Abundant history and olympic hills along the Surrey Cycleway

Maybe you like to relax on sun-soaked hills surrounded by ripe vineyards enjoying a glass of crisp rose wine, perhaps you like to walk the corridors of grand stately homes, maybe you love to test your legs in the hills, or actually you like all of this! If this sounds like your cup of tea, then the Surrey Cycleway is your perfect next adventure.

This Collection will guide you along the Surrey Cycleway in seven stages that vary in length from 12.5 to 29 miles (20 - 47 km). In total, your adventure will take you 143 miles (230 km) with a total of 7,546 feet (2,300 meters) in elevation gain.

Each stage of the Surrey Cycleway can easily be shortened or combined to suit your schedule, which is made even more convenient as the area has good rail connections with London. You could even choose to cycle part of the route as a weekend escape from the big city.

The Surrey Cycleway also delves deep into the history of the area, taking you to 13th-century churches, Aerodromes that were used during the Berlin Airdrop, ruined castles, Polesden Lacey country estate, the ruins of England’s first Cistercian abbey, and even Britain’s oldest working windmill.

And, you will certainly not go hungry along the way. We have included plenty of pub and cafes stops where you will find delicious food to ensure you have enough energy during your ride. Each stage also ends in a town or village with comfortable accommodation options to keep you well-rested.

In between the rolling hills, Surrey has an abundance of pretty villages and towns. Godstone, Alford, and Shere are three particularly lovely villages found along the Surrey Cycleway. You may recognize some of the place names in Surrey as they featured in the 2012 Olympic road racing events. On stage five, you have the chance to ride Box Hill, which has perhaps become the most famous hill in the UK among cyclists since the games.

The route was opened in 1995 to reveal the very best of quiet rural life in the county, and it doesn’t disappoint. You will mostly follow minor roads and country lanes as they wind through the countryside, with a few short sections along traffic-free cycle paths and bridleways. As such, you can use any bike for your adventure. The route is also easy to follow as it is signposted in both directions.

Your adventure begins in Godalming, a historic market town with plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants. Godalming also has direct trains to London Waterloo, Havant, and Woking making it easy for you to reach the start of your adventure.

With ancient heathland, rolling countryside and beautiful waterways only a stone’s throw from London, the Surrey Cycleway is a peaceful escape. Stunning countryside and plenty of cake stops await!

For more information on visiting Surrey, visit: visitsurrey.com
For train tickets and timetables, visit: thetrainline.com/stations/godalming