Kent, ‘the Garden of England’, offers some of the most beautiful scenery and rewarding cycle routes anywhere in England. It also can involve some very challenging hills, both short sharp shocks to the system, and some long drawn out climbs and subsequent very fast descents.
The Biggin Hill Loop is a relatively quick blast out of South London, around the top of the first ridge of the Downs by Biggin Hill.
Starting point: Gails Bakery, Clapham Old Town.
Suggested café stop: Sheree’s Store and Tearoom, Tatsfield (30 km).
The Kent Ramp Hunter is a relatively short but VERY challenging ride that takes on some of the steepest climbs in the area.
The long climb up Downe Road turns nasty at the end (hitting 20%) and sets the tone for the rest of the ride with Hogtrough Hill, White Lane, and Hesier’s Hill lying in wait. Expect to hit your max heart rate.
Starting point: Gails Bakery, Clapham Old Town.
Suggested café stop: Velobarn, Pilgrim’s Way (45km).
The Knatt’s Valley ride goes a bit further east along the Pilgrim’s Way between the ridges of the Downs before turning left for a fairly steep climb up through Rowdow Wood. The route then descends into the picturesque Knatt’s Valley.
Starting point: Gails Bakery, Clapham Old Town.
Suggested café stop: Lullingstone Park Café (59km).
The Chiddingstone & Bough Beech Loop crosses two ridges of the Downs, first over Biggin Hill via the Beddlestead and then over Ide Hill which offers one of the longer but steadier climbs and exhilarating descents.
The route meanders towards the pretty village of Chiddingstone before looping round to cross the Bough Beech reservoir and bird sanctuary.
Starting point: Gails Bakery, Clapham Old Town.
Suggested Café: Tulip Café, Chiddingstone (49 km).
The Chiddingstone & Hever Loop is a bit more challenging than the loop via Bough Beech. Instead of turning around to go back up Ide Hill, the route takes a bucolic loop to the south. It then turns north up past Hever Castle before a climb up the south side of the infamous Toys Hill. An exciting descent down the north side (Brasted Chart) almost makes that climb worth it.
Starting point: Gail’s Bakery, Clapham Old Town.
Suggested Café: Tullip Café, Chiddingstone (49km).
The Long Kent Hills Route winds its way backwards and forwards across two ridges of the Downs to rack up an impressive amount of elevation. Climbs include The Enterdent, Crockham Hill, Titsey Hill, Brasted Chart (the steadier but longer north side of Toys Hill), Ide Hill, and then Sundridge Hill before the return journey to London.
Starting point: Gails Bakery, Clapham Old Town,
Suggested Café: Ide Hill Community Shop (88km).