From smooth, iconic ascents to brutally steep lanes that never seem to end, here are ten of the best and toughest climbs in the Surrey Hills – climbs every rider should experience at least once.
The Virginia Water Loop cycling route is a shorter alternative to the Windsor rides with a picturesque loop around Virginia Water, with a café stop overlooking the water.
The Classic Surrey Hills (shorter version) cycling route tackles three of the local hills. Firstly, the route tackles Staple Lane which rises up to the Shere Woodlands before a steep descent down Combe Lane, followed by a hard right and second sharp climb up Crock North through Effingham Forest to Ranmore Common. The subsequent descent down through Ashcombe Wood is followed by the iconic Box Hill climb. This in turn is followed by a long descent and the return leg to East Molsey.
The Deep Kent Woods cycling route extends the Chiddingstone-based routes with a longer loop deeper into Kent (indeed to the edge of East Sussex).
The Classic Surrey Hills (Long Version) cycling route is the other classic London Dynamo ride in the area. This one tackles five notable climbs. After the Staple Lane climb the route descends into Shere before climbing again up Peaslake Lane, and then Leith Hill. A fourth significant climb up to Ranmore Common is followed by the usual descent and Box Hill climb.
The Frensham Pond cycling route in the Surrey Hills heads out to the heathland and ponds beyond Guildford. After one large climb up Staple Lane to the Shere Woodlands the route turns away from the hills and begins a rolling route. Looping wide of Guildford, it heads through heathland to the area south of Godalming. From there it takes a loop around the ponds at Frensham.