Milford is a village just south of Godalming in Surrey, on the old road from London to Portsmouth. The A3 runs past it, climbing south towards Hindhead and the Devil's Punch Bowl, a huge natural hollow in the sandstone hills, and that climb is the reason this is a high point on the ride.
For decades, the A3 squeezed through Hindhead and along the rim of the Punch Bowl, a notorious bottleneck. In 2011, a tunnel was opened beneath the hill, and the old road was removed and returned to heathland. Now you can walk along the rim of the Punch Bowl in peace, with views across the heath and woodland to the South Downs on a clear day. Gibbet Hill, nearby, is one of the highest points in Surrey, named for the gallows where highwaymen and murderers were once hanged.
The countryside around Milford is a mix of heath, woodland and farmland, with sandy soils and pine trees. Witley Common and Thursley National Nature Reserve are among the best heathland reserves in southern England, home to rare birds, reptiles and dragonflies. The villages are pretty, with old cottages and churches.
For riders, the roads here are part of the Surrey Hills, a popular riding area. The lanes are narrow and twisting, with steep hills and blind bends, and the A-roads are faster, with long, open bends. Traffic can be heavy, especially at weekends, and speed limits are strictly enforced. Fuel and food are available in Milford and Godalming. As a start and finish, Milford offers easy access to the hills.