Route Advice - SE London to Guildford

This uni term I've only got 2 days in each week (pfft, students), so I'm going to give it a go commuting by bike rather than the usual smelly train.

Not entirely sure of a good route though, current plan (from home in Bromley) is to get to Redhill via New Addington valley, Woldingham, Godstone then just stay on the A25 all the way in.

Anyone else done SE London -> Guildford? I think there's a London to Brighton route via Guildford, but can't find one that passes anywhere near Bromley.

I planned this route as a nice back road route to Winchester. It passes close to Guildford so you could adapt it maybe? Biggest problem is that it is quite complicated. This is what has stopped me doing the route myself as I would spend more time map reading than cycling. Good luck non the less.

the route that you are talking about is probably the best, but it is a gruelling route to ride, might want to try going through epsom, leatherhead etc....

Gruelling what way? Traffic? The elevation profile for it on Bikely looks pretty tame, the worst bit is the first 20k which isn't too bad.

I might give it a go through Epsom to Leathead then pick up Tommy's route down through Cobham and Horsley. I've got a GPS so complexity isn't a problem.

there is a river that runs all the way to guilford from the thames i think might take a tad longer but would be more enjoyable
personally i would go the tranquil route spotting otters and voles along the way
avoid the m25 at all costs

If you have a gps have you seen GMapToGPX?

Putney Bridge, RP,Kingston, Esher, Cobham, Right at The Plough at Downside, Hatchford (Past the Mucky Duck), Ockham (Past The Hautboy) Hungry hill then right B4 the ladies prison. 1 mile of A3 to come off at Burpham interchange. Straight on to Guildford.
That should do it. Any probs?

If you have a gps have you seen GMapToGPX?

Yeah, that's what I'm planning on using. Well, either that or Bikely if it does a GPX convert.

Putney Bridge, RP,Kingston, Esher, Cobham, Right at The Plough at Downside, Hatchford (Past the Mucky Duck), Ockham (Past The Hautboy) Hungry hill then right B4 the ladies prison. 1 mile of A3 to come off at Burpham interchange. Straight on to Guildford.
That should do it. Any probs?

Yeah, getting to the route from Bromley?

Ride West to start with ;-)

Right, how about head for Chipstead, ride the Valley road to Kingswood, Dorking road, descend pebble hill then rip down the A25 to the left down Trodds lane. Winner!

You could ask CTC for suggestions, they're based in Guildford and presumably ride into London a lot

the route that you are talking about is probably the best, but it is a gruelling route to ride, might want to try going through epsom, leatherhead etc....

yeah the A232-A24-A246 wouldn't be that bad... I've done the route on the weekend from Addiscombe (not far from you) down to dorking then back past redhill and up biggin hill.

so I don't know the route on the 246 though

Putney Bridge, RP,Kingston, Esher, Cobham, Right at The Plough at Downside, Hatchford (Past the Mucky Duck), Ockham (Past The Hautboy) Hungry hill then right B4 the ladies prison. 1 mile of A3 to come off at Burpham interchange. Straight on to Guildford.
That should do it. Any probs?

thats the way i go (well from epsom) its a nice route

this sounds exactly the same as my journey, i usually get the train though. :(

report back if you manage it!
x

Will do.

First attempt will probably be week after next, depending on weather. Could always use a buddy if you're interested =)

Thread hijack... anyone got a favourite route from London (I'll be starting from Lewisham) to Tunbridge Wells? Considering doing [ame="http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/London-to-Royal-Tunbridge-Wells-via-Ide-Hill"]this

%22%5Dthis one[/ame] but it looks a bit hilly and I really want to do it fixed (48/16 :D)

Maybe I'll just go down the A20 again.

yeah the A232-A24-A246 wouldn't be that bad... I've done the route on the weekend from Addiscombe (not far from you) down to dorking then back past redhill and up biggin hill.

so I don't know the route on the 246 though

The -A24-A246 bits are fine. Main roads obviously but good for just getting the miles done. I used this route to go to Guildford (from Putney) a few times last year to visit my sister. There's a bit of a hill up from Leatherhead up to the A246 otherwise it is nicely undulating for fixed.

Thread hijack... anyone got a favourite route from London (I'll be starting from Lewisham) to Tunbridge Wells? Considering doing this one

but it looks a bit hilly and I really want to do it fixed (48/16 :D)

Maybe I'll just go down the A20 again.

I did this last year: [ame]http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/158182[/ame

[/ame] on the way to Bethersden in Kent.

Reasonable climb up from Croydon past Sanderstead up to Warlingham. Screaming descent down Titsey Hill. Lumpy through Crockham Hill, Four Elms, Penshurst and Bidborough.

Fine on 46x17 but it did have 200km in my legs already, plus another 300km to do once I got to Bethersden as it was a 600km DIY Audax. ;)