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Cycling in Epsom and Ewell
Recent improvements in cycling facilitiesEpsom and Ewell are blessed with a network of small lanes which in ancient times were important pedestrian thoroughfares, but more recently have been greatly under used. TheEpsom and Ewell Borough Council, with the support and advice of local cycling groups, has put much more emphasis on provision for cyclists within the borough in recent years. Many of the small lanes have been designated for joint pedestrian and cycle use, and this has given a great head start to providing a network of recreational cycle routes around the borough. Amongst the new developments and facilities for cyclists are:
The Epsom Cycling ForumThe Epsom Cycling Forum meets twice or three times a year to discuss cycling provision with responsble officers of the Council and to be informed of plans affecting cyclists. The minutes of some recent meetings are attached. The date of the next meeting is Monday 18th September 2000. Please notify Alan Flaherty at 01-372 732 000. If you would like to have any matter affecting cycling in the borough raised at this meeting.. There are vacancies from time to time for leisure cyclists and for commuter cyclists. Please notify Alan if youwould like to be considered for a vacancy. The Epsom & Ewell Cycle Forum is one of a number in the country, meeting 3-4 times a year to give local cyclists the opportunity to discuss cycling provision with the local authority officer responsible. Despite our efforts, progress is frustratingly slow as the record of the last meeting on 28th February 2000 illustrates:
Cycling Route MapThe "Epsom and Ewell Cycle Guide, 1998" contains a very detailed colour map of all the cycle routes in the Borough. It is highly recommended, and can be obtained from Mr. Alan Flaherty, Cylcing Officer, Epsom Town Hall, The Parade, Epsom, KT18 5BY (telephone:01-372 732 319 or can be downloaded frpm the Internet at http://www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/highwy1.htmThe None Such Cycle Way.This cycle route follows, with one exception, the signed cycleways recently laid out by the Epsom and Ewell Borough council. It is helpful to have the Epsom and Ewell Cycle Guide, 1998You are strongly advised to get a copy of this guide, since the map will be very helpful. We have tried to make these directions as clear as possible, but inevitably there will be room for improvement, and The route goes to all corners of the borough, from Worcester Park in the north to the southern tip of the Borough beyond Walton Downs, and from the western point in Epsom Common to the east in Nonsuch Park. The total route length is 16 miles. There are four car parks on the route, and parking is also available on many of the minor roads, so that you can (if you have to!) put your bike on the back of the car to get to the start.
Turn right up the hill on Holmwood Road, which later changes its name to Queensmead Avenue as it goes down the other side to the T-junction.(1.67) with Cheam Road (the main A232) Turn left here on the green pavement cycle route, cross to the green reservation in the centre of the carriageway where indicated, and turn right up Banstead Road for a short distance. Turn right by the blue cycle arrow (1.83) (opposite the Bridle Path), onto the signed cycle route past the playing fields and then the NE Surrey College of Technology. (From this point, you will be going straight on for 1.2 miles) At the toucan crossing (2.90) on the main Reigate Road (A240). cross over and continue straight on down the small lane opposite you, crossing a number of small roads on the way, and then through Alexandra Park () Cross Alexandra Road at the toucan crossing. (2.90) Continue straight on leading into Bridle Road. At the T-junction (3.06), turn right into Albert Road, and at the end, turn sharp left into College Road, and then follow the road round to the right into Grove Road () At the T-junction, turn right on Church Street (B280) and left into Worple Road (which has humps). At the T-junction (3.74) turn left on Ashley Road for 100 yards, going straight over the roundabout, and turning left up the hill on Downs Hill Road. At the junction (3.95) at the top, continue straight on uphill on a bridleway. which crosses Down Road (4.16) and then joins another bridleway known as Rifle Butts Alley, which leads up a stony track onto the Downs. At the top, there is a confusing junction of tracks; you turn left and then take the left fork which leads over Epsom Golf Course. Go straight over the junction with another chalk lane by a tee (4.91) to Grand Stand Road(5.05), which you go straight across. The track continues straight on through a wood, and then into the open briefly to reach the Tattenham Corner Road roundabout (5.29). Take the third exit down the road crossing the racecourse for 50 yards, and then Continue straight on across Epsom Downs, and then cross the other arm of the racecourse. Keep straight on with a wood on your right and open country on your left. Go straight across an X-junction with another track (which you will use on the way back). The track now has woods both sides, and is skirting the top of Langley Vale. At the T-junction with a house opposite turn left, and turn left again when you get to the gallops. This forms the borough boundary. (Purists will turn right here for 200 yards to get to the southernmost tip of the borough, and then return to this point). Continue parallel to the gallops, sometimes in the wood, along a small sandy track and then across open stony ground to a cross-roads with four gateposts. Turn left on a wide track. Continue straight on (over the junction you crossed before), across the race course and on a tarmac private road down the dip, with the Grandstand visible on your right. Cross the racecourse and then turn left over the bridge (6.47) over Langley Vale Road, and follow the path into Chalk Lane. This is a public road, but with hardly any traffic since it is a dead-end for cars. Turn left, down the steep hill for just short of a mile, past the Durdans with its stables which has one of the largest indoor riding schools in England to reach the Chalk Lane Hotel (7.20) and the fine old houses surrounding it. Go straight on, and at the T-junction with a public house (The Ladas, which turns out to be the name of a racehorse) turn left into Woodcote Green Road. The road bends left, and soon after your form right on Woodcote Side (7.77) After 100 yards, there is a dirt road off to the left, and a path across grassland, signed "Footpath Dorking Road" which takes you to the main Dorking Road (A24). Go straight over into (8.15) Wells Road, crossing the railway, and the back of the Wells estate. Where the road bends left into the Wells Estate, there is a short diversion, not included in the mileage, past the shops to the Wells Centre, and then left down an alleyway to the well which gave Epsom salts their name. The well has been resorted by the council, and has an inscription around it "The Epsom Well - The medicinal waters that in the 17th century made Epsom the first spa town in England, and a great resort and famous throughout Europe) Back at the bend in the road, Ignore two tracks to your right, and (8.54) and follow the third track, marked with a white bike emblem on a wooden board, and fork left at the unmarked fork just beyond it. Continue straight on across Epsom Common to the stew pond, where you follow the path along the edge of the pond, and then into a wood. which leads you to Christ Church Road. (9.30) Almost straight opposite you, follow a track through woodland to the gates of West Park Hospital (9.71) Keep straight on down West Park Road to the grass island at its junction with Horton Road. (10.14). Turn left down a track in front of a derelict house. This track leads to another derelict house. Just before the house, there is a gap in the right hand hedge to another track which leads off to the left into a horse meadow. Keep to the right hand hedge to the gate with a squeeze gate for cyclists. Turn left on this track, and at the signpost with a white cycle on it, turn right. and then straight on for a long way along the western edge of the Horton Country Park to arrive at a roundabout (12.21) on Chessington Road (B2200). Turn left along the main road. The Bonesgate Stream which forms the borough boundary is at the bottom of a dip. Just before it, follow the path on the right between the Moor Lane, Chessington and Chessington Road Epsom signs. (12.40) Follow this path with the stream on your right. Ignore the little bridge across the stream, and continue on to the junction with the Hogsmilll River, which comes in from your right. (13.30) Cross the bridge and continue down the riverbank, round the back of some flats, until you come out abruptly on the Kingston Road. (13.50) The remaining section is not an official cycle way, but, after turning right for 200 yards on the Kingston Road, is on quiet roads. Turn right to cycle on the pavement down to the traffic lights. Cross the road at the lights, and walk over to the service road running alongside the Kingston Road for 200 yards. Turn left on Grafton Road which later becomes The Avenue. Take the seventh turning on the right which is Woodlands Avenue. (14.74) Continue straight on over two roundabouts and then turn left (15.02) into Dewsbury Gardens. Go straight over the cross-roads, under the railway bridge. (You are now in the Borough of Sutton for a short distance!) Turn right (15.10) into Stoneleigh Avenue. At the roundabout at the top of the hill (15.46) turn left into Sparrows Farm Road which leads you back to the traffic lights (1.17) to the main London Road (A24). Turn right at the traffic lights, and the Nonsuch Park car park where you started is just up the road on your left. (16.00)! The Surrey CyclewayThe Surrey Cycleway is a circular route with 6 main sections shown below. A leaflet with an outline map of the route and brief descriptions of the places of interest is available from the County cycling Officer, Surrey County Council, County Hall, Kingston, KT1 2DY
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