Discussion
okgo said:
The only hard way up the hill is Coldharbour Lane IMO.
As said though, if you want a little challenge on the way back then Whitedown is a good one.
I don't know why but I really like Whitedown. Part of my usual MTB route in Surrey Hills takes me up there for the small piece of Singletrack on the way back down. You tend to get some strange looks off riders and drivers when you're heading up there on a full sus mtb! As said though, if you want a little challenge on the way back then Whitedown is a good one.
Are we talking road or MTB?
I've only done it on the road, and approach from Box Hill on Coldharbour Lane through Dorking. I do indeed go around to Leith Hill Rd/Hollow Lane via Abinger Road.
It's very disappointing to find that I've been doing it all wrong, and I'm actually a big girly girl
In my defence, though, I've usually done Combe (up), Staple (down & up), Green Dene, Crocknorth (up), Whitedown (down and up) and thence to Box Hill via Westhumble on Ranmore Common Rd on the way out, so I excuse myself from the right turn up Whitedown, and head back to the car at Newlands Corner, usually accompanied (sadly) by verbal abuse from at least one driver on that last climb.
I haven't ridden there since January this year, due to lacking a road bike since I was knocked off mine in early Feb. It's a very nice place to ride, but the road surfaces leave a lot to be desired, Combe Lane/Green Dene is often a right mess with slippery leaves, and Leith Hill is a nightmare after it has rained, with water running off the surrounding woodland turning the roads into running rivers. It is a great area, though, for packing a fair bit of climbing into a comparatively short ride.
I've only done it on the road, and approach from Box Hill on Coldharbour Lane through Dorking. I do indeed go around to Leith Hill Rd/Hollow Lane via Abinger Road.
It's very disappointing to find that I've been doing it all wrong, and I'm actually a big girly girl
In my defence, though, I've usually done Combe (up), Staple (down & up), Green Dene, Crocknorth (up), Whitedown (down and up) and thence to Box Hill via Westhumble on Ranmore Common Rd on the way out, so I excuse myself from the right turn up Whitedown, and head back to the car at Newlands Corner, usually accompanied (sadly) by verbal abuse from at least one driver on that last climb.
I haven't ridden there since January this year, due to lacking a road bike since I was knocked off mine in early Feb. It's a very nice place to ride, but the road surfaces leave a lot to be desired, Combe Lane/Green Dene is often a right mess with slippery leaves, and Leith Hill is a nightmare after it has rained, with water running off the surrounding woodland turning the roads into running rivers. It is a great area, though, for packing a fair bit of climbing into a comparatively short ride.
okgo said:
The only hard way up the hill is Coldharbour Lane IMO.
As said though, if you want a little challenge on the way back then Whitedown is a good one.
How can you say that?! I know Coldharbour Lane is a long drag and not easy, but if you go that way, you come out on to Leith Hill Rd with only 600m to go to the top and 46m of height to climb. You've had a bit of recovery and descent along Abinger Rd, you've also missed the steepest part of the climb, and if you time your approach to the junction right, you can actually hit that part of the hill at a good speed and be over the summit fairly easily.As said though, if you want a little challenge on the way back then Whitedown is a good one.
If you come at it from Ockley, it is 2.1km, and 132m from bottom to top.
http://www.strava.com/segments/944629
Both routes are tough climbs, but I'd have to agree with Rob and say that Coldharbour is the tougher route IMO. Leith Hill feels shorter with a ramp up at the end, Coldharbour is a tougher drag.
I'd also add Henhurst/Anstie lane into the mix, as that's an equally hard slog...
http://www.strava.com/segments/646518
I'd also add Henhurst/Anstie lane into the mix, as that's an equally hard slog...
http://www.strava.com/segments/646518
Daveyraveygravey said:
okgo said:
The only hard way up the hill is Coldharbour Lane IMO.
As said though, if you want a little challenge on the way back then Whitedown is a good one.
How can you say that?! I know Coldharbour Lane is a long drag and not easy, but if you go that way, you come out on to Leith Hill Rd with only 600m to go to the top and 46m of height to climb. You've had a bit of recovery and descent along Abinger Rd, you've also missed the steepest part of the climb, and if you time your approach to the junction right, you can actually hit that part of the hill at a good speed and be over the summit fairly easily.As said though, if you want a little challenge on the way back then Whitedown is a good one.
If you come at it from Ockley, it is 2.1km, and 132m from bottom to top.
http://www.strava.com/segments/944629
Edited by el stovey on Monday 8th December 13:31
Nobody's mentioned Tanhurst Lane yet, tougher IMO than both Coldharbour Lane & Leith Hill Lane.
Of course you could go the whole hog and do the Leith Hill Octopus, 8 different routes up
http://www.strava.com/activities/208689227
Of course you could go the whole hog and do the Leith Hill Octopus, 8 different routes up
http://www.strava.com/activities/208689227
el stovey said:
Quite right. To me, It's harder from the south via Leith Hill Ln. than the gradual climb most people take coming from london via Abinger and coldharbour.
Yes we hold our club hill climb up that side, I don't think its particularly tough, I think the other way is harder. There again I haven't ridden the other way for a while, I was probably unfit when I last did so maybe you're right.Edited by el stovey on Monday 8th December 13:31
Tanhurst has been resurfaced.
Harder still is Chalkpit Lane, but that might be Kent, Kent has much harder hills than Surrey I think.
Well i managed it 
I was not sure which way to go so i just followed the olympic route up coldharbour lane,
Was tough for an old boy like me but well worth it, especially the desent into Wotton.
Unfortunately i got a puncture at Leatherhead & my hands were freezing & there it was... a cycle shop, like an oasis in the dessert. Hot cup of tea & £14.00 poorer.
They say that Bayhatch lane is a good one to tackle.
I was not sure which way to go so i just followed the olympic route up coldharbour lane,
Was tough for an old boy like me but well worth it, especially the desent into Wotton.
Unfortunately i got a puncture at Leatherhead & my hands were freezing & there it was... a cycle shop, like an oasis in the dessert. Hot cup of tea
& £14.00 poorer.They say that Bayhatch lane is a good one to tackle.
Black can man said:
Well i managed it
I was not sure which way to go so i just followed the olympic route up coldharbour lane,
Was tough for an old boy like me but well worth it, especially the desent into Wotton.
Unfortunately i got a puncture at Leatherhead & my hands were freezing & there it was... a cycle shop, like an oasis in the dessert. Hot cup of tea & £14.00 poorer.
They say that Bayhatch lane is a good one to tackle.
Do you mean Barhatch Lane near Cranleigh? I'd say that's the toughest in the area - long slow gradually increasing gradient until the last bit is an absolute bI was not sure which way to go so i just followed the olympic route up coldharbour lane,
Was tough for an old boy like me but well worth it, especially the desent into Wotton.
Unfortunately i got a puncture at Leatherhead & my hands were freezing & there it was... a cycle shop, like an oasis in the dessert. Hot cup of tea
& £14.00 poorer.They say that Bayhatch lane is a good one to tackle.
d. If you're ever in Sussex have a go at Bignor Hill, which is the opposite - very very steep at the bottom with a ropy surface and then about a mile of less steep climbing to the top which is a dead end.Daveyraveygravey said:
Do you mean Barhatch Lane near Cranleigh? I'd say that's the toughest in the area - long slow gradually increasing gradient until the last bit is an absolute bd. If you're ever in Sussex have a go at Bignor Hill, which is the opposite - very very steep at the bottom with a ropy surface and then about a mile of less steep climbing to the top which is a dead end.
Yes i do , oops, the chap in the cycle shop wrote it down for me, i've just miss read it,d. If you're ever in Sussex have a go at Bignor Hill, which is the opposite - very very steep at the bottom with a ropy surface and then about a mile of less steep climbing to the top which is a dead end.Will give it a go on Weds
Daveyraveygravey said:
There's a sign at the bottom that says 22% (I think) and it's nothing like that for ages. I think it even goes downhill briefly but then it starts...and keeps ramping up. If it's wet you may struggle with grip which always makes climbing hard (!)
Cheers mate, your'e really selling it to me ajk said:
Nobody's mentioned Tanhurst Lane yet, tougher IMO than both Coldharbour Lane & Leith Hill Lane.
Of course you could go the whole hog and do the Leith Hill Octopus, 8 different routes up
http://www.strava.com/activities/208689227
That looks like a pretty good training route, I think I'll have to download that and give it a crack when it warms up a bit Of course you could go the whole hog and do the Leith Hill Octopus, 8 different routes up
http://www.strava.com/activities/208689227
Agree with the comments above re. Barhatch (nr Cranleigh) being the toughest climb in the Guildford/Cranleigh area, White Down 2nd I reckon.
Chalkpit Lane is further east (just in Surrey I think but near the Surrey/Kent/Sussex border) and agreed it's a bit of a fekker!
Nearby are also White Lane (used in the BEC Hill Climb - also a bit of a fekker) and Kidd's Hill (The Wall - not so bad but still a tough enough climb).
You can see all 3 on this ride - http://www.strava.com/activities/211465957
Chalkpit Lane is further east (just in Surrey I think but near the Surrey/Kent/Sussex border) and agreed it's a bit of a fekker!
Nearby are also White Lane (used in the BEC Hill Climb - also a bit of a fekker) and Kidd's Hill (The Wall - not so bad but still a tough enough climb).
You can see all 3 on this ride - http://www.strava.com/activities/211465957
For anyone looking for hills to climb this map (shows the climbs in both the 100 and another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs books) is really useful:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?msa=0&mid...
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?msa=0&mid...
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