Surrey Hills wine pilgrimage

two day ‘taster’ cycle tour in the Surrey hills including picnic lunches, four vineyard tours, a support vehicle and an overnight stay with dinner in a comfortable hotel £540.

dates to be announced

For all the myths around that blind monk, Dom Perignon, champagne was an Anglo-French creation of the 17" century. Today, given the quality of English fizz, the story has come full circle with talented producers making delicious wines, not least in the Surrey Hills. It's an area of outstanding natural beauty, home to a diverse bunch of family-owned producers, and barely a stone's throw from London. We'll visit four of the vineyards in the group. We set off early on a Thursday by train from London Waterloo to Winchfield. (Starting on a Thursday means that we’ll have the full attention of the vineyards who are often too busy at the weekend to provide the time that we need from them.) After a coffee at Penn Croft winery we head east to the grower-producer Greyfriars Vineyard, followed by a picnic lunch. The pace is gentle on a mix of back roads, bridleways and sections of the Pilgrim's Way. We've designed the route to be as quiet and traffic-free as possible, but inevitably we can't entirely avoid cars. We cycle  on for a second vineyard tour and tasting at Chilworth Manor; a stunning setting and with a great new tasting room and roof terrace overlooking the vines. From there it's a short downhill to the Percy Arms. After 26 miles in the saddle, it's time for some great food and drink and a well-earned sleep. (For larger groups we may stay nearby at The Drummond - equally good.)

After breakfast, we saddle up and head for the organic vineyard of Albury, or possibly High Clandon, a tiny boutique estate with just an acre of vines. We carry on to Denbies, one of England's largest single-estate vineyards for a picnic and tasting among the vines. From here it's a short ride to Dorking and the train home mid-Friday afternoon. (An alternative is to visit Tanhurst Estate which makes Day Two somewhat longer.)

Winchfield station where we start from on day one is tiny and only an hour from Waterloo.

If you’re bringing your own bike (gravel bikes or mountain bikes are best) there’ll be room for it on the train and there’s no need to book.

Some of the riding is on bridleways but there is nothing too scary to negotiate.

If you’re renting a gravel bike from us, (an extra £70 charge for the two days riding), it will be ready for you at Winchfield.

The cost includes the hotel, all food and wine, a support car, the tour fees for four vineyard visits, picnic lunches, snacks and energy drinks to fuel your riding.

Single supplement £65.

The train tickets are not included.

Both Tom and Aidan will join you on the trip.

The tasting will largely be of the sniff, swill and spit variety during the day to keep the cycling safe but the wines will be available to drink at dinner.

You’ll also be able to order a mixed case to be sent to your home after the trip.

Before breakfast on day two there is the option to walk up the hill for half an hour to the enchanting St Martha’s pilgrimage church.

our route