Box Hill
Added on Wednesday, May 7th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
The over-crowded South-East corner of England isn’t exactly biker heaven, but you can find relatively quiet roads, if you get up early enough at the weekends. This run takes you from the biggest biker haunt in the area, at Box Hill, down to the white cliffs at Beachy Head.
The Route
Box Hill - Dorking - Horsham - Shoreham - Newhaven - Seaford - Beachy Head
Start at Box Hill, preferably at Ryka’s cafe, which is located near the roundabout on the A24, where you will see a sign for Box Hill. The single track road up to the hill is worth the trip however, although parking for bikes is limited at the top, with pay-and-display machines at virtually every tree stump.
Once you have had a gawp at the bikes, get fuelled up in nearby Dorking, along the A24 South (P), then follow the signs for Worthing. The A24 is a fast road, with many two lane sections, but watch out for the 40mph limited areas in villages along the way. Some interesting roundabouts near Horsham break things up a bit, with the A24 running on until the junction with the A272, where you hang a left, signed for Haywards Heath.
After just a few miles, take a right turn onto the A2037, signed for Shoreham, which has some excellent twisty sections along the way. Slow things down for Henfield, before picking up speed again, running straight down for the coast. A tricky little approach to a roundabout brings you onto the A283, then follow signs for the main A27 Lewes/Brighton, Eastbound. An amazing slip-road corner, which seems to go on forever, brings you onto the A27 flyover here, but watch out for lorry diesel on this ace curve.
Now the slightly boring bit, thrumming along the A27, although it does have better than average scenery for a dual carriageway, including a rather splendid tunnel. Keep with it for 20 miles or so, taking the A26 to Newhaven, trickling through the docks area, following signs for Seaford. The A259 gets very curvy out of Seaford, running onto East Dean, where you need to slow it down for the tourist signs directing you to Beachy Head. The approach road is narrow, packed with tourist traffic at all times, so take it slow.
Worth it however, as the view from the top of the rolling chalk downs is always windswept and interesting. A trip downhill into Eastbourne should see you right for petrol if you need some, then home again.
Police File
The Metropolitan Police have been known to use the B roads around Beachy Head to train their drivers, who are usually seen ‘four up’ in unmarked cars. The downhill sections of the A27 are also an easy choice for Police wishing to test their VASCAR fingertip reactions on speeding bikers. Like most of the South-East, Gatso cameras are located all over the place, although most have no film in them. Obviously you should be very careful at all towns and villages with 40/30mph limits, as cameras are sometimes mounted behind street furniture and trees to catch the unwary.
Pitstops
MAG recommend a small selection of biker friendly pubs on their website, including the Rodmill at Eastbourne or The Golden Martlett, on Station Road, Hellingly, which offers live bands and camping facilities too.
Grab a bite at The George, Trafalgar Street Brighton, which is known for its specialist vegetarian menu, or are you feeling saucy? Then try SAUCY, on Church Street in Hove, near Brighton, which has traditional British food, but with a kinda trendy, mod style to it. Then again, if you like bikes surrounding you as you eat, then it’s hard to beat Ryka’s, located at the bottom of Box Hill.
