[Closed] Croydon riding

Happy Valley
Wray lane/Mogador/Headley Common

Can't think of anything nearer.

Your wheelie skills should improve, though 😉

Drive to Surrey Hills (park around Westcott or Ranmore and ride in, train to Dorking or Westhumble) ?

Send a pm to Renton

Caterham....

I drove down Gangers Lane, between Woldingham and Godstone yesterday and there just has to be some trails around there. I'll be checking on Strava heat map later to see where they are. In fact if you take Featherbed Lane from Addington Court Golf Club there is a surprisingly large amount of countryside to explore.

contact Addiscombe Cycle club, they had an active MTB section.

a surprising amount of decent MTB within riding distance of Croydon town centre

XC or trail? A drive down to Reigate Hill should only take you 30 mins and from there you can head west and get to all of the best parts of the Surrey Hills. If you are just looking for trails, another 30 mins and you are at Peaslake or Leith Hill

An hour or two of fun can be had in Shirley Hills, just opposite Coombe Lane tram stop (and my old school). Used (10 years ago) to be a few small jumps and there is some 'trails' kicking about in there. Loose rounded gravel means fun sliding sideways.

Back in the day I used to head out Addington Hills just outside Croydon. I lived in the Dulwich area and found a mostly off-road route there using paths and parks. I think it was a bit naughty riding there even though horse riding was allowed but I never had any grief but I was there on a week day morning.. The trails weren’t endless but there was enough to keep me occupied for an hour or so. If you are in Croydon heading south you are not that far from the North Downs.

There’s a surprising amount of decent riding right on your doorstep. I used to be the MTB secretary for Addiscombe CC and led rides most Sundays from East Croydon station (used to be a 10am meet up, may still be). If you are precious about only riding bridleway S then there’s not much but buy an OS map and go exploring and you won’t be disappointed. It’s possible with a bit of ingenuity to ride to the Surrey Hills with hardly any tarmac (we rode to Brighton off road, 85% on dirt!).

When I moved to Croydon, I thought my mountain biking days were over but in all honesty, it’s when they began because of the great people I met and surprisingly, accessible decent riding.

I live back up North now but still miss the riding down there in the South East at times.

Get a map. The tracks start the other side of Lloyds Park. From there you can off road to Woldingham.
Be warned it is the muddiest route on the planet.
We use to ride down to Hurst Green pretty much all off road, have a Sunday dinner and catch the train back.
Don't knock Croydon , it's best feature is the ease with which you can leave it!
We also used to catch a train to 3 bridges , off road to Brighton then train back.
Don't be despondent, investigate and explore. You are in a good place.

There's some fun to be had in Littleheath woods down the back of Croham Valley Road if you don't mind just riding round in (fairly small) circles. Plenty of old badger sets to pop off the top of 😀

I'm pretty sure bikes are banned but seeing as they were at the back of my house for 15 years, that didn't bother me much 😀

As above, when I lived in Tooting I had a couple of very enjoyable nights out with the Addiscombe MTB chappies.

Not much I can add that hasn't already been suggested.
I'm in Orpington (not far from you) and mostly ride on the road these days, I can suggest a few road routes out if you need some inspiration..

Long term Caterham resident, now Bletchingley, here.

I'd echo pretty much all of the above. The highest concentration of trails is probably along the north downs ridge but there's plenty in between the various bits of suburbia. Some of the little bits of woodland are more likely to get you moaned at than others though.

I don't think I saw anyone mention Limpsfield Chart and the rest of the Greensand Ridge- worth riding over Woldingham to there for a look around. There's a little bit of a gap between Chaldon and Reigate Hill where it's a bit more like hard work to put a fun route together.

PM me if you like. Alternatively I'm out with Redhill CC most weekends. We take a fairly varied set of start points from the Newlands Corner across to Oxted.

Am disappointed with all the Croydon negativity! Yes, West Croydon is a hole but the rest of Croydon is on the up and there are some really great bits - Box Park, South End.

I lived near East Croydon station but am now in Addiscombe so not far. Email in profile. Get in touch and i'll take you out on a couple of local loops - road or MTB. Most of the time I ride my cross bike as the xc stuff here is pretty easy so pretty good on the cross bike.

Am disappointed with all the Croydon negativity!

Seriously? This is about the most positive Croydon thread I've ever seen, and that's from someone that grew up in Selsdon 😀

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This is about the most positive Croydon thread I've ever seen

Pretty much

scaled - Member
Am disappointed with all the Croydon negativity!
Seriously? This is about the most positive Croydon thread I've ever seen, and that's from someone that grew up in Selsdon

Selsdon high street is looking sorry these days. I only found out recently that Selsdon High is no more and is now an academy. Sports centre still going though!

ANYWAY.. As above really - plenty of xc type stuff around Warlingham/ Woldingham/Godstone way. It's a shame, Evans just had their Biggin Hill RideIt event I think and that would have been a good way of seeing some of the area. Route is available to view on the website though I think.

someone that grew up in Selsdon

I lived in Middlefields in my earliest years. It was brand new then.

As a Redhill resident I’d add to all that - some really goodnriding around. I’m also looking for some new guys to ride with, I’m a bit Billy no mates at the moment - maybe we should do an stw north downs ride?

There are a couple of great Wednesday night ride groups out of Redhill and Reigate - fair old pace but they always end up at the pub.

Evans just had their Biggin Hill RideIt event I think and that would have been a good way of seeing some of the area

According to a friend who did it once, if you know what you're riding past, not so much. Scenic though. We did have to ride through one of the tracks that was muddier than it should be for the time of year thanks to that while out this Sunday though.

Oh wow this thread suddenly exploded! I will read through and dig out the maps! Just moved to south croydon. Only have the road bike right now but that should change soon. Will def lookup up Addiscombe MTB and maybe PM a few of you guys. I used to live in the Chilterns so have been a bit spoilt, but also have no issues with bridleways.

I'm in South Croydon too. Regularly ride locally and there is some good xc riding not far away. Head up to Warlingham Sainsburys then down High Lane down either side of the golf course onto Halliloo Valley Road then over to the drive way to the girls school. From here head up through Great Church Wood towards Marden Park woods. Stick to the marked bridleway through the woods as some of the walkers can get a bit arsey. There's a short fun downhill along the side of Tandridge Hill Lane and a cheeky one down to the M25 just off Gangers Hill a bit further up.

Happy to show you round as well if you'd like.

If you're going to do the Warlingham Sainsbury's thing, you might want to go the whole hog and do
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Probably best saved for a dry, sunny day, but is always a great day out

Liking the sound of that Bob

Depends how far you want to go really...

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Liking the sound of that Bob

Keep your eye on the forum, as I really ought to run it again, next year.

Hi, Great thread, just what I was looking for as fairly new to the area, in Sanderstead and just started out on the MTB. Looking for a few trails to have a crack at and get me out from the kids and wife for a couple of hours.... nothing to hard as a novice so using the local hills to get a bit of fitness up for now.

I see a few routes from Hamsey Green up to Farleigh Golf club, are these off road? I think I'll give the happy valley a try. Riddlesdown is close by but not sure that actually leads anywhere. Is there anything in the Woods next to Kenley Aerodrome?

Only a few bridleways round Riddlesdown and not that familiar with the woods near the aerodrome.

You can head through the back of Kingswood and over to Farleigh and there are some marked cycle paths through the woods round there (Sustrans route 21)...head towards Woldingham for plenty more riding.

This time of year avoid Kingswood IMO, it's muddy and horrible!

From Sanderstead a great little route is through Croham Hurst Woods (plenty of little cheeky tracks in there too), turn right down the side of the golf club, cross Croham Valley road and follow the path to Coombe Road. You are now at the corner of Addington Hills with all its (possibly not legal) delights. You can then head through to Spring Park via the footpath above the Sandrock pub. Loop back as you see fit. That area is well drained so good at this time of year.

Super thanks both I will have a look at those. Croham I will have a look at on how to enter it on streetmaps. Is Addington Hills the place with the Chinese restautant in the middle or am I getting confused.. .

Yep, you got it! Random placement if ever there was.

You can thank me for riding in Croham Woods.

Back in the 90s they put up no cycling signs in there.

I fought the man and got the taken down.

3 cheers for me.

Zippykona, I remember getting thrown out of Croham Woods a few times in the 90s...not far from there now and often think about taking the bike in there when walking through. Cheers!

Holy thread resurrection! Croham hurst is a cracking spot, though I haven’t ventured of the bridle way unless I’m running. I really need to go for an explore this weekend.

Went for a we walk over Farthing downs and happy valley last weekend. Looked like some very promising bridleways around.

Croham Hurst I've always thought was one of, if not the most, contentious of the little bits of woodland in that area and for years have avoided it as such (except the bridleway). Is it OK/OKish? I've been moaned at in most of them over the years I think, but Croham always seemed the worst.

Haven't done it for a while but we used to do a loop from Warlingham Green going Kingswood -> Selsdon Wood (I had to look the name up on the map) -> Littleheath Woods -> Addington Hills -> Mad Mile/Addington playing fields -> Keston and home via the white bear.

There's plenty of riding to be had around Happy Valley (Farthing Downs) and on into Chaldon. Couple of trails tucked away near the aerodrome. Get further afield and there's Limspfield Chart and more.

Keyboard99- happy to show you around if we can find a mutually convenient time! Alternatively I ride with Redhill and we work our way around the area over time.

Thanks for those ideas. I had a look around a few bridleway websites and can see a lot of those.

Would be great to get out with someone for an easy explore...just don't laugh at my bike or fitness level 😀

Happy to show you round mate, normally try and get out on a Sunday morning although I dont currently have a working bike.

I could be keen as well for a Sunday ride at some point. Not the fittest so I wouldn't worry about anyone laughing!

Excellent Sunday AM is probably the best time for me also being I don't usually have any Dads Taxi duties.

Ok sounds good guys. Hoping to get a bike back up and working in the next week or two. Feel free to private message me in the mean time and we can sort something out.