Leith Hill Revisited

Saturday 23rd September we had a great ride at Leith Hill. Believe it or not this is the first time we have been to Leith Hill since the summer of 2004, this really is a criminal offence when it is only 45 minutes drive away. In our defence we have ridden regularly at Holmbury Hill and Pitch Hill in 2004/5/6. In my humble opinion the riding (singletrack, challenge, and sheer quantity) in these 3 hills is equal to any of the mtb centres we have visited and a visit should be a priority on any mtb'ers list of things to do before you die.

We put together a loop based on memory, following our nose and getting directions from people we met. The ground was mostly dry but there were a couple of peaty bogs across the track particularly where log obstacles formed a retaining barrier. We a fantastic day, it didn't rain, we rediscovered trails we had fogotten, rode some new trails and spent all day just out riding. Some of the roots and logs were very slippery!

We parked at Westcott and rode past the church and along Logmore Lane (this avoids riding through the grinding sand bath of Wolvens Lane), through Squire's Farm and turned right at the first bridleway crossroads to climb steeply onto Wolvens Lane (keep going up, 2/3 of the way you think you have made it, you need to go straight up the rocky trail on your right). In order not to throw away our height gain we went along Wolvens Lane to the sign posts for the 'Summer Lightning' trail, a quick blast down here and then retrace the route along Wolvens Lane. Back at the beginning of Summer Lightning we turned sharpe left, up the forest access route, where it turns right we headed off on the trail to the left, this eventually comes out at the bottom of the famous drop 'Deliverence'. Up to the cricket pitch above Coldharbour and straight up the knarly climb to Leith Hill tower. Go straight over past the tower, on the right is a sawn down tree with a sign 'Explorer Route' follow this past the jump area on the right and look for the split tree on the left. Turn left at the tree after 10 yards the trail forks, go right. There is loads of singletrack here, explore! To return to Westcott we retraced the route heading east along the Greensand Way, past the tower and straight on to the cricket pitch. Down the singletrack descent to join up with the 'Regurgitator' trail parallel to Wolvens Lane, then immediately down 'Summer Lightning'. Continuing across all fire roads on singletrack until the bridleway next to the field leading to Logmore Green and Brook Farm. A quick wizz along the road and we were back.

An excellent ride, made much more enjoyable by the fact that we had forgotten most of the trails so it was like a whole new adventure.