Box Hill Climb Guide: The Zig Zag Road in Surrey

Box Hill is one of Britain’s best-known climbs, and not because it’s hard. The Zig Zag Road near Dorking is short and steady, with alpine-style hairpins, a café at the top and a place in Olympic history.

The numbers

• Start: the bottom of the Zig Zag Road, just outside Dorking, Surrey.
• Top: the National Trust car park and café.
• Length: about 2.5 km (1.6 miles).
• Average gradient: about 5%.
• Steepest: about 8%.
• Climbing: about 130 m (420 ft).
• Hairpins: a few continental-style bends, the first about 0.6 km in.

Climb figures differ a little from source to source, depending on where each one starts and stops the clock. Where they differ, we give a range or say “about”.

Why it’s famous

The London 2012 Olympic road races looped over it: the men’s peloton climbed it nine times and the women’s twice. It’s still part of big rides like RideLondon, and there’s a café at the top.

How to ride it

• Take the bends wide: the inside line of a hairpin is the steepest.
• Go again: it’s short, so it’s a good hill for repeats. See how to run a hill repeat ride.
• Share the road: expect walkers, cars and other riders.

The Strava segment

There’s a segment for this climb, and plenty of riders judge their day by where they land on it. Set an honest time on your first go, without blowing up, then come back and beat it. The King and Queen of the Mountain crowns are for the very fastest; for most of us the real target is a personal best.

What to wear up it

You’ll be seen at the café, so dress for it. Our Climbs jerseys are drawn from the mountains: the Mont Ventoux Mistral, Contour and TOUGH After the Climb. Each is made to order, with free personalization.

Riding the Classics too? Read riding the Flanders and Roubaix sportives. More climbs: famous Strava climbs.

Strava is a trademark of Strava, Inc. Corbah isn’t connected to Strava; this is our own guide.