Over the summer I’ve discovered two more tough ascents in the Surrey Hills.
Both lead through the woods up to Winterfold Heath, deep in the Hurtwood Forest set high above Cranleigh.
The Hurtwood is one of the largest privately owned estates in Surrey.
Mercifully, most of it is accessible on a dense network of footpaths, one of which is an ancient Roman road.
Maps below:
Alderbrook Road (A to B); Barhatch Lane (D to C)
The two ascents are different.
Barhatch Lane starts easily enough in the northern outskirts of Cranleigh, before becoming relentlessly tougher and fearsomely steep in the final pitch.
Alderbrook Road offers a steadier incline, replete with a left hand hairpin in the middle section and a long haul through a deeply sunken lane towards the top.
And while Barhatch Lane is steeper, arguably Alderbrook Road is a more classic climb, typical of the short, sharp ascents to be found amongst the Surrey Hills.
It’s great to have so many challenging cycling routes so close to hand, even if it doesn’t always feel that way at halfway to the top.
Barhatch Lane to Winterfold (Surrey Hills):
Base: 80 m. Top: 230 m. Vertical: 150 m.
Length of climb: 1.5 mile / 2.42 km. Average gradient: 6.2 %. Maximum: 21 %.
Alderbrook Road to Winterfold (Surrey Hills):
Base: 65 m. Top: 188 m. Vertical: 123 m.
Length of climb: 1.0 mile / 1.61 km. Average gradient: 7.6 %. Maximum: c. 14 %.
Related articles:
223. Cycling on Surrey and Sussex hills – from White Down to Ditchling Beacon
153. The green monster – Ditchling Beacon and the London to Brighton bike ride
225. Running on Roman Road 2 – from Stane Street to Guildford
149. In at the deep end – Stratford 220 Sprint Triathlon
155. Le grand départ – the Tour de France in London 2007
113. The Pilgrim’s Progress – Surrey Hills 2
roads of stone 