Yew Tree Way - 12/11/06

Six riders set off from the Pollards Hill Library in fair but chilly
weather for our first try at the Yew Tree Way. We picked up another
rider at East Croydon on a two wheeled recumbent. The group saver
allowed us a party of 4 and a party of 3 and the fare evened out at
pounds 2.50 each. On Sundays the train from East Croydon stops at four
stations along the way to Oxted. We picked up another two riders on the
train, one with a recumbent trike. The 10th rider had heroically cycled
from Woldingham.

Oxted is an attractive town not short of pubs. I think I counted four
in the space of about two hundred yards in Old Oxted. Coming from
pub-less Pollards Hill you notice these things.

We had gone only a mile when we lost someone after turning left. Oops!
I should have mentioned at the start to make sure the person behind has
seen you turn. The Yew Tree Way took us through Hurst Green, Holland
and Merle Common before we turned off at Honey Pot Lane towards
Edenbridge for a pit stop at the Leisure Centre. Odd seeing people swim
indoors when you are out on a bike ride.

Leaving Edenbridge we headed south and turned right into the LIngfield
Road. Today it was a very quiet road and it made for pleasant cycling.
We cycled westward past Haxted Mill on the Surrey Cycleway towards
Lingfield Common. The alternative -- to go south and through Lingfield
seemed too long considering that we were aiming for the 3.08pm train
home and trains are hourly on Sundays. We arrived at the Red Barn at
Blindley Heath at 12.25pm, a good time as we were their first customers
so didn't have to wait long for meals and we had a large table to
ourselves. It is a pub with character -- certainly no lack of talking
points from stuffed stag's heads to farming tools. No tacky horse
brasses, this was the real deal. The Sunday lunch is pounds 7.50 and
other main meals similarly priced. Good value though as the portions
are large and quality excellent.

Leaving the pub I foolishly led everyone in the wrong direction towards
the A22. Now we know how far away it really is. Anyway it didn't take
us long to get back on track in our quest to find the Yew Tree in the
name of our ride.

The best way to find something is to ask a local. A lady going in to
the churchyard at Crowhurst showed us where the yew tree was and gave
us a lot more information besides. It is an impresive tree. Apparently
it was hollowed out by locals in 1820. They fitted a door and put a
table and chairs inside. However old the tree is, it must have seen a
lot of history. It is reckoned to be the oldest tree in Britain,
possibly 4,000 years old. One rider took some photos in the churchyard
and to reward him for being the ride cameraman, we cycled off without
him. Ten minutes later we noticed he was missing. Finding himself on
his own he asked a local how to get back to Oxted and managed to beat
us to the station. We struggled to get back in time and got on the
train with a minute to spare. Being a Sunday only one platform was in
use so we had to carry our bikes down and up to the other platform.
Good team building exercise.

Four of us pedalled back through Croydon and across Mitcham Common to
Pollards Hill. PHC regulars may like to know that new gates have been
fitted which do not allow the passage of bikes. The Common should still
be accessible though from the bottom of Galpins Road.

23 miles, out for seven hours, all starters finished.

A set of eight cycle guides are available covering recommended routes
across
Surrey. Call 08456 009 009 to request a free copy of the Yew Tree Way
leaflet.

Report by Jim F


Mark Dawson
Tour & Production Manager
---
Cell +44 7711 688189
Email mark@...