Surrey Hills Trailblazer – NEW

From £58.00 inc. VAT

(15 customer reviews)

Ride info

Location: Surrey Hills
Duration: 4-6 hours
Style: Trail
Level: 8

MTB ride rating 8

Bike type

Mountain bike
Electric mountain bike

Distance

22 mi | 35 km

Ascent

3,600 ft | 1,100 m

Surrey Hills Trailblazer – NEW

From £58.00 inc. VAT

(15 customer reviews)

Rebooted for 2024, our classic Trailblazer now features the best exhilarating trails of Winterfold Forest. With a bunch of exciting new trails, our new-recipe Trailblazer now brings the trails of Winterfold together with our favourites on Pitch and Holmbury Hills.

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

Description

Rebooted for 2024, our classic Trailblazer now includes five exhilarating trails on Winterfold Hill.

Surrey Hills guided rides do not come better than the Trailblazer. Aimed at upper-intermediate riders, our aim is to show you the very best of Winterfold, Pitch and Holmbury Hills. From the tight and twisting to the flat out and steep – plus all the classics to link it all together! As with all Marmalade MTB rides, this is no race and no training camp. It’s a super sociable ride with laughs guaranteed. We want to show you everything and therefore, this ride is strictly for intermediate and advanced riders who have a good level of fitness.

What to expect

You’ll need to have a good level of fitness and strength to be able to enjoy this ride designed for upper intermediate and advanced bikers. This carefully crafted route takes in all the red-graded singletrack across Holmbury Hill, Pitch Hill and Winterfold Hill. Some sections of the trail will be off-camber, rooty with no clear line choice and therefore only suitable for confident and regular mountain bikers. There will also be jump features, though these can be either rolled or by-passed on a different line.

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 Royal Oak.

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

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 singletrack trail ride. There will be fun, flowing descents, off-camber roots and committing tight, twisty, steep sections. So a modern trail hardtail, full suspension mountain bike would be perfect. This ride is as much about the rider’s experience level as the bike they are riding.

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: 4-6 hours
  • Distance: 22 mi | 35 km
  • Ascent: 3,600 ft | 1,100 m
  • Level: +Intermediate – Advanced
    (If you have any questions about your level, just contact us)
  • Meet time: 8.30am │ 9.00am on bikes
  • Meet point: Royal Oak, Holmbury St Mary
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 experienced and the regular mountain biker looking for a challenging and sociable group ride
  • To take part, you’ll need to be an active person who has the personal fitness to ride for at least 4 hours at a social and comfortable pace
  • You will be confident in mountain bike handling skills on red graded trails and profficient with operating your bicycle in the correct manner
  • The trails will include features such as roots, small to long rollable drop-offs and loose rocks. Some of which are not avoidable
  • Certain trails will be steep in places which will require confident bike-handling skills
  • 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. John czogalik

    Marmalade still pulling it out of the bag and delivers a great day Even though I’ve done so many surrey hills mtb day rides I don’t know how but every one seems special A massive playground but only if you know where to go Thanks Sean and Andy I will always be back And super friendly and no pressure five ***** plus

  2. Steve W

    Whilst the weather was foul and got worse as the day wore on, this was a really enjoyable session. Surrey Hills is my local, but I discovered some new trails which I will be incorporating into my regular rides. There is a lot of climbing involved, and my fitness was found wanting, but the group was really friendly and supportive and Andy is a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, an extensive map of the trails seemingly etched into his memory, and he managed the group really well. I’ll definitely be back again, hopefully in drier conditions and a little fitter!

  3. Rob

    First time out with Marmalade. Andy was a great guide briefing us on the trails ahead and letting me follow his line a couple of times to make sure I wasn’t caught out as I was the only newcomer to the Surrey Hills. When time allows I will definitely be using Marmalade again to guide me around this awesome riding destination.

  4. Richard Mason

    A 3rd time out on the trailblazer and as good as ever. Andy was an excellent guide, with a few new tracks thrown in for good measure and an excellent, sociable group as always with Marmalade.

  5. Michael McCann

    Have ridden the Surry Hills for years so wondered what a guided tour could add the answer was sheer utter enjoyment being able to sit back (literally) and follow Seans lead as he took us down routes I didnt even know existed ! This covered all the classics and Sean guided us with expertise but also patience and understanding ensuring no one felt left out

  6. smb

    Just completed another Surrey Hills Trail Blazer with Marmalade and already looking forwards to another this Sunday. So, for those of you who hesitate to do this ride, do not, its fantastic. the trip caters for all levels and Andy (leader) must have a genetic implanted mapping device as he knows this place “like the back of his hand”. The trails are amazing with berms, drop-offs and fast ascents everywhere – the adrenaline will propel you back up the hills! Savouries, cakes & coffee at Peaslake is simply icing on the cake – sorry, i cannot help with the cliches! Thank you Marmalade, an excellent service all round!

  7. Mark Wild

    As always, a fantastic day out! Sean’s expert knowledge of the Surrey Hills just allows you to get out and ride. No worries about logistics, route planning or anything else.
    What a great day, you really couldn’t ask for more!

  8. Bruce Mommsen

    Can’t recommend this one highly enough. As a newbie to the area, this was a great way to discover what this amazing trail network has to offer. Sean and team were superb guides and great company. Will be back for sure!

  9. Richard Mason

    My second time doing this ride and even better on some great trails. Paul was an excellent guide. Thoroughly recommended. Looking forward to the Brecon Beacons next

  10. Thomas Hanley

    Amazing day on the bike, even if you ride in the Surrey Hills regularly I would recommend this ride. It is a great way to discover new trails and learn how to link the trails you know already. Paul our guide was excellent and a good laugh as well. It was my second ride with Marmalade and certainly won’t be my last.

  11. Richard Mason

    Having done the Surrey Hills singletrack, this was even better and a fantastic ride. Ben was a great guide and it was just a brilliant day out. Can’t recommend it highly enough.

  12. Martin Barnes

    Martin Barnes
    Very enjoyable first ever ride on the Surrey hills. We had Ben as our guide and would highly recommend this trailblazer. Lots of ups but lots of big grin factor downs too. Looking forward to seeing the video. See you again soon

  13. andypittson

    This is definitely my favourite trip! As always Ben supplied the high level of Marmalade guiding. Excilerating climbs and awesome never ending descents on the best trails of Holmbury and Pitch Hill. If your a regular rider and live to shred! Book this trip! You won’t regret it!

  14. tessagnew

    Wowwwww what a ride! We’ve ridden Surrey Hills with Sean & the team on numerous rides but this one’s a newbie bumper pack of singletrack taking in lots of trails we’d never done before. As with other Marmalade rides, the focus is on making sure everyone has the best day so it’s all about sticking together in a group whilst getting in the right order so everyone gets their flow on the trails. Great group and top leading from Sean, as ever. The post-ride pint was very welcome in 31 degree heat!

  15. robert.i.jones

    A great day out. Great trails and well run session. Will be back for another one soon.

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Private experience (extra information)

Booking the Trailblazer as a private ride

To enjoy the Marmalade Trailblazer as a private experience, the base price is £240 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 him on +44 (0)7840 724611.

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 whether you’re staing locally 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 him on +44 (0)7840 724611.

(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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