The Blackdown Mountain Bike Route starts from the Fernhurst free Public Car Park

Start Point
Fernhurst Public Car Park, behind the parade of shops. This route is all-weather 10 miles. Explorer Map 133 Haslemere.

Cycle westwards along the Fernhurst - Milland Road until you reach Vann Common - on the right hand side as you leave the village and after you have crossed the stream.

Turn right up a tarmac road over the common, passing old houses on your right. You are moving steadily uphill in the direction of Marley Heights and the ground is firm and solid even after you have left the tarmac behind. Keeping to the right of way cross the next tarmaced road - you will be coming from the right when you return so make a mental note of where you turn off -and keep on uphill past the strip of National Trust on the right and past the two old cottages on the right and the farm on your left. The way is firm and solid.

After about half a mile you reach the lane from Kingsley Green to Marley Common and beyond. Bear left down the lane with the National Trust on your right and after a half mile strike right across the common joining the Sussex Border Path .You will now start to drop down off the hill to the Sussex Bells adjoining the main A287 road from Haslemere to Midhurst.

Turn left and then right into Valewood Lane - not Fernden lane which is the first right hand turning, continue for another 100 yards - and cycle up the tarmac road past Stedlands Farm on your left and through the gates of Valewood House. After a short distance you pass Valewood Farm on the left with its granite megaliths outside and almost immediately turn left off the Valewood private road onto the National Trust. Follow the Sussex Border Path uphill and to the right making for the forest across the open pastures. The views to the north west down the River Wey valley are glorious. You would think there were no houses or human habitation, just trees and meadow.

Pass through the gate into the forest. The track is firm and closely bounded by rhododendrons on either side. You are still working your way uphill, keep bearing gently left and watch for the new bridleway sign (without the arms) which directs you left and not down the hill to the right into the valley.

At a natural junction of the ways on the top of Blackdown make sure to dog-leg left following the Border Path until you reach a bridleway sign to the right. On a winter's day at 12 noon the sun will be in your eyes as you travel south. The going is good and flat, huge beach trees flank the scarp to the left and from time to time you get incredible views towards Chanctonbury on the South Downs. The real 'wow' is still to come at the romantically sounding Temple of the Winds with its spectacular view towards Bexley Hill and its mast and Henley further along the ridge to the right.

You have probably got a good thirst by now but you have several miles to go if you are dreaming of quenching your thirst in the Duke of Cumberland at Henley. However, those with picnics have a surprise in store for them when they discover the comfortable wooden bench awaiting them at the Temple of the Winds but make sure you get there first because this is a popular stopping off point for walkers too.

Now starts the hard bit. Follow the bridleway off the scarp, dropping down sharply over a rubbly track with horizontal beams put at 10 yard intervals to aid climbing walkers. When you hit Fernden Lane turn right and then left down a bridleway, gently following the contours to the right past a farm house on you way to Sheetlands.

After Sheetlands you hit the house's private drive. Cross over and progress down a boggy track with its own spring which keeps it perpetually wet. For two hundred yards you will need to dismount and keep bearing right, not dropping down the hill by the other track that you shortly meet. Pass by a house close up against the path on the left and watch carefully not to go straight on down a private path, but gently right . The track gets better but there are muddy zones in winter. After passing by a number of houses you eventually come to a T junction. Turn sharp right down Hatch Lane which bends left to hit the main road at Kingsley Green..

Cross over into the Kingsley Green to Marley Common lane, bending gently right with a line of nice houses on the left. Turn left down the road to Marley Heights - the one you crossed after ascending from Vann Common on the start of you journey. Turn left down the RUPP - the right of way - when you reach it and enjoy a fast run downhill to Fernhurst.

A suggestion: for those of you who cannot face the boggy strip after Sheetlands, turn right up the Sheetlands private lane at the juncture with the bridleway and turn left after a few hundred yards into Fernden Lane. Continue for several miles until you hit the A287 near The Sussex Bells and return to Kingsley Green .The traffic is fast and busy at this point, so take care. When you see the sign to Hatch Lane on your left turn right along the parade of houses to the Marley Heights road and continue as previously described to Fernhurst.

Fernhurst Mountain Bike Route.
Blackdown Moutain Bike Route
Linchmere Mountain Bike Route
Midhurst Mountain Bike Route
Cocking Mountain Bike Route