The CAMRA South West London Cycling Section came into being before the Covid pandemic and we subsequently thrived on cleaner air and quieter roads during the lockdowns and associated restrictions. Several pubs and breweries offered cask beer and real cider or perry in takeaway containers. With very few of us on any particular ride, social distancing was easily observed in single file.
More recently, other keener cyclists have joined us, we’ve visited more places and covered greater distances. Always taking it gently though, as well as drinking responsibly, we average no more than ten miles per hour and no fewer than 50 miles per gallon. Excursions are recorded and aspirations shared among a WhatsApp group that anyone may join.
Starting and finishing near Wimbledon, some of our shorter circular tours have targeted the changing Pub of the Year winners entered for the Greater London regional competition. Other destinations have included:
• The Queen’s Head at Downe and Orpington Liberal Club (though Downe would more accurately be named Uppe);
• The annual wassailing and apple pressing events generously organised by our regional cider co-ordinator, Ian White at One Tree Allotments, Honor Oak;
• South East London micropubs out as far as Crayford (any half dozen or so of more than 30, depending on their opening times);
• The Gidea Park Micropub; Hop Inn, Hornchurch; and Upminster TapRoom;
• The Little Green Dragon, Winchmore Hill; Antwerp Arms, Tottenham; and Chesham Arms, Hackney;
• Walthamstow and the breweries along Blackhorse Lane;
• The Epping Ongar Railway beer festival at North Weald;
• The Land of Liberty, Peace and Plenty at Heronsgate, beyond Uxbridge, in dry weather mostly along the Grand Union Canal towpath; then back via the Masons Arms in Teddington;
• Chobham, out across the bosky Surrey Heath;
• Windsor: historic pubs and now three microbreweries;
• Pilgrim, Dorking and DropKick breweries, and the King William IV at Mickleham.
Three of us enjoyed two longer rides during 2025:
• a one-way journey on Good Friday to the Easter beer festival at Downton Brewery, nine hours on the road with one-hour refreshment stops at the Watership Down Inn, Freefolk; the John O’Gaunt, Horsebridge; and the Cuckoo Inn, Hamptworth;
• a leisurely pub tour round Reading in the autumn, then back via the aptly named Elusive Brewery.
Cycling stalwart Robin Wootton has recorded GPS tracks for all thirty of the routes taken by SWL Cycling Section since he joined in 2023. He has compiled a map of these that also shows the refreshment points surveyed along the way. The map can be clicking on this link.
Many cheers to cycling and good health!
Geoff Strawbridge