CYCLING IN SURREY | Bradt cycling guide

CYCLING GUIDE

Bradt's new cycling guide to Surrey - part of a growing series designed for the saddle bag - offers 21 routes, each including comprehensive directions plus contextual exploration of history, wildlife and culture, written by avid cyclist and historian Ross Hamilton. Each route links to OS Explorer maps and, where relevant, National Cycle Network routes, while QR codes connect with downloadable GPX maps via the komoot app, enabling navigation by smartphone. With a dedicated bike-hire section (so you have an alternative if your bicycle isn't suitable for a particular ride) and accommodation suggestions, this book is an indispensable travel companion for two-wheeled adventures.

Once a relatively sparsely populated and rustic area despite its proximity to London, present-day Surrey is prime commuter-belt territory. Even so, the county has not lost its rural charm. As well as boasting many Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it is England's most wooded county and is riddled with rivers including England's longest, the mighty Thames. Moreover, Surrey has a long connection with cycling. When the riding craze first hit Britain in the 1800s, the ride between the Surrey towns of Thames Ditton and Ripley was quickly dubbed the 'Mecca of all good cyclists'. Surrey roads once made up much of the annual RideLondon event, itself an extension of the 2012 Olympic road-cycling route.