Robert Thorpe

London to Rye

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London to Rye

Route Information

Stats:  75 miles and 4713 feet of ascent (each way)

OS Map:

Refreshments

Groombridge Place Tea Rooms near Ashurst. Cafe on the Quay at Rye

Character

A ride out through the Sussex countryside, to Rye on the beautiful Sussex Coast. Take a train back, or stay over and return the following day.

Route

  1.  Follow the gpx file out of London via Dulwich and Crystal Palace. At Beckenham turn south direct on the A202 and head towards Biggin Hill and some steady climbs.
  2. Continue on quiet roads and lanes, crossing the M25 and heading through Brasted, then turning right onto New road and continuing south towards Ide Hill and Chiddingstone National Trust village.
  3. From here, head off down Wellers Town Road towards Chiddingstone Hoath and onto Groombridge, where you can rest for coffee and cake.
  4. The route then weaves through tree lined countryside and rolling lanes to Durgates, where you pick up the B2009 towards Shover’s green, turning off here right towards Stonegate.
  5. From Stonegate weave through Etchingham and onto Roberts Bridge, before quiet lanes lend their way towards the coast and Winchelsea.
  6. Follow the coast to Rye



click below for gpx file

Robert Thorpe

London to Oxford

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London to Oxford

Route Information

Stats:  67 miles and 2408 feet of ascent (each way)

OS Map:

Refreshments

Chocolate Cafe at Henley on Thames, then lots of choice in Oxford.

Character

A long ride out to Oxford, with either a train journey home, or a night in Oxford before cycling back to London. A beautiful Thames valley ride.

Route

  1.  Follow the gpx file out of London via Uxbridge to Slough. From Slough head towards East Burnham, passing Dorneywood House and quiet lanes to the edge of Woodburn, skirting south of it and riding to Bourne End.
  2. At Bourne End, cross the Thames and follow the path south towards Cookham. At Cookham turn right, then right again onto Terry’s Lane, then join the Winter Hill to the junction with Dean Lane.
  3. Turn right at Dean lane, and then very soon take a left onto Grubwood Lane.
  4. At Hocket Lane turn right and then shortly afterwards turn left onto Winter Hill Road itself, following this to the junction of the A308.Turn left towards Pinkneys Green.
  5. Turn right onto Pinkneys Drive and follow this, passing the car park on the right and then turning right onto Henley Road. Ride to Henley and take a break for refreshments.
  6. Ride out of Henley on the A4130 towards Nettlebed. Continue on the road until a junction right is signed for RAF Benson – take this and cycle through and around the lanes to Berrick Prior, Newington and onto Cowley and Oxford.
  7. Ride into town and finish by the Cathedral – rest, eat enjoy before deciding if it’s a train or an overnight stay.

Click here for train information about bikes




click below for gpx file

Robert Thorpe

Putney to Windsor Castle

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Putney to Windsor Castle

Route Information

Stats:  32 miles and 622 feet of ascent (each way)

OS Map:

Refreshments

Cinnamon Cafe Windsor and The Dynamo Cafe in Putney on the way back.

Character

This is one of the Time Out magazine rides, which we think is a great ‘there and back’ riverside ride -and you get to see a castle!

Route

  1.  Go along to towpath passing boat houses and rowing clubs, taking the road at Hammersmith Bridge and heading up to Roehampton Gate at Richmond Park.
  2. Exit the park and follow the road (A307) towards Kingston, picking up the river again and passing the Boaters Inn (good food on return leg).
  3. Cross Kingston Bridge and stay alongside the river, Barge Walk to Hampton Court Palace.
  4. Head south over Hampton Court Bridge and find the towpath again, leaving the river at Weybridge and joining the A317 towards Windsor fora short while.
  5. Turn off right at Chertsey Fire Station, following National Cycle Network signs to Chertsey Bridge, cross both the river and the M3 and stay alongside the river on Thames Side to Staines. As you ride with meadows and trees either side, you will turn off left to stay alongside this riverside road.
  6. At Laleham it becomes a path and continues along the Thames.
  7. Cross over at Staines and follow the A308 into Windsor and to the castle.



click below for gpx file

Robert Thorpe

London to Box Hill Circular

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London to Box Hill Circular

Route Information

Stats:  85 miles and 4072 feet of ascent

OS Map:

Refreshments

Box Hill Cafe and The Dynamo Cafe in Putney on the way back.

Character

We’ve tried to keep this to the easier traffic roads in and around London, taking in the River Thames Cycling Superhighway, and putting a detour to The Albert Memorial on the way home – one of our favourite spots in London. Oh, and you climb Box Hill of course!

Route

  1. From the Tate Gallery, follow the Thames and pick up the Fulham Road. Cross Putney Bridge and head to Roehampton Gate via Upper Richmond Road and Pirory Lane.
  2. Exit the park at Ham Gate Avenue and follow Richmond Road to Kingston.
  3. Cross the Thames and ride around the edge of Hampton Court Palace, crossing the Thames and riding to Esher.
  4. From Esher take the Portsmouth road, crossing the A3 and dropping down Fairmile Lane, before turning right onto Leigh Hill Road. At the main junction with Stoke Road turn right into Cobham, then turning left at Cobham into Downside Bridge Road.
  5. Turn off right at the pub and cross the M25, through Martyr’s Green and Ockham, heading down to East Clandon.
  6. Cross over the Epson Road onto Staple Lane, cross the A25, ride through Shere and down to Ewhurst.
  7. At Ewhurst turn left towards Forest Green, and then shortly after the village turn off left to Leith Hill.
  8. Climb Leith Hill and then ride to Westhumble and onto Box Hill for a rest.
  9. Leave Box Hill towards Pebble Coombe, before turning left and heading north towards Headley. Cross the M25 and pass Ashead Park, before turning right at the main road on the Dorking-Epson Road into Epsom.
  10. Head out of Epson towards Oxshott and after the second roundabout turn off right on the lane towards West Ewell, then heading to Chessington and picking up the A243 Hook Road (right turn). Next junction go straight over towards Surbiton and then back towards Kingston along the river.
  11. Time to ride back through Richmond Park, skirting the top edge and dropping to Barnes and Hammersmith before crossing the river.
  12. Ride to Hyde Park and the Albert Memorial, before dropping back down to Kensington and via Chelsea to the river. Head back now to the Tate and Millbank. Time for cake and art.



click below for gpx file

Robert Thorpe

Richmond to Hampton Court Thames Ride

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Richmond to Hampton Court

Route Information

Stats:  15 miles and 320 feet of ascent (flat)

OS Map:

Refreshments

You’re in Richmond in London, so there’s lots to choose from, both in the town and along the river.

Character

Quiet ride along the River Thames from Richmond Park, with a little bit of road riding along the way. Great ride for an afternoon or evening.

Route

1. From Richmond Green ride down Old Palace Lane to the Thames and follow the Thames path all the way to Kingston.

2. At Kingston, cross the river by Kingston Bridge and turn into the park on the opposite side. Take the path that follows the river, before exiting it by the Mute Swan Public House.

3. Take the second exit of the roundabout (A308) and follow this as it circumnavigates the walled palace and begins to look almost rural, with trees either side.

4. Returning you to roundabout near Kingston Bridge, now ride and leave at the first exit onto the A310 for a short while and then turn right onto Lower Teddington Road by the pub and follow this quiet road until rejoining the A310(turn right onto this).

5. At traffic lights by shops, bare right and stay on this road. After 100 metres turn right down the one way street (Water Lane) and follow ‘Embankment’ and ‘Riverside’ until you can pickup the path along the river.

6. Follow the river back to Richmond, crossing at bridge and riding back to Richmond Park.




click below for gpx file