On 8 May 2026, we gathered in the Surrey Hills to celebrate a very special occasion: 10 years of Marmalade MTB! And what a time we had…

10 years is a long time – but sometimes it seems like no time at all! For Sean Howell, founder of Marmalade MTB, it seems like only yesterday he earned his first off-road leadership qualifications and put the word out to a few mountain bikers. Sean’s 2016 invite was simple: a few hours on the 8th of May, having fun on the twisting singletrack trails of the Surrey Hills. He decided to call it the ‘Singletrack Adventure’ – a name and a ride that still live on to this day in the Marmalade calendar.

From there, Marmalade grew and grew. Sean quickly went full time and gained his Level 3 qualification as day rides in Surrey and Sussex were joined by multi-day adventures to the mountainous national parks of the UK.

History repeating itself

After a decade of riding trails and making friends, we just knew we had to celebrate. Early in 2026, the word went out once again, just as it did 10 years ago: meet us in the Surrey Hills on 8 May and let’s have some fun.

This time round, there were more than 6 riders. About 40, in fact – a mix of regular Marmalade riders and friends we’ve met along the way. We met at the Hurtwood Hideout and, after a few words from Sean, we split into three groups: one for a cross-country exploration, one for an intermediate-level singletrack scoot, and a group going a little bigger and harder, for the expert riders in the Marmalade community.

In 2016, the Marmalade MTB team numbered just 1. Nowadays, Sean is surrounded by a flexible band of around 10 guides and coaches. Many of the team were here for the celebrations – some leading our groups and some just here for the occasion.

A day to remember

And what an occasion it was. A lovely day. Fast-rolling trails, sunshine and laughter. All the reasons we ride. The three groups rendezvoused at Peaslake Village Stores for refreshment – still the classic mid-ride stop for coffee, pastries and ice cream, before the fun continued into the afternoon.

Every ride must come to an end, so the groups returned to the Hurtwood Hideout for the next part of the birthday party. Pizzas baked, beers flowed and memories were shared as we relaxed among the trees of the Hideout – winding down from a great day of riding.

Sean called us to order and a quick quiz kicked off, hosted by Paul, Marmalade’s avid pub quiz fan – (Sean’s favourite trail, anyone? Jim’s recipe for bikepacking turbo-porridge?). Then came a few recollections from Sean, delving back into Marmalade’s history and telling us how it all began (long story short: a casual gathering of biking friends looking for an organised leader, who was then persuaded to get serious).

We caught up with Liz – Marmalade’s most remote team member and our Scotland specialist, who had travelled all the way from her home in Dumfries & Galloway to Surrey to celebrate with us. Then Clive shared a few jokes and observations about what it’s like being part of a community of outdoor-lovers (“Are we just mountain bikers because we can’t tie knots well enough to be climbers?”)

No birthday is complete without birthday cake! So a song was sung, the cake was cut and we all shared in a sweet slice of very special (and suitably large) cake.

As evening turned to night, many of us retired to tents and caravans, where we slept soundly.

Another day, another ride with friends

We woke to the intense birdsong of the Hurtwood and another day of bright sunshine burning through the trees. Did we go out for another ride? Of course we did! Though it’s fair to say the pace and distance weren’t up to the level of day 1. Late nights and Sussex ales may or may not have been a factor for some riders…

So if you joined us for our very special Marmalade anniversary celebration – THANK YOU! Thank you for being part of something that’s become a real community for us. We love riding with you. Check out this collection of photos and spot yourself amid the fun and games.

And if you couldn’t make it to the party, well, shall we gather again soon for a bit more fun? Let us know what you think…

Here’s to the next ten years of Marmalade MTB!