Guildford / Cobham mtb ?

Is Peaslake a good place to head with the mtb ? Yes
Is it waymarked No, but plenty on Trailforks
, or a case of downloading a gpx file? You could do that, nice way to get a route
In miid December are trails rideable? As good as anywhere so long as you don’t stray as far as Redlands that can be very soggy or north of the A25 unless you like mud and slippy chalk

Is there any where better within 1hrs drive of Guildford / Cobham? Dunno but Peaslake is certainly a good place to go

Swinley forest would be reachable, signposted trails for the blue and red. More manicured than peaslake but not necessarily worse, depends on what you fancy.

FYI the m25/a3 junction is absolute dogshit at the moment regardless of which direction you approach it from.

Or if you want brain out waymarked fun you could try Rogate, I don’t think it’s far from Guildford. It’s pretty all weather apart from maybe a bit of a puddle at the bottom. Needs to be premeditated though as you have to sign up at B1KE and buy a ticket.

Rogate holds up very well in the winter but at the moment is probably longer to get to. J10 of the M25 is terrible due to roadworks

Peaslake is great. As mentioned most of the trails are on Trailforks app.

Gets busy in the car park in the summer but probably much less busier in December.  I'd just tag along with anyone in the car park who's pretty local.... they definitely won't mind and will know all the best runs.

Which Saturday in December?

DrP 

Thanks for the advice.

I will probably decide where to go nearer the time. I didn't realise Swinley Forest was fairly close too. The ability to just turn up and follow signs is appealing !

Its only to give me something to do other than standing at the side of a football pitch watching a training session.

DrP - mid December, why is there some event or something going on at either site?

I'd say Peaslake is a perfect spot for the day in winter, most of it drains really well and there is so, so much to ride. Grab a GPX file or tag along with a group leaving the carpark.

On Swinley, I would head to Peaslake 7 days out of 7 over Swinley, especially in winter. In my experience Swinley becomes one long puddle after rain and its really gritty so bike killing and unpleasant. Saying that, even in summer I prefer Surrey hills riding over Swinley.

DrP – mid December, why is there some event or something going on at either site?

Nah - just thinking if it's a weekend I don't have the kids, I could come show you round!

<br />DrP

Whatever you do get out of ghastly Guildford

Nah – just thinking if it’s a weekend I don’t have the kids, I could come show you round!

Thank you appreciate the offer, but I would only hold you up. I am riding a knackerd 15 yr old mtb, and a rider with 2 knakcerd hips. Sometimes I can ride 20miles without issue, sometimes I get on a bike manage 100yds and have to stop 🙁

Peaslake is better than Swinley, but OTOH is more natural, and it's harder to navigate a full route on Trailforks IMHO as you don't really know what each trail is like. It's also hillier and if you choose badly can end up with some long and / or steep climbs. Better done with some sort of hand, either a guide or someone setting a route for you.

Swinley despite its detractors is still good fun. If it has been very wet then it can as noted be very gritty, but one long puddle is over-exaggeration, TBF. 

Given what you said I think Swinley is the blander but safer option, you won't get lost, it's easier to cut short or loop back and do a trail again if you like it, and so on. If you feel more adventurous, then there are plenty on here who'll help you with a decent Surrey Hills route.

And there's nothing wrong with Guildford either. Very middle class commuter town but nice pubs and cafes and places to eat once you've had enough of riding. Where are you staying? 

+1 Peaslake, mashed up with Holmbury and Leith Hill etc.

Walking Bottom CP probably the best place to park. Like others have said, TrailForks has a good mix of trails or else hook up with someone. Loads and loads of trails - everything from swoopy ST to steep, gnarly, jumpy stuff.

Swinley is okay to do once in a while, but lots of it is plain dull. Some of the way marking is odd too.

To be fair to Swinley they've made some improvements lately.  I only tend to ride the marked loop with my daughter, but they've updated the signposting and it's now easier to find your way round (they've also added some 'features' in confusing places (uphill pedal to a tabletop anyone?).  Also they've done some top work on the clubhouse trails and there's 5 to choose from (ironically Babymaker being the blandest of the lot these days).  The updated Berminator and Bikini Line are fantastic fun, my group have avoided it for a couple of years, but the (very jumpy) kids now actually want to go there to tide the new lines.

If you're more Guildford than Cobham based, you could head South instead down the A3 to Queen Elizabeth Country Park? The Red and Blue there I find a lot more fun than Swinley and probably only 40 mins from Guildford? Easy to find and navigate the trails and you can do anything from 4 miles (one lap of the blue) upwards and still have fun.

Better cafe too!

Surrey Hills is great if you know where you're going, but can be a slog if you don't piece together the trails in a sensible way.

Depends on what type of riding you do/want.

I don't think there's much better than Surrey Hills, great natural trails with everything from flowy to techy and drops and jumps if that's your bag.

Personally speaking, and yes it is just my personal view, I'd rather a dose of the clap than bother with Swinley, but horses for courses I guess 😂👍

@jfab - What is QECP like in the winter? I have a mate who has recently moved near there and I plan to visit at some point so might take the bike when I do.

@hooli the off-piste stuff gets very slick, lots of chalky sections which are super-slippy when wet/once the top layer of summer mud/loam/whatever gets rinsed away.

The official Blue/Red hold up pretty well, with plenty of roots to keep the heartrate elevated and you do get some puddling in the bottom of berms/compressions. I actually really enjoy it for an hour or so blast in the winter around the main trails, I'm not brave/skilled enough without a bit more acclimatisation to ride the cheeky steep stuff in the winter without sliding down half of it on my backside.

Surrey Hills is great if you know where you’re going, but can be a slog if you don’t piece together the trails in a sensible way.

The first time I went there, I'd worked out where BKB is from the internet - that's easy - and otherwise rode up Pitch Hill talking to people about where to find the good stuff. It was midweek, not particularly busy, but everyone I spoke to was friendly and helpful. The runs aren't really long enoug to worry about riding some of the rubbish ones.

Swinley has made a lot improvements, as pointed out above. I always thought it was less muddy than Surrey Hills and I suspect the latest improvements will make it better still in winter. A few winters a go, I even did it with 30cm snow on the ground.

Having said that I do always mix Surrey Hills and Swinley with more time in the former.

Thanks @jfab, I'll give it a go.

@hooli if you do fancy the steeper/more off-piste end of the spectrum, the Southern Enduro trails are *ahem* definitely not there to enjoy all year too with a bit of research on Strava/Trailforks.

But even ignoring those, it's well worth half a day exploring and riding regardless if you're in the area.

Thank you all I went to Swinley purely because I could turn up and not worry about navigation. It ticked that box the majority of the time

its hard pack all the way through so no problems with it being rideable

However it was a bit dull, super smooth trail with super smooth berms, corner after corner. I’d say it was more dull than Sherwood Pines which is a very similar place.

But it served its purpose .

Still the whole weekend was about being here and just killing a bit of time in between

you weren't riding it fast enough then, etc.

However it was a bit dull, super smooth trail with super smooth berms, corner after corner.

I don't tend to do the blue/red loop at Swinley for this very reason, if I go I/we just tend to session the clubhouse runs plus whatever off piste is not in a logging zone.

Pleased it worked for a quick spin. In fairness,  we did warn you up there that Surrey hills would be more interesting 😉