Hassocks to Ashdown Forest loop

On Sunday 26th July 2026, we're leaving promptly from the Hassocks Proper Cycling and Coffee café at 26 Keymer Rd, Hassocks BN6 8AN at 09.30 am to avoid the worst heat. This ride will be 44 miles hilly cycling through the Weald and Ashdown Forest. Bring a picnic.

Please get to the café early if you want to have a cup of coffee before leaving!

From Hassocks, we will cycle through Ditchling up to Horsted Keynes and into the Ashdown Forest via Twyford. We will stop at the Ashdown Forest Visitor Centre to eat our picnic (there will be loos but no café), before facing the gruelling Kidd Hill which takes us up to the Ashdown Forest Ridge where we will stop for a quick break to take photos by the Friends Clump Car Park. 

The route back will come south through Piltdown and Barcombe before heading back west to Westmeston and Hassocks.

Prepare for another hot day, suntan lotion and extra water are essential!

If possible, please contact the ride leader (organiser) by email using the link on this page if you would like to join us. Otherwise please just come to the start and speak to the ride leader.

There is a downloadable gpx file of the route at the link below.

Please note: All our rides are weather-dependent. If the weather looks bad, a ride will be cancelled!

Also: please take note of any weather alerts and respond appropriately to heatwave information. Always bring plenty of water to drink when the weather is hot. 

If you plan to come on any of our rides, please make sure your cycle is in a roadworthy condition. Bring a puncture repair kit, spare inner tube (or as appropriate for tubeless tyres), essential tools, a mobile phone if you have one, snacks and enough to drink, sunscreen/waterproofs/warm clothing as appropriate. Don't forget your lights if you expect to be out in the hours of darkness. Please follow Cycling UK guidance and the Highway Code. Check with the ride leader about the distance and hilliness of the ride if you are unsure. See contact details below. 

There is a simple signing on process at the beginning of the ride. Please inform the ride leader if you have a medical condition that might affect your ride.