The Plough at Leigh

I still don't know how to correctly pronounce the name of the village, but that didn't mean that Anton couldn't lead us there.


The last Sunday in September dawned with glorious clear blue skies and on arrival at Three Bridges Station there were a couple of new faces joining us for the ride. Anton led Eric, Sebastian, Michael, Christine, John C and myself out through Three Bridges on NCN 20 and into the Industrial Estate (coincidentally, using the same route that I do on my way to work). The roads were fairly quiet and we were soon on the smooth path running alongside the River Mole towards the Airport terminal building. The lake at Horley was looking very picturesque in the sunshine and then Anton took us through the middle of Horley and over the corssroads by the Air Balloon pub. Meath Green Lane/Lonesome Lane was very smooth and we realized that we were running a long way ahead of time, so decided to fit in an extra stop.

Accordingly we pulled up at Reigate Garden Centre to have a quick drink and ablutions break...


On the road again, Anton took us on some pleasant lanes to Betchworth and past The Dolphin pub before fitting in a little extra loop to ensure we arrived at The Plough in Leigh bang on midday -  Anton scores maximum points for timing.


We sat outside in the sunshine and were met by Barbara who had ridden up from Horsham.




The beer was good, the food was good, the conversation was good but the weather eclipsed them all - a full-on summers day.

We remounted and headed west before turning south to get to Parkgate. From here it was west and south again to Newdigate and then further south to Rusper. We stopped there for a while (and some of us had an icecream) before Barbara headed off towards Horsham and the rest of us headed back to Ifield. We took advantage of the new Ifield to West Green cycle route and then used the backstreets of Southgate to get to Hawth Avenue and thence Furnace Green where I left the group. Anton carried on, under the railway to Maidenbower and then guided the last couple of riders back to Three Bridges Station.


Next weeks ride is Gordon's B-Ride - it starts from Three Bridges Station at 10:00 hrs .(or 08:00 for Breakfast at Gordons) then follows a mixed surface route out to Horsham on the NCN 288 route and back via St. Leonards Forest. Mountain bikes or strong tourers are recommended.  Why B-Ride you ask - well, it features breakfast, bacon butties, banter, bikes, bridleways, Bob(probably), bumps, bunnies(maybe), bananaskins, babies - that's enough b's! Ed.