Introduction to Mountain Biking – Surrey Hills

From £48.00 inc. VAT

(19 customer reviews)

Ride info

Location: Surrey Hills
Duration: 3-4 hours
Style: Trail & cross-country (XC)
Level: 2

MTB ride rating bar 2

Bike type

Mountain bike
Electric mountain bike

Distance

10-12 mi | 16-20 km

Ascent

1,600 ft | 500 m

Introduction to Mountain Biking – Surrey Hills

From £48.00 inc. VAT

(19 customer reviews)

The Surrey Hills is a welcoming playground for mountain bikers of all levels – including beginners. For five years, we’ve been enjoying our Introduction to Mountain Biking in these beautiful hills, and we’re looking forward to more in 2024. Dense forests, scenic views and swoopy trails – all this within an hour of London!

If you need to hire a bike, check availability first using the bike hire selector below.

Description

Join us this spring for our Introduction to Mountain Biking – the perfect way for beginners get to know our sport. Based in the Surrey Hills, this is the perfect introduction for the regular cyclist or budding mountain biker looking for a sociable, relaxed but structured launch pad into singletrack riding. During the 10-12 mile ride we will share our expertise and knowledge, providing you with the perfect foundation to take your off-road cycling to the next level. We will stop in suitable places to share tips and advice on core bike handling techniques.

Our professional MTB leaders will provide a super relaxed and sociable day that will kick-off with the all important informative briefing. After a chilled start we will explore the woodland trails and bridleways that festoon the famous Surrey Hills. Depending on the skill level of the group, we will use our unrivalled knowledge of the trail network to dynamically adapt the ride – ensuring that your introduction to trail riding and singletrack is all about high fives and ear-to-ear grins.

What to expect

You’ll need to have a reasonable level of fitness to be able to enjoy this day out. Although this is an intro to mountain biking, it is suited for active people who are looking to try off-road cycling under the expert leadership of a professional guide. The riding is a mixture of cross-country on doubletrack bridleways and the super fun and flowing singletrack of the famous Surrey Hills. The terrain and trails we will use are not very technical, but they will provide an exciting mixture, especially novice mountain bikers.

The Surrey Hills experience would not be complete without a mid-ride stop at the awesome Peaslake Village Stores for a famous cheese straw or slice of cake and the option of a post-ride drink or lunch at the Hurtwood Inn.

If you are still not sure whether this ride is for you, then please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

The area and the trails

The lush woodland that smothers these green sandstone hills is festooned with ancient bridleways and trails. This ride will perfectly link together the best introductory trails of Holmbury Hill – and maybe Pitch Hill too, depending on our progress on the day. We will introduce you to classic trails such as Telegraph Row and Yoghurt Pots – and many many more.

Riding with Marmalade

We pride ourselves on creating the perfect vibe that makes everyone feel comfortable and confident. Combine a super fun and relaxed atmosphere with Marmalade’s expert knowledge and professionalism we will guarantee you the best day out discovering the trails of the Surrey Hills.

Friends of the Hurtwood

This private area of Surrey is a special place, protected by the guardianship of a registered charity. Away from the public rights of way there is a vast network of unmarked mountain bike trails on private land. Through responsible and professional mountain bike leadership and coaching we are proud to be a supporting partner of Friends of the Hurtwood, with full permission to operate here.

Friends of the Hurtwood

Bike choice

E-bikes or manual mountain bikes are all welcome, whether you bring your own or hire from our friends at The Riders Hub.

This route is a traditional mountain bike ride. There will be fun bumpy descents, rooty forest trails and wide-open double tracks. So a hardtail or short travel full suspension mountain bike would be perfect. Big travel bikes are welcome – just be prepared for some extra effort.

This ride can be enjoyed on a conventional or electric mountain bike. If this ride is right for your level of experience and fitness, then bring your choice of machine. Marmalade rides have a friendly welcoming atmosphere, and e-bike riders who find themselves first up the hill are always patient and understanding of those relying on human-power alone.

Ensure your bike of choice is maintained and ready to ride, and please pack a spare mech hanger with your usual trail pack spares.

Ride details
  • Duration: 3-4 hours
  • Distance: 10-12 mi | 16-20 km
  • Ascent: 1,600 ft | 500 m
  • Level: Beginner
    (If you have any questions about your level, just contact us)
  • Meet time: 9.00am │ 9.30 am on bikes
  • Meet point: Walking Bottom car park, Peaslake
What do I need?

Equipment, kit and clothing

Essentials:

  • Suitable mountain bike in good working order (bikes can be hired in advance)
  • Helmet (in good condition, with no damage)
  • Clothing and shoes appropriate for cycling and weather conditions on the day
  • Personal choice of drink and ride snacks

Recommended:

  • Gloves
  • Glasses, sunglasses or eyeshields
  • Backpack
  • Spare inner tube
  • Puncture repair kit and bicycle pump
  • Padded cycling shorts for comfort

What’s not included

  • Bike hire – this can be booked via the ‘Bike Hire‘ section
  • Personal clothing & equipment
  • Overnight accommodation
  • Pre, during or post activity refreshments
  • Personal travel or accident Insurance
Is this for me?
  • This ride is aimed at the novice off-road cyclist and the regular beginner mountain biker looking for a sociable and informative group ride. As part of the day we will share with you the basics and fundamentals of mountain biking
  • To take part, you’ll need to be an active person who has the personal fitness to ride for at least 2 hours at a social and comfortable pace
  • You should be confident riding a bike on roads or smooth terrain, able to operate it safely, before joining us to look at off-road skills
    • For more basic instruction on learning to ride, try a Bikeability course
  • The trails may include features such as roots and loose rocks, along with small rollable steps – all of which can be easily ridden or avoided
  • This ride may contain undulating trails – and in places, climbs that may be challenging
  • This ride requires a suitable mountain bike (Hybrid and budget bicycles are not suitable)
    • See the ‘Bike Hire‘ section below if you need to hire a bike
  • Riders should be aged 18 and over
  • If this ride sounds a little beyond your current skill and fitness level, please contact us and we’ll help you look at other options
Reviews
  1. Josh

    I had a really great ride with Clive on the Surrey Hills. He was able to give me lots of encouragement and tips that helped me improve my skills and confidence considerably. We did a variety of trails, and Clive was really knowledgeable about the area. Would highly recommend.

  2. Laura

    Really great morning exploring the trails in the Surrey Hills. Clive was a great guide & coach and then pace of the morning went really well. There were lots of helpful tips and the trails were exciting & invigorating. Would highly recommend.

  3. cynthia

    Had a brilliant time with Sean and his wife Rachel. A great ride and great teaching, very exhilarating. I will join another session again.

  4. Alan

    A really good fun morning. V rewarding and informative. Paul was a great guide and made all feel welcome and confident with his easy manner. Highly recommended.

  5. Christian Jennings

    Such a brilliant morning with Clive and the rest of the group. Being a proficient road cyclist I was nonetheless feeling very uncomfortable and lacked confidence on the MTB. A friend recommended Marmalade and I signed up on that basis. The Novice course in the Surrey Hill was on my back doorstep and was perfect – learn to handle the bike and learn the local trails in a safe and encouraging environment. I was drained by the end of the 3 hours or so but so proud of what i had achieved and the fears I overcame. Several days later I am still buzzing. I still can’t believe I went down trails i wouldn’t have dreamed of tackling on my own…..and it was anything but scary. I’ve now signed up to the intermediate Singletrack Adventure session so wish me luck.

  6. JennyL

    Really enjoyed this Intro to mountain biking in the lovely Surrey Hills. Clive was an excellent group leader and really helped with establishing basic techniques and building our confidence. Clive also took us on some great trails and made even the intimidating looking parts completely possible for our whole group. I would absolutely recommend this Intro and I’m looking forward to my next day out with Marmalade. Thanks very much!

  7. Adam

    The guide Clive was fantastic. Super approachable, gave us confidence and the skills needed to tackle everything encountered. Group of 5. No surprises, steady paced and just the right amount of push to get the most out of it! Sean was also really helpful in arranging the day and catering to our needs – including helping to find some hire. Will definitely do another ride.

  8. Tony Pocock

    Sean and the Marmalade team provide a
    fantastic service and make all the rides hugely enjoyable. I return for the intro to
    MTB day on the eMTB to refresh my memories of the trails. Well worth doing at any level

  9. Louise Pickles

    Brilliant morning in the Surrey Hills with Paul and a group of awesome, enthusiastic and kind people. Learned a lot and loved every moment. Thank you Paul for making my first group MTB event one to remember. Would really recommend.

  10. Sara Green

    I was introduced to Marmalade MTB as part of a coaching weekend and after that I couldn’t wait to book on to one of their guided rides. Sean and Paul are fantastic bike guides. On my first ride they managed to coax me down terrain that I would never have tried on my own. They were patient, encouraging and most importantly positive regarding what I could achieve. On my second ride I was whooping all the way down the trail with the wind in my hair and a massive smile on my face. It’s fabulous to ride a new trail and not have to worry about getting lost of whether it’s within your capability. If you’ve not been on a Marmalade Ride then you are missing out! 🙂

  11. ikomor

    Great birthday present from my daughter, really enjoyed the morning and thoroughly enjoyed the intro to mountain biking. Lots of great info and tips, great fun, and a great place to see and learn. What made it was Paul the instructor and the company of those also willing to spend a sunny morning in the Surrey hills, recommend this others

  12. Paulo Gomes

    Fantastic day out with Paul – gave me the confidence and intro to some of the best trails! Cannot wait to go back and MTB the “Surrey Hills Singletrack Adventure” with Marmalade on the 9th May 2021!

  13. Paul Hart

    A really excellent session with Sean. Although I’d done a bit of mountain biking before I picked up loads of useful
    advice and tips. The trails were terrific and Sean has a excellent approachable teaching style. So good that I’ve already booked another Marmalade MTB day.

  14. Jeff Grimes

    Brilliant morning. As a newcomer to mountain biking this provided just the right amount of challenge on my second go at single track. Clive provided useful instruction, helpful feedback and importantly knew where the trails are. Will look to see if I can book on some future Marmalade sessions.

  15. Chris Marshall

    Many thanks to Paul at Marmalade. We had a great time in the Surrey Hills and Paul showed us lots of fantastic trails. Was good to have someone knowledgeable giving you tips as we went on the trails. Would definitely recommend!

  16. Chris Marshall

    Many thanks to Paul at Marmalade. We had a great time in the Surrey Hills and Paul showed us lots of fantastic trails. Was good to have someone knowledgeable giving you tips as we went on the trails. Many thanks Paul.

  17. Joe Powell

    I had a fantastic time doing the intro to mountain biking with Marmalade. The day had a really laid back feel but Sean still got us riding a host of trails and made what would otherwise be intimidating feel totally rideable. A great day which I highly recommend

  18. Sara Bennett

    Many thanks to Sean at Marmalade for a great morning on the Intro to MTB in the Surrey Hills. Armed with his insightful tips and encouragement, I made it down some wonderful single track, feeling in control and wanting to go back and explore more. I look forward to riding with the Marmalade team again as they are really friendly and encouraging and happy to share their knowledge and passion for mountain biking.

  19. Richard Grieveson

    Great introduction to mountain biking. We had a range of abilities in our group and the trails catered to everyone so we all had a great ride. Sean is a great instructor, made us all feel completely at ease. Couldn’t recommend it more!

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Private experience (extra information)

Booking the Introduction to Mountain Biking as a private ride

Base price of £180 is for one to four people. Add more riders for a group of five to eight using the ‘Extras’ drop down menu.
If you want a completely bespoke guided ride, then choose the ‘Custom Half or Full Day’ option from the ‘Experiences’ drop down menu.
Still not sure what experience is for you or have a question? Then please send Sean an email or call on +44(0)7840724611.

Need to hire a bike? Then after you have booked your private ride, scroll down or click here to reserve your bike(s).

Meet point: Once you have booked, we can decide on the best location to start your ride. This will depend on where your accommodation is and whether or not you require bike hire. If required we can bring the bikes to you.
If you want to discuss this before you book then please send Sean an email or call on +44(0)7840724611.

(All prices include VAT)

Bike hire (extra information)

How to book your bike:

  1. From the system below select the dates to match the ride you have booked with us
  2. Select the full day option
  3. Select normal mountain bike or electric mountain bike
  4. Choose the size of bike, based on your height
  5. Go to checkout and complete the bike hire reservation for each rider


These fantastic bikes, and this booking system, are provided by our friends at The Riders Hub. If you have any questions or problems around booking your bike, just contact the Riders Hub team and they’ll help.

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