Blackdown Reprise 24 July 24 - Ride Report

The Blackdown rerun turned out to be a very well received package. The weather was kind - a nice sunny summer day with some cloud and moderate temperature, Dave V. sub-leading excellently. His group was off first, Dave writes.. 

Neil had produced an interesting dossier of sights along our route. However our group of Frances, Dave F, Hans, Andy C and Ged displayed a remarkable enthusiasm for getting stuck into the serious business of hill climbing.

We did permit ourselves one photo stop on the delightful gravelly track from Loxhill to Vann Lane.

Before that we had we had swept past the mysterious narrow-gauge railway by the Loxhill turn, normally deserted, but today an ancient static agricultural engine was being run. For the record this railway has been investigated by Wayfarers past, and here and here is the sum of our knowledge, thanks to Hans. And another photo here.

There had been much talk of less challenging alternatives to climbing Blackdown on Jeyes Lane, but come the hour everyone was fired with enthusiasm, not to mention a good lunch at Chiddingfold Swan Inn. The afternoon took me on lanes I had never ridden before, which is always good. We arrived at the Snooty Fox for tea around 3.30, where I parted company for a train ride home.

Thanks to all for your company, especially to Ged as photographer/back marker, and max Kudos to all who rode home from Guildford.

My group didn't want to rush at first, especially on the first well known gravel section out of Dorking. The ascent up Abinger Hollow was smooth, and for me at least it was a treat, as I know a bit about geology, and it has a sense of 'middle earth' fantasy about it. Then onto Pasture Wood - what a fab road in fair weather conditions. Half way down we passed Dave's group at the drive leading to Beatrice Webb's historic mansion. At the end of that road looking up to Holmbury St Mary I said my bit about Victorian emancipator Beatrice Webb, but the appetite was not for this. Nor for the werewolf and canons in Lyefield Lane. But the lily pond of Ashcopse Farm was a group pleaser.  Another 7 miles got us to the edge of Loxwood, where we took a bridleway starting through a farmyard. When you see farmers they are usually busy with serious work, but you could sense their thrill with the vintage tractor and very finely restored farm machine chugging away. 
This bridleway continued as rough gravel.. 

I got some kickback for this, yes sorry I should have warned about that in the invitation, anyway immediately onto the tarmac section which is Vann Lane, a perfect cycling road. The bridleway might be Vann Lane too, but google maps doesn't even register it, and none of my mapper apps name it either. Others talked about a Vann Lane at another place. Long way off, must be a different one. Soon we were in Chiddingfold. The Swan Inn was as good as I hoped. The sandwich menu is limited, but the 4 or 5 filling options were satisfying. BTW the full menu is really good for a revisit with car for a walk on Blackdown (recommended!).  

Leaving Chiddingfold we rode a back lane rather than the busy direct road, it was 15 minutes to the main climb, where Dave B saw 21%, but everyone said it was a fine climb, not as harsh as we sometimes find Whitedown.

Our group gathered at the top, soon Andy C. was there, then the rest of Dave's group. Veni vidi vici - one or two thought it might be "I came I saw I konked", but no, everyone conquered! Dave's group kept a great pace for the whole ride. Blackdown downhill towards Haslemere is mostly a gentle gradient, fun in places, we went back via Killinghurst Lane, another very fine cycling lane. A few said it seemed like downhill all the way back. Several miles before the Snooty Fox I saw and called out the sign "XXXX leading to VANN LANE" - exclamations allround! It was a very good ride, no mechanicals or spills. [Except for a Cleopatra moment at the cafe. Fiona remained calm & composed]. I took the train back with Ged and Hans, great convo. We agreed, there's a big plus riding new territory, more please.