This week Ken and I decided to revisit Hatch Lane and assess the mud situation that had stopped us in our tracks last week. We agreed to give it a go and in fact once we were through the initial boggy patch the path was easily negotiable. We then turned right onto the short, steep climb of Manor Hill to Woodmansterne.
After a quick stop for the photograph we continued on Woodmansterne St, then Woodmansterne Lane to Banstead. We briefly cycled down the High Street before turning left onto Avenue Road and here faced as many potholes as I have seen in one road. Luckily there was very little traffic and we were able to use the width of the road to safely cycle through them. Court Road took us to the roundabout at Holly Lane and we turned left to descend to Banstead Woods and the left turn onto Outwood Lane. Road closed/Road work signs were being ignored by the traffic so we followed. I was sure Paul had said there was a way through and I hoped I had been listening! By now there's just a cyclist ahead but there are clearly roadworks right across the road. Said cyclist mounts the pavement and there is room for those of us on two wheels to continue.
We're now on Chipstead Valley Road and tea & cake are within reach. Farthing Downs will have to wait in case DD's closes early.
DD brings our tea & cake across the road
We stood by the recessed school gates for our tea. Unfortunately the alarm was going in the school so we didn't linger. Farthing Downs was a short ride from here, We joined the A237 and turned up Marlpit Lane at the roundabout before taking Ditches Lane. We turned round in the car park at the top. Clearly the newly introduced parking fees have put drivers off and the car park is only half full.
Happy Valley
We crossed the road to photograph walker-- free Happy Valley and then made our way back to Coulsdon and on to Wallington. 20 miles today, Ken had cycled a little further.
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