Forestry England, the National Trust, Wotton Estate, and Surrey Hills National Landscape [the group] are supportive of permitted mountain biking in the Surrey Hills, and are in discussion to find solutions for a sustainable management plan for a reopening of a formalised mountain bike trail on Leith Hill, known as Summer Lightning.
Summer Lightning crosses land owned by Forestry England, the National Trust, and the Wotton Estate. The route is closed along its entire length, and should not be ridden.
The group is in the process of finding a contractor to assess the condition to the route and what is required to make Summer Lightning suitable for riding on again.
The 5-11 June 2023 is the 100th annual Bike Week, marking a century of celebrating everyday cycling for everyone. Guildford based charity, Cycling UK, designed the Cycle Surrey Hills project to provide an opportunity to experience the stunning landscape and support mental and physical wellbeing.
As part of Bike Week, Surrey Hills Society and volunteers from the Mole Valley Cycle Forum (MVCF) have collaborated to upgrade the waymarking of cycle trails in the Surrey Hills, aided by e-bikes from the Cycle Collective in Dorking. These Cycle Surrey Hills loops not only provide a brilliant off-road cycling experience but help users to keep to the established route to protect the special species and habitat that we share the landscape with. The Surrey Hills Conservation Volunteers programme brings together communities to conserve and protect our National Landscape partaking in activities such as hedge planting, chalk grassland management and wildlife surveys.
The first Cycle Surrey Hills route that the Conservation Volunteers are upgrading is the Puttenham Loop which is routed around Puttenham Common and offers spectacular views and an abundance of heathland and wildlife. The webpage and GPX file download can be found here, with the updated on-site signage to be completed in due course.
Team members of Surrey Hills Society, Mole Valley Cycle Forum, Hampton Estate and Deputy Cabinet Member for Environment Paul Deach
Gordon Jackson, Chair of Surrey Hills Society said: “We are delighted to be working with Mole Valley Cycle Forum as Conservation Volunteers to improve the experience of the Cycle Surrey Hills routes. These are important improvements that will help users feel confident in enjoying the countryside and a deep connection to the landscape with inspiration to protect it for the future of the wildlife that call the Surrey Hills home.”
John Arnold, Chair of MVCF commented: “In a time of swingeing government cuts to Active Travel and substantially reduced investment in cycling infrastructure, it is great to have the opportunity to volunteer with the SHS team in developing inter-generational off-road trails, close to Mole Valley residents, to promote safer cycling routes in the beautiful Surrey countryside.”
Deputy Cabinet Member for Environment and Surrey’s Active Travel Champion, Cllr Paul Deach, said, “We are very fortunate to have some of the UK’s finest countryside on our doorsteps just waiting to be discovered. Cycling in the countryside is not just a journey on wheels; it’s a transformative experience that nurtures our health and well-being. As we pedal through nature, our bodies come alive, invigorated by the rhythmic cadence of movement. The fresh air rejuvenates and invigorates our spirits, and the natural scenery calms our minds and souls. With each pedal stroke, we unlock the secrets of balance and resilience, strengthening our physical and mental health. In the countryside, greenways lead us to undiscovered vistas and inspire us to discover ancient landscapes. In these moments with nature, we find solace, find ourselves, and find a profound connection to the world around us. Cycling in the countryside is more than a pursuit; it’s a gateway to a healthier, happier existence—one that embraces the freedom to explore, the release from our daily grind and the profound healing power of nature.”
The Surrey Hills National Landscape offers some spectacular cycling routes for users to experience whilst following the Countryside Code – Protect, Respect, Enjoy. Hear more from John & Nigel from MVCF about their advice on cycling responsibly here.
This tree planting season, Surrey Hills Society have engaged hundreds of fantastic volunteers in their efforts to support landowners and farmers in creating new habitat for species that call the Surrey Hills home. Their most recent conservation volunteers have been a group of mountain bikers who planted over 2,000 native hedge plants in a day’s work at Coverwood Farm, in the heart of the Surrey Hills. These hedgerow plants were funded through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme (FiPL), one of many hedge planting schemes funded by FiPL in the Surrey Hills.
Tim Metson, Coverwood Farm Partner said “A huge thank you to the mountain biking community for planting this new hedgerow, which will create wildlife corridors for species such as the dormouse. I look forward to undertaking more conservation activities on the farm with members of the mountain biking community.”
Local mountain biker, Matt Morris comments “We all love the Surrey Hills and this was a great opportunity for us to do our bit for nature and help our landowners and farmers conserve the area.”
Gordon Jackson, Chair of the Surrey Hills Society said “I am delighted for the Society to be supporting local landowners and farmers with their nature recovery goals. The planting of hedgerow at Coverwood Farm with local mountain bikers is just the start of our collaboration with this enthusiastic group of Conservation Volunteers.”
The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP was on hand last week to launch a new network of over 80km of off-road cycling trails in South West Surrey, funded by a grant of £19,000 from the London Marathon Charitable Trust (LMCT). The aim of the project known as ‘Cycle Surrey Hills’ is to encourage residents and visitors to get active, improve fitness and experience the spectacular scenery of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Cycle Surrey Hills is broken down into five interlinking routes giving cyclists the opportunity to choose either a long distance ride or shorter loops. The Frensham, Devil’s Punchbowl, Thursley, Puttenham and Elstead loops all offer a challenging ride of varying lengths with breathtaking Surrey Hills views and points of interest along the way. The new trails are the first phase in what is hoped will become an extensive network spreading out across the entire Surrey Hills, giving cyclists the opportunity to experience a long distance route across Surrey.
Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP commented “I am delighted to launch Cycle Surrey Hills in my constituency of South West Surrey. The new routes will appeal to families as well as serious cyclists and provide a wonderful opportunity to experience the spectacular scenery of the Surrey Hills. Cycling not only provides tremendous health benefits but being outdoors in the landscape is also proven to benefit mental health. I look forward to experiencing the routes myself.”
The launch of Cycle Surrey Hills also coincides with national charity Cycling UKs Bike week (9-17 June) which encourages ‘everyday cycling for everyone’, with a core aim of getting people to give cycling a go all over the UK.
Paul Tuohy, Chief Executive of Cycling UK comments; “There’s a freedom to riding on the trails that no other type of cycling can deliver. It’s why over 90% of people who cycle off-road list the mental wellbeing benefits as just as important as the physical when out riding in the countryside.”
”Cycling UK is proud to have helped bring these new routes to light – and we look forward to working on extending the network across the whole of the Surrey Hills and along the North Downs Way.”
Funding for the project has come from the London Marathon Charitable Trust, who award grants for capital projects that inspire and increase the numbers of people regularly taking part in physical activities.
Donna Fraser, Trustee of LMCT comments; “This is a great project for us, as it makes it easier for people to be active, enjoy off road cycling and take in the natural beauty of Surrey at the same time. It is exactly the kind of project that we’re delighted to be involved in.””
Since the first Prudential RideLondon festival of cycling in 2013, organisations in Surrey have been eligible to apply for LMCT grants toward projects that inspire more people to be active. During this time, more than £2.5million has now been awarded by The Trust to more than 70 projects across Surrey.”
