Good cycling in the Dartford area?

OnTheRopes

I will be in the Dartford area for 6 nights this week.
Do any decent, safe road routes exist for evening training? I don't know the area at all.

keef66

Are we talking Dartford Tunnel or Dartmoor?

I'd say no to the first and deffo to the second

guy.spartacus

Head out towards Cobham, Luddesdown, Meopham and into the Downs

It might involve a deathly dash down the A2 but is better than chancing your arm around Dartford with foreign artics etc

OnTheRopes

guy.spartacus wrote:

Head out towards Cobham, Luddesdown, Meopham and into the Downs

It might involve a deathly dash down the A2 but is better than chancing your arm around Dartford with foreign artics etc

Thanks, any ideas what the B260 is like as a route out that way?

guy.spartacus

Always depends on traffic/accidents & incidents at the tunnel/M25/A2/M20 - people use it as a rat run to avoid the main roads if something's happened

davep1

Probably be better driving out to near the M25 and then riding. Head south, towards Westerham/Kent for some hills.

OnTheRopes

DaveP1 wrote:

Probably be better driving out to near the M25 and then riding. Head south, towards Westerham/Kent for some hills.

Thanks
No offence to locals but I couldn't live around these parts. Way too much traffic and congestion. Thank goodness Im out in deepest Kent next week.

guy.spartacus

I only work near Dartford

I live down in deepest Kent between Ashford and Folkestone at the foot of the Downs

OnTheRopes

guy.spartacus wrote:

I only work near Dartford

I live down in deepest Kent between Ashford and Folkestone at the foot of the Downs

Yes it's nice round there

bsharp77

Just a few of my favourites when I used to live around that area:

Toys Hill
Star Hill
Vigo Hill
Carters Hill
Ide Hill

You are in for a fantastic few days with some lovely scenery once you get out of the towns and into the Kent countryside.
Not sure exactly where you're based in Dartford, but it shouldn't take long to get out onto the quieter country roads.
Failing that, as already mentioned, drive out to Westerham and start there - its the gateway to all things good cycling wise!

johngti

Nothing wrong with Dartford cycling, you're 5 minutes from the lanes. Head for Swanley/Horton kirby/eynsford/otford. Some decent roads and lanes that way. This was my Sunday route.... https://www.strava.com/activities/62847 ... d?hl=en-US

OnTheRopes

Thanks for the info, didnt get the chance to ride unfortunately, but moving to Goudhurst for a few days so hope to get out in an evening

Tiesetrotter

Goudhurst is a lovely area. You can head over to the Kent Weald from there which is just rolling English countryside and delightful villages.

Also if you are stuck for an evening meal try the Half Way House at Horsemonden. Rather a quirky little pub.

Pity I didn't see your original post. Unfortunately the Medway towns are blighted by over population. However you are right on the door step of the North Downs and the end of the Surrey sand hills. Once you know the area you can skirt the busy roads and stick to some nice quite lanes.

The Darenth Valley and all around Sevenoaks right the way into Orpington is very lovely. If you'd had the chance you could have headed for Eynesford Ightham and then round to Ide Hill via Yorks hill. Yorks is the home of the Catford Hill climb and Ide Cafe has an amazing view of Kent.

Not saying it isn't crowded, but it always has been so the plethora of lanes means there is always a quite route. I live in Crystal Palace Zone 3. I can get to the first quite lane in 15 minutes and the only busy roads on my routes are a couple of hundred yards to get to another quite lane.

A couple of examples:
https://www.strava.com/routes/5605649
https://www.strava.com/routes/5366748

From Goudhurst some of this is a really good loop:
https://www.strava.com/routes/672217

However search ridewithGPS.

OnTheRopes

@Tieserotter - Thanks for the post. I have been out a couple of evenings now from Goudhurst, nice roads and area apart from the odd rat run. Like the look of your 150k loop but no time for that after work and I am not that fit at the moment.
Last night tonight then back home to the Peak District, I expect I will be back in a few weeks to give it some more.