John Snuggs will lead us to watch Le Tour
Posted on Wednesday 11 April 2007 by John Snuggs
Nick, Paul Foster, Inez, Camille and John plus newbie Dymmock tried out the route for the 8 July ride from Borough Green to the CTC party at Brenchley and to watch the Tour.
It’s 30km from Borough Green to Brenchley if you go as the (mountain-climbing) crow flies. Due to the undulations, I’d allow at least 1h30min to complete the trip.
We soon got into pretty lanes within 5 mins of leaving Borough Green and set off over the lumps (one of them 10%) via Dunks Green. Then the fast bit through Hadlow and East Peckham to the foot of the hill that Brenchley lives on, with the annoying temporary traffic lights at the top.
The Halfway House, where the CTC shindig will happen, is the other side of Brenchley on the way to Horsmonden. It’s a brilliant pub not unlike a Tardis - looks like a small place from the outside, but is huge inside. It also has a big garden. It’s also Kent Real Ale Pub of the Year 2006.
We rode back via a longer (about 40km) route via Tudeley and Ightham that avoided the steeper lumps, although the descents were spoiled by poxy cars getting in the way. I don’t do brakes, usually. The weather was great, the scenery was pretty, the views were long, the trains were punctual and the railway staff were friendly.
A grand day out. Except for my cranks deciding to loosen a few times 
Here’s the route I’ll use on 8 July.
Note that there are two unavoidable 10% climbs 