66km Kings,Princes and Commoners
Ashtead Common
Ride Overview
With more than 80% of the ride off-road, the route has become one of SW London’s most popular gravel routes. Ride on some fine gravel tracks across Royal Parks, over Commons, heaths and Crown Estates. There is the River, a Hogsmill, herds of deer, trees - lots of them - even some sandy hills. There’s little to stop for, other than coffee at a farm, so it’s less a ‘ride and see’, more just a ride, and a richly rewarding one at that.
The route is a shorter version of the Epsom Gallop, and the route goes in the opposite direction to the ‘Gallop’.
Ride practicalities
A plea; Much of the land that you’ll be riding across is managed by private groups, known as Commoners, many of whom are not kindly disposed to cyclists. You may especially at weekends, encounter a mix of young families, retirees, dog walkers, horse riders, even cyclists. Please do your bit by riding slowly and courteously when passing others. A ring of a bell, a polite ‘hello’, ‘thanks’ etc. goes a long way to maintaining harmony when people step aside to let you pass. That said, the route is glorious, so don’t be put off by the prospect of sharing the country pleasures with others.
START/FINISH: Putney Bridge DISTANCE: 66km TOTAL ASCENT: 442m TERRAIN AND SURFACES: Quiet suburban roads, dedicated bike lanes and gravel paths. In winter some of the paths may be muddy RECOMMENDED CAFÈS/PUBS: Ashtead Commons; THE BARN, KT9 NEARBY MAINLINE TRAIN SERVICES: Esher, Kingston, Putney LINKS TO OTHER RIDES: Arcadian Thames, London to Windsor, The Royal Parks, London to Brighton, The Epsom Gallop
Ride Notes
From the start at Putney Bridge, you’re immediately onto a gravel path beside the Thames which takes you past the London Wetland Centre and into Richmond Park. Here you join the Tamsin Trail around the edge of the former royal forest. Look out for the herds of deer (630 live in the park) as you head up Bloomfield Hill, a short little beast topping out at 13%, before the descent on a sinuous and firm gravel path to Kingston Gate. Some excellent cyclepaths take you through Kingston-upon-Thames, and onto the Hogsmill, now an innocuous river weaving through willows, but in its prime it powered the mills which made much of the nation’s gunpowerder. In 2024, the path was renewed and re-surfaced so no longer are there the fearsome mud baths which so characterised this stretch, rather, it is supreme gravel. The river runs beside you, reeds and willows whisper in the breeze and the hum of the city is some far distance away.
Tamsin Trail, Richmond Park
After passing St. John the Baptist Church in Old Malden, (whose windows were blown out in 1742 by a gunpowder explosion), you have a short stretch of road to ride, before entering Horton Country Park. For the next ten kilometres there is, save for two road crossings, a wide, well-surfaced gravel path to ride on. It’s joyous, even when the sun don’t shine.
Esher Common
Ashtead Commons is owned by the City of London. Between 1760 and 1870, roughly seven million acres of England countryside was enclosed; that is ‘ordinary commoners’ were excluded from their centuries old rights of access. So bad was this ‘privatisation’, that the City of London Corporation decided to buy up huge tracts of forest around London so that Londoners could enjoy fresh air and exercise without cost (other than getting there). Access remains open to all.
The café, ‘The Barn KT9’, just off the path and across a field, makes for a good half way pit-stop.
After the Ashtead Commons, you cross the Chessington Road and enter Prince’s Covet.
Prince’s Covert
Prince's Coverts is named after Prince (later King) Leopold I of Belgium. He had purchased nearby Claremont Park in 1816 and later acquired nearby common land which became his private shooting estate. (The erosion of common land its associated rights for commoners is not just a recent thing.) Following the King’s death, the land was repurchased by the Crown, who continue to own the woods. The riding on the wide gravel path is brilliant. There are a couple of short rises to test the heart, and some joyous flat riding. Be aware that at busy times, dogs will often be nosing around off the leash and are apt to be distracted enough not to notice you. As ever, slow down and and courteously thank the owners for any attempt at controlling their hounds.
The way to the Barn, KT9
Various paths and quiet-for-Surrey roads take you into the heathland of Oxshott Common. Woodland here is very much a twentieth century phenomenon, as the land was previously used for cattle grazing. As with many ‘Commons’, locals continue to have specific rights, which includes the provision for the collection of firewood, ‘subject not to misuse’.
Over the A3 on a pedestrian/cycle bridge you cross Littleworth Commons. You’ll probably not be aware of it as you ride up and down sandy banks and along the wonderful tracks lined with oak, beech, silver birch, and Scots Pine, that this is one of the most diverse habitats for fungi in the world. In 2017, over 3400 species of fungi were recorded, some new to science.
Nonsuch Park
Once off the Commons, the riding is on quietish roads until Hampton Court, where you re-join the River Thames, and ride along Barge Walk, one of the finest Thameside gravel sections. This takes you to Kingston-upon-Thames. Cycle paths take you through the town and onto Richmond Park, where you complete the Tamsin Trail circuit.
Boats, Fulham Palace Football Ground and Putney Bridge
All good things come to an end and after the park, you weave a way on suburban roads back to the Thames, where you re-join the path back to the start at Putney Bridge.
All the details given on this route are given in good faith. However, situations on the ground can change, so if you know of any access issues, closures, or have any thoughts and feedback on the route, please include them in the comments section below.
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