Cycling from Surbiton to Leatherhead via Epsom

My good friend (who lives in Surbiton) and I (who lives in Guildford) planned a short ride for a short December day, staying reasonably close to home. I and my bike got the train to Surbiton, where we met up to start our ride, see map here (our track in red). We covered some similar ground to my previous ride through Horton Country Park, and I include the track (in blue) from that ride on the map as well for comparison.

The weather was grey and misty, but no rain. I was keen to check out the path through the Hogsmill park: bad idea, it was very muddy. Upon reaching the A3, we crossed via the handy subway, and stuck to roads through Worcester Park to rejoin the path to Horton Country Park at the junction with the A240. This is signed as the Hogsmill Walk, though it is good for cycling, which seems to be tolerated. The path uses a green highway beneath power lines, and includes the Castle Hill Local Nature Reserve, before emerging through Horton Country Park. This path seemed far less muddy than those I used on my previous excursion.

We stopped for inner refreshment at the warm and welcoming Cricketers pub on Epsom Common, then made our way up Epsom Downs via some rather busy, fast roads, before branching off on the much quieter NCN22 through Headley, followed by an enjoyable descent to Mickleham via Lodgebottom Road. (After our muddy experience earlier in the day, we abandoned our original plan of descending via the Stane Street bridleway, which would have been 'interesting', to say the least, see blog). From here, we made our way to Leatherhead Station from which there are direct trains back to Guildford (via Clandon). Cobwebs duly blown away.