrett for back-marking, and to Terry and Mark for saving us a possible bonus climb back up to Logmore Lane.  And Mike tells me that the gapping was good today, perhaps due to the climbs, or perhaps we are learning to count to six!  Thank you all for your company and being keen enough to come on a rather hilly ride.

38 miles, 2762 ft ascent

The Traverse itself

* Mark did a bit of research on this and discovered that actually Botley Hill, near Titsey Hill is just in Surrey, and it's higher, at 898ft.   Apologies - an opportunity for another challenge on another day.