Cycling and mountain biking in Fetcham, Surrey
The Moles lose their bikes at Tunnel Hill (but might have left their bikes in Fetcham!)
Welcome to the Muddymoles. Since you are visiting this page, chances are you live in Fetcham and would like to go cycling in Fetcham (or nearby on the North Downs and Surrey Hills)?
That’s great! You’ve come to the right place.
The Muddymoles are a group of mountain bikers and cyclists that have had an online presence since 2005; this website has seen a lot of guff spouted over the years, but we just can’t help ourselves.
If you live in Fetcham in Surrey and you want to go cycling or mountain biking, please contact us or email us at ma@muddymoles.org.uk. We’d love to hear from you. Sometimes people come along for a ride or two when it suits, quite often they become long-term riders and friends.
We would like to point out that we are not a club (there are no fees) and meeting us for a ride is strictly on the basis that all riding is at your own risk. Mountain biking and cycling can be a dangerous sport, so please be aware of this at all times and be as self sufficient as possible.
This website lets us talk nonsense about bikes, bring people together and record our thoughts and activities – that’s it.
About Fetcham
Fetcham is a Mole Valley village in the south east of England in the UK, west of Leatherhead and on the North side of the North Downs. It sits along a spring line between Leatherhead and Guildford that takes in Bookham too. In Fetcham this is most apparent from the Mill Pond and lower lying land.
Contrary to the local joke – ‘you Fetcham, I’ll Bookham’ – the name of the village derives from ‘Fecca’s ham’. In the Domesday book it’s called Feceham. Maybe the joke isn’t so far off after all. The name actually means Fecca’s settlement and is Anglo Saxon, although evidence suggests far older occupation of the area. Just check out the Bell pub in Fetcham (another joke – it’s a nice local actually, and it often supports post-ride rehydration efforts of the Moles).
Also worth noting is Fetcham Park House, a Queen Anne mansion that dates to 1699 but has had several uses, including a boys boarding school (Badingham College) and as University College Hospital’s pre-clinical medical school during WW2. Several bombs fell in the grounds during the war. These days it is serviced office space and is used as a wedding venue.
To the north of Fetcham is and one of the country’s busiest National Trust properties – Polesden Lacey – is just up the road on the south side of Bookham.
You can read more about Fetcham on Wikipedia.
Cycling in Fetcham with the Muddymoles
Cycling is one of those activities that has something for everyone.
Getting fitter is one key benefit; although our interests are closer to maintaining fitness it depends where you are starting from.
Community is another great feature of cycling. Most of us have met and maintained friendships over a number of years through this website. Aside from regular riding at weekends and evenings we have active chat via our WhatsApp group and regular post ride drinks – once you know people there’s always someone who wants company on a ride.
Finally of course, there’s the kit – bikes, equipment and clothing have all evolved over the years and if you like that side of things people will always have an opinion, and we might have a review!
The main point to make is that we are a broad church. We go mountain biking, gravel biking, even road biking, usually around the Surrey Hills. We go to Leith Hill, and Holmbury Hill and Pitch Hill and Ranmore, and Reigate. Sometimes we even go to Wales, or France, or the Alps. Any excuse really.
If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading!