The Surrey Hills, south of London, are a cycling mecca, particularly for those living in the city and looking to escape!
Head for the Hills is our local bike shop. It’s small, independent and based in Dorking, in the heart of the Surrey Hills. We’ve used them for years and always received a friendly, prompt service.
We know the Surrey Hills like the back of our hand, but it’s always good to get a fresh perspective so, in celebration of Local Bike Shop Day, we thought we’d catch up with Dan, the owner of Head for the Hills and ask him about his favourite Surrey Hills cycle routes and his top tips for riding in the area.
Part 1: Riding in the Surrey Hills
1. Where are you based and what’s it like?
We’re based in Dorking in the Surrey Hills.
The Surrey Hills provide some really challenging, interesting and beautiful riding. They may not have the elevation of some parts of the UK, but don’t underestimate them! Think short, sharp climbs and descents, with lots of twisty, turny back lanes through chocolate box villages.
2. What’s the most famous Surrey Hills cycle route?
Undoubtedly Box Hill, made famous by its starring role in the London 2012 Olympics road race, and now apparently one of the most Stravaed sections in the world! It also has a big part to play in the annual RideLondon that passes through Dorking and over Box Hill and nearby Leith Hill too.
You can find out more about RideLondon in our guide, here.
Box Hill is a pretty straightforward 2km / 5% climb, and most locals would argue it’s one of the easier climbs in the area. If you just ride out to Dorking, loop around Box Hill, and head home again, you’ve missed the best bits of the area for sure.
View south over Dorking and the countryside from Box Hill
View from the road at Box Hill3. What’s your favourite route in the surrey hills?
I love the narrow, twisty back lanes. They’re very pretty to ride, and lots of fun too.
Weare Street from Ockley and Shophouse Lane from Farley Green are two of my favourites, great in either direction. As a complete route, the annual Legs of Steel sportive captures the area perfectly.
You can find our favourite Surrey Hills rides, here.
4. What are your best tips for someone cycling in the area for the first time?
Firstly, don’t underestimate it. Our hills are small, but they’re steep and there are a lot of them.
Secondly, turn off your Garmin and Strava, and make sure to take in the lanes and the scenery, it’s a really important part of the Surrey Hills experience.
Lanes through pretty villages
Autumn colours are fantastic in the wooded lanes of Surrey5. Are there any really good café stops in your area?
As I start and finish my rides in Dorking, then the high street is great for an end of ride stop as there are lots of choices, or Peaslake Village Stores for a mid-stop ride – their cheese straws are legendary.
6. Is there anything that we shouldn’t miss?
If you want to make sure you’ve ridden the biggest challenges in the area then add Barhatch Lane and White Down into your route.
Check out this ride guide if you want full details! This is what the map/profile looks like:
Or, if you’re looking for something particularly masochistic then try the infamous Leith Hill Octopus!
7. What’s the best village/town/city for us to stay in to explore the area?
Dorking is the hub of it all, with hills in pretty much every direction, lots of great pubs and cafes, a giant cockerel statue, and an awesome bike shop too – what’s not to love about it?
Our guide to the Surrey Hills has lots of info on Dorking and places to stay.
8. What’s the best time of year to visit?
With lots of riding through woodland, then Spring is a particularly pretty time of year when the bluebells are out, as well as Autumn, when the beech leaves are turning.
Part 2: Your shop
9. Why should people visit your shop?
The workshop is the heart of our shop, so whether you need a quick tune-up or a full service, we’re here for you.
With the area being such a popular riding spot, we also do a lot of mid-ride emergency repairs. We’ll always try to keep people pedalling if we can.
We also know bike shops can sometimes feel intimidating, so we pride ourselves on being friendly and approachable. We all live and ride locally, so we’re always happy to give advice to anyone visiting the area.
10. Where can people find you?
43-44 West Street, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 1BU
01306 885007
www.head-for-the-hills.co.uk / shop@head-for-the-hills.co.uk
Opening Times: Monday – Saturday: 9am-6pm / Sunday: closed
Parking: There is a small pay and display car park on West Street just past our shop, or if you combine a visit to us with your Waitrose shop, you get two hours free parking in their car park.
Big thanks to Dan from Head for the Hills for sharing his insights on riding in the Surrey Hills!
Want more UK cycling destinations?
Take a look at our in-depth guides to cycling in the Surrey Hills and the Isle of Wight!
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