Box Hill Surrey UK

Just a few miles from Venhill's Dorking factory sits one of the most iconic destinations in British motorcycling: Box Hill.

Rising to 224 metres at Betchworth Clump, Box Hill has been a meeting place for riders since the 1920s, making it one of the oldest informal biker meeting spots in the country. It takes its name from the ancient box woodland clinging to its steep western chalk slopes above the River Mole. For generations of riders, it's the famous ‘Zig-Zag Road’ that really matters – a challenging series of hairpins climbing the hillside that has been described as ‘the South of England's answer to the Susten Pass.’

Ryka's Café at the foot of the Hill has also been an enduring cornerstone of motorbike culture too, evolving from a simple roadside stop into a legendary landmark. On any given Sunday - and most weekday evenings - you'll find everything from pristine classics to the latest superbikes lined up in the car park, their owners swapping stories and admiring machinery.

Box Hill's significance extends beyond its physical presence. British biker rock band Dumpy's Rusty Nuts immortalised the destination in their 1984 single ‘Box Hill or Bust’, which became something of a cult anthem among the riding community and perfectly captured the pilgrimage mentality that draws bikers here week after week. Even more famous is Richard Thompson's acclaimed 1991 ballad ‘1952 Vincent Black Lightning’, which namechecks Box Hill as the romantic destination where outlaw James takes Red Molly for a ride on his legendary Vincent. 

While Box Hill might be synonymous with motorcycling, its appeal spans the two-wheeled spectrum. The hill gained worldwide attention when it featured prominently in the London 2012 Olympic road cycling race, with competitors tackling the challenging 4.9 percent gradients no fewer than nine times during the event.

The area's cycling heritage in fact predates its motorcycling connections. As early as the 1890s, hundreds lined the road for Dorking Cycling Club events, with the steep gradients and sharp turns making it perfect for all kinds of road races, hill climbs and time trials.

For us at Venhill, Box Hill is practically next door - less than three miles from our factory in Dorking - but even if it isn’t quite as close for you, it’s a great excuse for a ride-out to test a new cable or clutch line, grab a coffee and talk bikes with whoever’s parked up next to you.

Top tip: go early one weekday, catch the sunrise over the valley, and enjoy one of the UK’s most famous biker hangouts.