11 suggested routes for a short solo ride starting in Southwark + Great Trees Ride
During the Coronovirus pandemic we created routes that could be ridden solo as group rides were not allowed. We have worked out 9 shorter routes in locations across the borough – “Short Rides for the Lockdown“, you can see them all on this composite map: https://bit.ly/3fEf2rg . These are designed like the healthy rides using as much as possible paths and quiet streets. They can all be completed in under and hour. Have decided to keep these up as there are lots of reasons why people might fancy doing a short ride, maybe with a friend. Can choose when you ride, so can pick the sunny moments. Also can start the ride anywhere on the loop, not necessarily at the indicated start location. And if you want a longer ride, just link up 2 or 3 overlapping routes.
To the original 9 Have now added the Great Trees Ride. We did this on June 19th 2021(report here) and it proved very popular. so thought it would good to provide turn by turn route information. the ride is based on “Great Trees of London Map” by Paul Wood. It is 11 miles and will take at least 1.5 hours. You go to 6 of the Great Trees and also the World Garden in Burgess Park. Route information is here.
Link to routes: 9 Short Rides for the Lockdown
If do not fancy one of the 10 suggested routes, all the routes of previous rides are available on the web in the ride reports. These reports also usually include some information about points of interest. Recent ride reports are on this site, links here. Older reports are on the Healthyrider Weebly site links here. Parts of these routes would often make a nice short. For some recent rides we will put some additional route information here.
| Index of Do-it-Yourself Rides | ||||
| Title | Area | Length Miles | Terrain | |
| 1 | Canal-River-Woodland-Docks | Rotherhithe | 4 | Flat |
| 2 | Dulwich and its Castle | Dulwich | 5.5 | Some uphill |
| 3 | Telegraph Hill and Nunhead Cemetery | Peckham, Nuhead | 4.5 | Short steep hill |
| 4 | Burgess and Southwark Parks | Camberwell, Bermondsey | 5 | Flat |
| 5 | Canada Water to Cutty Sark | Rotherhithe,Deptford | 6.4 | Flat |
| 6 | Dulwich to Brixton Mill | Dulwich, Brixton, Herne Hill | 5.6 | Not quite flat |
| 7 | Dawsons Hill and a Golf Course on a Reservoir | Dulwich | 4.5 | Hilly |
| 8 | Burgess Park to Vauxhall Bridge | Camberwell, Vauxhall | 5 | Flat |
| 9 | Camberwell Open Spaces | Camberwell, Denmark Hill | 6 | Not quite flat |
Note that another good ride is the Thames Path route on the south of the river from Tower Bridge to Battersea Park. This is normally too busy to allow steady progress. But now, it is really great. Cycled the other day from Potters Fields to Battersea Park in just over 30min. Mind you, it was 7am. On a fine morning London has never looked better.
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