100 Climbs Route: Day 29, Kings Langley to Guildford, via Central London
In August 2018, three Cycling UK members - Dominic Millar, Graham Salisbury and James Findlater – cycled a 3,300-mile, 29-day route around Britain to take on all 100 hills featured in Simon Warren’s book ‘100 Greatest Cycling Climbs’. This route plots day 29 - the final day of the journey - 78 miles from Kings Langley to Guildford, taking in the climbs of Mott Street and Swains Lane.
The final day is here at last, and – like the last day of the Tour de France – it’s something of a ceremonial ride at just 78 miles, rather than the 100+ you’ve been used to. There’s still the matter of two outstanding climbs that need ticking off, though, and one of the busiest and most dynamic cities in the world to navigate. Which means that, rather than make a beeline for Guildford, the first part of the day will be spent heading east into Essex.
Leave Kings Langley in the direction of Bedmond, cross the M1, and effectively shadow the M25 eastwards, passing through South Mimms and Potters Bar before diving further in towards London, through Enfield. Ride between the reservoirs after Ponders End and north to Sewardstone, which marks the imminent arrival of climb number 99: Mott Street. You might not expect much of a challenge round these parts, but this is a proper climb, so be prepared.
After Mott Street it’s a urban blast through north-east London to Finsbury Park, Holloway and eventually Hampstead for our 100th and final challenge: Swains Lane. It’s no gimme, either. With tree cover casting the road into darkness and the famous cemetery alongside (pop in and see Karl Marx’s tomb, if you like that kind of thing), this a unique climb with a special London feel to it.
So all the climbs are all finished, but the ride isn’t – you’ve still got to get back to Guildford.
That means heading south through Kentish Town, past St Pancras, through Russell Square, down to Embankment and alongside the river past the Houses of Parliament all the way to Chelsea. Then over Putney Bridge, through Richmond Park, Kingston-upon-Thames and Hampton Court Park. Then south past Sandown racecourse all the way to Cobham. Over the M25. And finally back through rural Surrey all the way to Guildford. Phew.
But what a fantastic final day to cap a quite extraordinary tour.
