Any London based folk keen for a weekend winter campout?

[Kiwiride]

Fairly new to London and its surrounding areas. Have just come back from 3months cycling Europe and would love to try organise a weekend campout to get out of this crazy city especially during these winter months!

Any suggestions on routes that are easily accessed from the city within a weekend. Ideally no public transport as looking to cycle all the way. More the merrier!

[Dan_K]

Howdy,

Where in London are you?

I'm in Croydon, south London /Surrey.

What do you ride and what do you have in mind?

From here, there are a few options - north downs way, south downs way, Sustrans routes to Brighton or Eastbourne or just local overnights on the downs.

I don't tend to do much locally to be honest. Feels a bit pointless in the south east although that's not helped by my mates not being interested!

[Kiwiride]

Hi,

Currently west London. Really open to any riding really, can do mixture of road/bridle ways and single track. Prior to our 3 month trip we did a quick ride down to Ockley, camped and returned next day. Tbh we spent most time and energy getting out of the city. If someone knew of some private farm tracks that we could get access to that would always make things more interesting and fun!

[Dan_K]

Which bit of West London? Can you not head west on the Thames path or the canal?

[Taylor]

Organise a trip a bit further west along the M4 and I might be interested.

[Kiwiride]

For the aforementioned trip we were in Sheppards Bush. We went essentially south from there via Kingston etc. Canal towpaths are fine but getting out somewhere really remote is always nicer! Guess beggars can't be choosers especially living in London. Not limited ourselves to any certain area, an epic ride west to the coast would be amazing!

[Dan_K]

Yeah, shepherds bush is a tricky one. Personally, I'd hop on a train out to zone 5. Once you hit Coulsdon, you can be pretty much off road for miles to the coast.

I tend to ride my cx bike more than anything now as the local trails are more xc than downhill.

I've got the coach up to Aviemore a couple of times. Goes overnight from London Victoria to Glasgow, Aviemore and Inverness for around £50 return. Rubbish journey but it maximises riding time.

[Kiwiride]

vaguely exciting! Will try get a route sorted and see who's keen! Yea I'll be putting the mtb tyres back on my drop bar hack. It's heavy but it works!!

[Dan_K]

vaguely exciting! Will try get a route sorted and see who's keen! Yea I'll be putting the mtb tyres back on my drop bar hack. It's heavy but it works!!

I'm rolling with 40c nano tyres on my cx bike at the moment so happy for some drop barred adventure!

[Kiwiride]

vaguely exciting! Will try get a route sorted and see who's keen! Yea I'll be putting the mtb tyres back on my drop bar hack. It's heavy but it works!!

I'm rolling with 40c nano tyres on my cx bike at the moment so happy for some drop barred adventure!

Awsome will keep in contact, just got back to London so currently finding a home and a Job

[Chew]

Ok its ages off yet, but its become a bit of a tradition to have a social Bivi in December.

I this this year its penciled in for the 12/13 for Wales, The North and Borders, so it would be good to have a Southern version on the same weekend

[Mike]

count me in for wales!!

[notclive]

I'm up for a London based ride, I'm based in the north-west soon to move east.

I don't have any good ideas for destinations, I usually take the train to more remote areas.

[TheBrownDog]

I'd be up for this if dates work out. What about a Chilterns bivvi? Those in that there London can ride up on the Grand Union canal path - bit boring but better than the A40.

[Kiwiride]

I'd be up for this if dates work out. What about a Chilterns bivvi? Those in that there London can ride up on the Grand Union canal path - bit boring but better than the A40.

Anywhere is better than A40, cool. Will do some life admin first then will throw some dates out and see what works for everyone!

[jBay]

Organise a trip a bit further west along the M4 and I might be interested.

Somewhere near Bristol/Wiltshire?

[Javi]

Hi, I live in London and the idea of a night out sounds good. I've done a few long distance routes from here. Done east London to Surrey hills, to Swinley, to Brighton off road and back on cycle lanes, to the start of the Ridgeway and back on the union canal, to St Albans...my cx and mtb both are ss but don't mind spinning. Think the cx has worn out tyres and gearing not really suited for off road.

I live 7 minutes from the National cycle route 1, in Edmonton Green.

[Mariner]

How about you guys in the Southeast set off up the Southdowns Way and us guys in the west set off down the SDW?
Best to have a defined place where access to food and drink could be available plus space to bivvy.
Same could apply to Kennet and Avon route or possibly Ridgeway?
Just a thought.

[benp1]

I live in North London, right on the edge of the green belt

I would normally be up for this but I have (non-local) bivis planned at the end of this month and middle of next (anyone is welcome to join, threads already open for these), plus hopefully the winter event. Means getting a pass for another is highly unlikely

I'll keep an eye on the thread though

[custardfeet]

I'm in the Cotswolds, (Stroud), loads of good riding and places to bivvy. Have an agreement & camp area with local National Trust, for a fee & a fixed date we can have our own woodland.

[Taylor]

I'm in the Cotswolds, (Stroud), loads of good riding and places to bivvy. Have an agreement & camp area with local National Trust, for a fee & a fixed date we can have our own woodland.

Book it a different weekend to the Welsh winter bivi and I'm there.

[jBay]

I'm in the Cotswolds, (Stroud), loads of good riding and places to bivvy. Have an agreement & camp area with local National Trust, for a fee & a fixed date we can have our own woodland.

Sounds good - are fires allowed?

[S.Softie]

I'm near Slough and there are off-road /quiet road routes out to Chilterns & Ridgeway or south through Swinley, Farnborough, Alice Holt Woods down to Bordon - just need a few more miles and that gets you into Queen Elizabeth Country Park and onto the SDW. These (for me) are >6 hour rides out and similar coming back.

What there isn't much of is remote spots to bivvi. Unless you get out west on the ridgeway (I confess that I don't know it north of Bledlow Ridge) or down onto the SDW it has to be a pretty low key bivvi.

I'll keep an eye on this thread and see how things develop (and how the forecast servere winter progresses ) but would be good to meet up with a relatively local group.

[JezS]

I live in Surbiton, SW London/Surrey.

Have a few good routes up my sleeve for getting out into the North Downs via various bridleways and commons - anywhere between 50 and 90km with minimal road linkups if anyone's interested - nothing too technical, but good routes for night riding.

Not too sure about sensible bivvi spots, I'm yet to explore this - guessing it would need to be v.discrete as you're never far from towns & villages.

Up for a South East December weekender!

Jez

[Matt]

I may live round these parts and have done quite a few bits