Thornton's Home Run

Thornton Road Club is coming Home

Sunday May 17^th 2009

There has been an impressive response to the daunting (for some) prospect of the cycle to and from Thornton Heath.

The aim is to have an enjoyable ride through some wonderful Kent and Surrey countryside back ‘home’ to the place where the Thornton Road Club was founded back in 1946; meet at the Wheatsheaf pub (which is on the A235 at Thornton Heath Pond) for lunch at 12 noon, meet up with Gordon, take some group photos (courtesy of Sticky) and then set off back to Romney Marsh at about 13:00.

A few tips:

Passing through Croydon centre is a bit tricky – you may prefer to stick to the pedestrianised High St - and beware of the trams!

Stick together in your Group.

Tunbridge Wells is about half way – coffee / food stop at ‘The Pantiles’, or there is a Texaco garage just after.

Take a bike lock!

Due to the numbers and varied abilities of those taking part, there will be three groups of riders ‘Coming Home’. Your Group Leader has a map of the route to Thornton Heath, which passes through Tenterden, Goudhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Four Elms, Warlingham and Croydon - a more detailed route plan is attached.

Please contact your Group Leader and confirm meeting times, details etc.

Group A Starting from and returning to Tonbridge (Average speed 10mph)

Graeme Pilcher  Group leader

Rachele Pumphrey

Toni Spain

Paul Hope

Ian Fowler

Roy White

Jane White

Group B  Starting from and returning to Botolphs Bridge (Average speed 15mph)

Richard Foster  Group leader

Russ Mason

Group  C Starting from and returning to Botolphs Bridge (Average speed 18mph)

Michael Pumphrey  Group Leader

Colin Tuckwell

Steve Bunn

Shaun Boorman

Danny Frost

Bob Saunders

Robbie Wheeler

Have an enjoyable day 

Thornton Heath Route 

1. Start @ Botolphs Bridge Pub.
2. Take Lower Wall Road to Giggers Green Rd. 0
3. Turn R. on to Giggers Green Rd. 3.6
4. Turn L. on to B2067 (signposted Hamstreet). 5.8
5. Continue on B2067 all the way to Tenterden. 18.0
6. Turn R. @ first crossroads in Tenterden on to B2080
7. Turn R. on to A28 towards St Michaels/Ashford 18.5.
8. Turn L. on to A262 (signposted Biddenden).
9. At Biddenden turn L. staying on A262. (signposted Tunbridge Wells)
10. Stay on A262 all the way to & thru' Goudhurst 29.0
11. At Roundabout go straight on towards Lamberhurst on B2162.
12. After Lamberhurst turn R. on to B2169(s/posted Tun. Wells) 33.0
13. Follow B2169 all the way to Tun. Wells.
14. At Tun. Wells go straight across 1^st crossroads(s/pd E. Grinstead).
15. Turn R. on to A267 @ Bull Inn. 39.5
16. Turn L. @ 1^st mini- rdabout, & R. @ 2^nd up hill, in Tun. Wells.
17. Turn L. on to A264
18. Turn R. on to B2188 & immediate R. staying on B2188(Penshurst)42.4
19. Turn L. in Penshurst on to B2176
20. Turn L. @ Chiddingstone Causeway on to B2027.
21. Follow B2027 thru' Four Elms when it changes to B269.
22. At junction with B2026 turn R. & then L. staying on B269(s/pd Limpsfield)
23. At junction with A25 Turn L. & 1^st R. staying on B269.
24. Follow B269 all the way to Croydon.(straight over r/abouts @ Warlingham (63 m) & Sanderstead.
25. At A235 turn R. & cycle straight thru Croydon.
26. Keep on A235 all the way to Thornton Heath Pond. (74 miles approx)
27. Turn around and go back!