Again a Sustrans engineered route, signed NCN22 throughout, plenty of it off-road, that runs parallel to Cycle Orbital below the Downs from Dorking to Shere. It then turns SW to pick up an abandoned rail track S of Bramley – L on NCN223 to Horsham and Shoreham-by-Sea, R for Guildford (NCN22 to Portsmouth). Like Spinoff 5 you may be tempted onto this route by views from the Downs above - in this case as you cycle Arc 7.
Starting at Boxhill and West Humble, then alongside the A24 through the Mole Gap, past Denbies vineyard Dorking Main and Dorking Deepdene 1.2 and then L through Dorking town centre 1.3. L here to climb on Leith Hill Loop to the highest point in S England – Leith Hill NT, just over 1000ft 305m, tower included. From Milton Court Lane 2.4 NCN22 begins on a terrific off-road section in the vale beneath the Downs escarpment. At 5.7 cross White Down Lane and into Abinger Roughs NT (very loose sandy surface in places). Here the Leith Hill Loop returns from the S, but continuing N for the formidible ascent of White Down. But continuing W: L down the Greensand canyon of Hackhurst Lane 6.7 to Abinger Hammer 6.9. R briefly on A25, then L for another off-road adventure below Gomshall and Shere.
Picking up lanes again (L Sandy Lane, 8.5 R Little London 8.8) follow NCN22 signage to Shamley Green 12.7 via Farley Green 10.1. At 13.2 a short offroad link to NCN223 – which you join via an “underpass” (railway bridge) 13.7. South lies Horsham and the Downs Link to Shoreham-by-Sea (NCN223), but we stay with NCN22 on the Downs Link railway section through Bramley 14.8, over the R Wey and leaving the railtrack at Broadford Rd 16.2 – an excellent ride. You stay off-road beside the Wey Navigation right into central Guildford.
