Croydon loop: Nonsuch Park, Hogsmill Trail, Morden Hall Park, Mitcham Common
Last July we had a ride that showed the Wandle Trail has serious competition – the Hogsmill Trail is even more lovely, about as long and just as much fun. We reach it by first doing some of the best park cycling in London – in Nonsuch Park.
The Hogsmill is a Thames tributary and was a country millstream until the 20th century. It is accompanied by parkland from Ewell to New Malden. From Queens Gardens we will use side streets and paths to Nonsuch Park, which has a long woodland trail we will ride. Then to Ewell and its Bourne Hall Park, where we pick up the Hogsmill. We ride its tracks to New Malden where we lunch. The second half of the ride goes along the Cut to Raynes Park, then to Morden Hall Park, Ravensbury Park and Mitcham Common. Staying off road where we can, if the surface is dry enough we will ride on a wooded trail in there before turning on to another wooded trail on the way to the Beddington Farmlands gravel path. Then it is Beddington Park and back to Queens Gardens.
There is bike parking close by the lunch stop in New Malden on the other side of the High Street. You will need a lock for while we are in the cafe.
The distance is 26 miles. You can ride it on a road bike with 28mm tyres. Best on a hybrid or gravel bike though. Lots of gravel path.
This ride will be on Sunday 14th September, starting at Queens Gardens CR0 1GY at 10am. Finishing there around 3:30pm. Please bring a spare inner tube.
