Posts tagged Surrey
Walking the River Wey Part 9: Godalming and Eashing

Old Eashing Bridge

Start and Finish: Crown Court Car Park, 41 The Burys, Godalming, GU7 1HR
Alternative Start and Finish: Godalming Station, Godalming GU7 1EU
Distance: 8.2 km (5.1 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 90m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): The Fox Way, Salgassens Path
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Surrey Cycleway
Cafe / pubs on route: Several at the start and end at Godalming. Plus: The Stag on the River (just off route at 4.2 km in)
Map: Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Links: Wey Navigation, River Wey, Godalming, Eashing, Eashing National Trust

This is the ninth and last of a series of short circular walks along the River Wey and the Wey Navigation canal in Surrey. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

This walk picks up where section 8 left off at Godalming Station. If you’re driving there’s large car parks either at the station or at the Crown Court in the town centre. If you’re starting from the station head north onto Westbrook Road and take the Fox Way in an easterly direction to Borough Road. If you’re starting from the Crown Court Car Park then follow the Fox way in a westerly direction from the north-western corner of the car park to reach Borough Road.

Follow the path on the left hand side of Borough Road in a northerly direction then cross under the railway bridge. You’ll soon cross a cross bridge over Hell Ditch, a series of drainage channels following the northern side of the Wey near the town. Take the first path on the left after the railway bridge to leave Borough Road and follow Salgassens Path parallel to Hell Ditch.

This westerly-heading part of the walk is a quiet, pleasant section running by or close to the Wey as it meanders away from the town. We were there on a dry day buy I could imagine it being quite boggy after rain. There were a few bits that had recently been cut back and would likely be overgrown early summer.

Around the 4km mark the path ends at the road through Lower Eashing, rejoining the Fox Way. Take a left to follow the road over the National Trust Old Eashing Bridges. Take a right after the bridge to visit The Stag on The River pub. As well as a good place to rest half-way, this is the end of the walkable route next to the River Wey.

For the return section retrace your steps back to Eashing Bridge and follow the Fox Way. You’ll keep to the southern bank of the river for 200 metres before zig-zagging in an easterly direction back towards Godalming. When you reach New Way at the 6.5 km mark you have a choice: either take a left to follow the Fox Way back to Godalming Station or, the slightly longer route taking a right onto New Way to follow the railway line to Ockford Road then following Grove Road to Godalming High Street. I recommend taking the slightly longer route via the High Street to explore the old market town.

Richard gowerTrek, Canal, National Trust, Surrey, EnglandComment
Walking the River Wey Part 8: Guildford to Godalming

Where the North Downs Way crosses the Wey Navigation

Start: Guildford Station, Guildford GU1 4UT
Finish: Godalming Station, Godalming GU7 1EU
Distance: 8.9 km (5.5 miles)
Elevation Change: +49m / - 42m. Net +7m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Wey Navigation Footpath, Wey-South Path, North Downs Way, Scholar’s Trail, Guildford and Shalford Disused Railways Walk, The Fox Way
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Surrey Cycleway
Cafe / pubs on route: Several at the start and end at Guildford and Godalming. Plus: The Ragged Robin (6.3 km in)
Map: Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Links: Wey Navigation, River Wey, River Wey and Godalming Navigations (National Trust), Guildford, Godalming

This is the eighth of a series of short circular walks along the River Wey and the Wey Navigation canal in Surrey. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

Similar to Section 7 this is a station-to-station walk with a train connection between them. We parked near Guildford Station for the start of the walk and returned from Godalming Station at the end. There’s plenty of parking options at Guildford Station however we started 1 km away at Dapdune Wharf which has free parking for National Trust members.

Navigation is especially easy for this section as it follows the towpath on the north-western side of the canal for most of the way, crossing over to the southern side at Bridge Road Godalming. The only part to watch out for is at the start where the path across the islands at Millmead has been temporarily closed and you need to take a diversion of ~0.5km along Millbrook (A281), returning to the towpath after the Weyside pub.

Along the route you’ll pass the bridge where the North Downs Way crosses the canal with a very small beach next to it. We were there on a warm summer’s day and a lot of dogs were making the most of the beach for a dog party. Further down you’ll pass the disused section of the railway that once connected Shalford station to the mainline heading south. There’s also several WW2 Pill-boxes on the route guarding over the canal.

At Godalming you’ll reach the end of the navigable / canalised section. Beyond this the river Wey continues west towards Tilford where it splits with 2 sections leading to different sources. This is the final section of the Wey Navigation walks, but there’s one more walk that follows the river to Eashing.

Richard gowerTrek, Canal, National Trust, Surrey, EnglandComment
Epsom Downs and Langley Vale Wood Circular Walk

Post 130 At Epsom Race Course

Start & Finish: Tattenham Corner Station, Epsom, KT18 5QD
Distance: 11.1 km (6.9 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 160 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22
London Coal Duty Posts: 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, (132), 133, 134, (135), 136
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Bell (just off route at 7.6 km), several in Tattenham Corner High Street
Map: Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Links: Coal Duty Posts, Tattenham Corner, Epsom Downs Race Course, Epsom Downs, Langley Vale Wood, Tadworth

Similar to the Banstead Heath Circular, this walk takes advantage of having several Coal Duty Posts in close proximity. On the 11 km walk through Epsom Downs and Langley Vale Wood you can visit posts 125 to 136. Note that post 135 is no longer visible as it’s in a private garden hidden by a large fence and bushes. Even if you’re not into bagging the Coal Posts, this is a very pleasant walk.

The route crosses the Epsom Downs Race Course on public rights of way which are occasionally closed during race events. Check before you go to make sure that the paths are open.

The start of the route is from Tattenham Corner Station where there’s also 2 car parks. From the station walk along Tattenham Crescent toward the race course then take a right onto Tattenham Corner Road heading north, The first Coal Post (132) is near the Tattenham Corner Pub. Take a left onto National Cycle Route (NCN) 22 heading in a south-westerly direction through the race course. Along this 2.2 km stretch you’ll pass posts 129, 128, 127 and 126 either on or just off the cycle route.

At Post 126 leave NCN 22 and take a right to follow the path through Langley Bottom Farm then take a left to the path that runs close to the southern edge of Langley Vale Road in a south-westerly direction. You’ll find post 125 near the junction of Langley Vale Road, Headley Road and Downs Road. Keep on the path running next to Downs Road then a left onto Headley Road to the entrance of the Langley Vale Wood Woodland Trust site.

The next 2.5 km meander through Langley Vale Wood. This was farmland purchased by the Woodland Trust in 2014 and is now one of four First World War Centenary Woods remembering those killed in the war. Its a beautiful place to walk though. Follow the paths until you reach Post 136 at the corner of Motts Hill Lane.

Take a left to follow Motts Hill Lane in a northerly direction but keep on the path when Motts Hill Lane curves to the right at (the hidden) Post 135. Keeping on the path you’ll pass Post 134 and, when the path meets Epsom Lane North, you can squeeze through the hedge for Post 133 on the eastern side of the road. Just after Post 133 you’ll see Post 130 on the opposite side of the race-course. Cross the track on the footpath to visit it. Cross back over to visit Post 131 on the small hill overlooking the race-course and then follow Royal Drive to return to Tattenham Corner Station.

The Coal Duty Posts

Richard gowerTrek, Coal Duty Post, Surrey, London, EnglandComment
Walking the River Wey Part 7: Worplesdon to Guildford

Woodbridge Crossing, Guildford

Start: Worplesdon Station, Woking, GU22 0RN
Finish: Guildford Station, Guildford GU1 4UT
Distance: 11.9 km (7.4 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 52m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Wey Navigation Footpath, The Fox Way
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Surrey Cycleway
Cafe / pubs on route: The Olive Tree (2.5 km in), The Row Barge (9.1 km in), Cafe at National Trust Dapdune Wharf (just off route at 11 km in), many in Guildford Town Centre at end
Map: Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Links: Wey Navigation, River Wey, River Wey and Godalming Navigations (National Trust), Worpledon, National Trust Dapdune Wharf, Guildford

This is the seventh of a series of short circular walks along the River Wey and the Wey Navigation canal in Surrey. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

In a change to the circular routes of previous sections, this one is a station-to-station walk with a train connection between them. We parked near Guildford Station and took the train one stop north to start the walk at Worplesdon Station. From Worplesdon Station entrance walk north to meet Prey Heath Road and take a right. You’ll now be on the Fox Way which you’ll follow in an easterly direction until you reach the Wey Navigation between Sutton Green and Fell Hill. Note that the Fox Way isn’t well sign-posted so a map or GPX route is important here.

You’ll reach the Wey Navigation at the marshy island where section 6 left the canal. Cross over to the eastern side of the canal and take a right heading south. From here the rest of the route is very simple with 8.5 km of towpath walking all the way back to Guildford Station. When you get to the Woodbridge Crossing (as featured on the banner photo above), around 11 km in, it’s worth taking a short diversion over the footbridge to the National Trust property at Dapdune Wharf. There’s exhibitions about the Wey Navigation, a cafe and and old barge.

Richard gowerTrek, Canal, National Trust, Surrey, EnglandComment
Walking the River Wey Part 6: Newark Lane and Send

Reflections in the Wey

Start & Finish: Newark Lane Car Park, Ripley, Woking, GU23 7ES
Distance: 9.7 km (6 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 39m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Wey Navigation Footpath, The Fox Way
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Surrey Cycleway
Cafe / pubs on route: The New Inn, Send (3.1 km in) and The Seven Stars (9.3 km in)
Map: Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Links: Wey Navigation, River Wey, River Wey and Godalming Navigations (National Trust), Send

This is the sixth of a series of short circular walks along the River Wey and the Wey Navigation canal in Surrey. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

This section starts at Newark Lane Car Park where there’s enough (free) parking for around 10 cars. It was very rutted with large water-filled holes when we were there so be careful if you have a car with low clearance. This route is a narrow circular taking in more of the Wey Navigation than other sections. The actual River Wey and the Broadmead Cut, another channel, split off on the northern bank at ~750m into the route and rejoin at 3.5 km in.

At 3.1 km into the route you’ll cross over Send Road to the south eastern side of the navigation. Here’s a good place to stop for a rest at The New Inn, the only pub on the route until you reach The Seven Stars near the end point. After the new Inn continue south along the navigation to a bridge at 4.7 km. Here you’ll leave The Fox Way as it crosses the bridge heading west. Instead, hop over the style and follow a path across marshland to another bridge. It was extremely wet and boggy when we were there so be sure to wear waterproof boots if it has recently rained. Cross over the bridge and follow the northern bank of The Wey to St Mary The Virgin Church.

From the church follow Church Lane as it curves to the north, cross over Potter Lane and continue north up Send Hill. Shortly after the junction with Winds Ridge road take a footpath on the left to follow it onto Farm Lane. Take a right onto Sandy Lane, cross over Send Road and follow Tannery Lane onto Peppercourt Lane until the junction with Newark Lane. Take a left onto Newark Lane to follow it back to the car park.

Richard gowerTrek, Canal, National Trust, Surrey, EnglandComment
Walking the River Wey Part 5: Canons and Cornmills

The ruins of Newark Priory

Start & Finish: Ripley High Street, Ripley, Woking, GU23 6AN
Distance: 8.6 km (5.3 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 50m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Wey Navigation Footpath, The Fox Way
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Surrey Cycleway
Cafe / pubs on route: Several in Ripley High Street at the start and end. We like Nest Home and Cafe. Also, The Anchor (5.7 km in)
Map: Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Links: Wey Navigation, River Wey, River Wey and Godalming Navigations (National Trust), Pyrford, Ripley, Newark Priory

This is the fourth of a series of short circular walks along the River Wey and the Wey Navigation canal in Surrey. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

As with the Weybridge Locks and Levels Walk, this was an already established route rather than one that I created myself. The PDF is a great guide to the walk so I won’t repeat any of it here. The only thing to note is that the route does miss a short section of the Wey Navigation near Pyrford Lakes in order to include Ripley and Ockham Mill. If you prefer a shorter walk that misses Ripley and Ockham Mill but covers the full length of the Wey then the Newark Lane Car Park is a good alternative place to start and end the walk.

Richard gowerTrek, Canal, National Trust, Surrey, EnglandComment
parkrun LonDone+ and LonDone ++

“LonDone” is the name for completing the full set of 65 parkrun events in Greater London. There’s 2 other terms: “LonDone +” and “LonDone ++” that have been widely debated in the various parkrun social media forums.

  • LonDone + is generally seen as being all parkrun events within the M25. There are currently 15 parkrun events that are within the M25 but outside of Greater London or a total of 80 events within the M25.

  • Up to now I’ve ignored LonDone ++ as a lot of the definitions have felt a bit arbitrary. However, one definition that I like is that it includes events that are outside of the M25 but have a Voronoi area that crosses inside the M25. This includes a further 9 parkrun events making a total of 88 events that have part of their Voronoi area within the M25. Note that different parkrun apps have slightly different calculations for their Voronoi apps. For this page I’ve used the Voronoi map from the Running Challenges Chrome Extension.

  • LonDone+ and/or LonDone++ are also referred to as “Orbit-All”

See the main LonDone page for details of all parkrun events within Greater London.

LonDone +: parkrun events within the M25

Note that the Egham Orbit course crosses under the motorway with a short section outside of the M25. I've included it in LonDone+ as the start, finish and majority of the course are within the M25.

LonDone ++: parkrun events with a Voronoi area crossing the M25

Event (County, Region)

Notes on recent changes

  • Thurrock’s Voronoi area extended across the M25 before the start of Ingrebourne Hill.

  • Jersey Farm’s Voronoi area extended across the M25 before the start of Oaklands College.

The images below show the Voronoi area for each of the LonDon ++ parkrun events in blue with the M25 as a red line.

More parkrun posts

parkruns are free, weekly, community 5k events all around the world. I started in December 2012 and have been obsessive about it ever since. See my parkrun Collection page for details.

Featured and popular parkrun posts:

Richard gowerRun, parkrun, London, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Kent, Essex, Middlesex, Buckinghamshire, England Comments
Walking the River Wey Part 4: Byfleet and Wisley

Murray's Bridge on the Wey Navigation

Start & Finish: High Road Parking, 10 High Road, Byfleet, West Byfleet, KT14 7QG
Distance: 8.1 km (5 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 33m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Wey Navigation Footpath
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Woking Planet Network: Venus Route
Cafe / pub on route: Several in Byfleet Village Centre. The Anchor (2.7 km in)
Maps:
- Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell Map | Thames Path | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 160
- Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Links: Wey Navigation, River Wey, River Wey and Godalming Navigations (National Trust), Byfleet, Pyrford, Wisley

This is the fourth of a series of short circular walks along the River Wey and the Wey Navigation canal in Surrey. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

This walk starts at Byfleet village centre where there’s free parking at the western end of High Road. Walk in a westerly direction along the A245 Parvis Road, cross over the canal on the road bridge. Descend on the northern side of Parvis Road to cross back over to the eastern side of the canal on the Old Parvis Road bridge.

Continue south along the Wey Navigation for just over 2 km to reach the Anchor pub at Pyrford Lock. Points of interest along the way are Murray’s Footbridge and Dodd’s Footbridge, both with information signs detailing their history.

At The Anchor pub leave the canal and take a footpath heading in an easterly direction across Wisley Golf Course toward Wisley village centre. Take a left onto an unnamed lane by the Old Village Shops then a right onto a footpath. Follow this path in an easterly direction for 1.2 km, through woods and over the M25 to a path junction. Take a left and follow the path to join the eastern bank of the River Wey. Cross over the Wey on a wooden footbridge then take a right onto the driveway that connects Byfleet Manor with Mill Lane. Cross over Mill Lane and continue along the western side of the River Wey until the A245 Parvis Road. Take a left onto Parvis Road, then a left onto High Road and follow it all the way back to the start.

Richard gowerTrek, Canal, National Trust, Surrey, EnglandComment
Walking the River Wey Part 3: New Haw and Byfleet

New Haw Lock

Start & Finish: Byfleet Road Parking, Byfleet Road, Addlestone, KT15 3JQ
Distance: 7.3 km (4.5 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 28m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Wey Navigation Footpath, Locks and Levels
Other Routes Touched (cycle): None
Cafe / pub on route: The White Hart near New Haw Lock at the start and end. Several in Byfleet village centre.
Map: Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell Map | Thames Path | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 160
Links: Wey Navigation, River Wey, River Wey and Godalming Navigations (National Trust), New Haw, Byfleet, Brooklands

This is the third of a series of short circular walks along the River Wey and the Wey Navigation canal in Surrey. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

This walk starts at the New Haw Lock where there’s a free car park off Byfleet Road. From here pick up the Wey Navigation Towpath, heading south. After 1 km you’ll reach Woodham Junction, where the M25, Basingstoke Canal and the London to Woking railway line all cross or connect to the canal. The M25 flyover is crosses over the canal diagonally and has some impressive artistic graffiti that’s worth checking out. After the M25 there’s a small footbridge across to the Basingstoke Canal, a nice reminder of when I cycled it a few weeks before.

After Woodham Junction continue south along the Wey Navigation for another 1 km to the Old Parvis Road Bridge. Cross over to the western side of the canal then find the steps up to the new Pavis Road bridge to cross back over to the eastern side of the canal. This is where we leave the Wey Navigation for this section.

Here you have 2 options to cross through Byfleet. The shortest, simplest route is to continue east along Parvis Road then take a left to follow the A318 Sopwith Drive and find the footpath on the eastern side of the A318 that heads in an easterly direction to the River Wey. Alternatively, as we did, follow a slightly longer, but less busy route through Byfleet village centre via High Road. This re-joins Parvis Road where you can cross over and follow Green Lane and Weymede to meet the footpath that connects to the River Wey. Note that some of the gates to the footpath at the northern end of Weymede can be locked as it’s a private estate. We found one that was unlocked, but it you find all gates locked you may need to take a longer route to join the path from the A318 Sopwith Road.

Once on the River Wey path follow it in a northerly direction, keeping the river on your right and Brooklands on your left. Brooklands is the former aerodrome and racing circuit that has since been converted into several different uses including a community park and the home to Mercedes World. After the northern end of Brooklands, the River Wey and the footpath pass under the large brick railway bridge that carries the London to Woking line, previously seen at Woodham Junction. After the railway bridge take a left at the path junction to follow the Locks and Levels path back to new Haw Lock.

Richard gowerTrek, Canal, National Trust, Surrey, EnglandComment
Walking the River Wey Part 1: Weybridge and Desborough Island

The Old Wey Bridge

Start & Finish: Churchfield Car Park, Churchfield Road, Weybridge, KT13 8DB
Distance: 8.4 km (5.2 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 34m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Wey Navigation Footpath, Locks and Levels, Thames Path
Other Routes Touched (cycle): NCN 4
London Coal Duty Posts: 91, 92, 93
Cafe / pub on route: Several in Weybridge Town Centre, The Old Crown and The Minnow (2.2 km in), D'Oyly's (2.7 km in)
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Weybridge, Wey Navigation, River Wey, River Wey and Godalming Navigations (National Trust), D'Oyly Carte Island, Desborough Island, Desborough Cut,

This is the first of a series of short circular walks along the River Wey and the Wey Navigation canal in Surrey. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

This walk starts at the Churchfields Car Park in Weybridge town centre. Walk along Church Street in a south-westerly direction then take a right onto Bridge Street. Soon you’ll cross the old Wey Bridge which the town took its name from. The bridge crosses over both the River Wey and the Wey Navigation. Once over the bridge take a right to step down to the Wey Navigation footpath to follow it in a northerly direction towards the confluence with the River Thames. You’ll pass a lot of large, expensive houses on the route. At 1.6 km into the walk you’ll reach Thames Lock, the final lock on the Wey Navigation. Cross over to the right hand side of the lock and follow the path that crosses over the River Wey onto Church Walk. Take a left onto Church Walk, cross over Jessamy Road and follow the path to Thames Street. Take a left onto Thames Street, heading north and pass the Old Crown and The Minnow pubs. Take a left into the small car park next to the Rowing Club to join the path by the River Thames.

Follow the path by the Thames in a north-easterly direction. Soon you'll pass the small ferry where you’ll pick up the Thames Path National Trail. Next you’ll pass D’Oyly Carte Island where there a good, and often busy, cafe. Just after D’Oyly Carte Island, you’ll reach the Desborough Cut, an artificial channel, completed in the 1930s, that bypasses a meandering stretch of the Thames near Shepperton. The Thames Path National Trail follows the Cut, but for this walk we crossed over the Walton Lane bridge to follow the path along the northern side of Desborough Island to stay close to the original course of The Thames.

At the eastern end of Desborough Island cross over the bridge and walk down the steps to rejoin the Thames Path. After 100m, cross over Walton Lane to pick up Broad Water Walk, a path that follows the southern edge of the Engine River and Broad Water lake. Follow this path in a westerly direction until you reach Grenside Road. Take a left to follow Grenside Road south, onto Thames Street, then High Street where you’re back at the start of the walk at Weybridge town centre.

Richard gowerTrek, Canal, Coal Duty Post, Thames, National Trust, National Trails, Surrey, EnglandComment
Cycling The Basingstoke Canal

Where the Basingstoke Canal meets the Wey Navigation at New Haw

Start: Greywell Tunnel, 134 Hook Road, Greywell, Hook, RG29 1BY
Finish: Thames Towpath parking, 91 Thames St, Weybridge, KT13 8LR
Distance: 55.6 km (34.5 miles)
Elevation change: +246m / -318m. Net -72m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Three Castles Path, Blackwater Valley Path, River Wey Navigation Path, Locks and Levels,
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 221, 223, 4,
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Fox and Goose at the start. Several just off-route but we stopped in Fleet (16 km in) and Woking (43.5 km in) and The Old Crown near the end.
Maps:
- Basingstoke, Alton & Whitchurch Map | Odiham, Overton & Hook | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 144
- Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
- Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell Map | Thames Path | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 160
Links: Basingstoke Canal, Greywell, Greywell Tunnel, Odiham Castle, Fleet, Woking, Aldershot, Mytchett, River Wey Navigation, River Wey

The Basingstoke Canal is a navigable waterway that runs through Hampshire and Surrey. Originally built in the late 18th century to transport goods between Basingstoke and the Thames, the canal fell into disuse in the mid-20th century. The first 10 km from Basingstoke to the Greywell Tunnel is either completely lost or unnavigable. Most of the eastern side of the canal after is navigable albeit the first couple of km only suitable for canoes and paddleboards.

We completed the full length of the canal in 2 sections. The first section was a walk of the “lost” part from Basingstoke to Greywell and the section section a tow-path cycle ride from Greywell to the Thames. See my previous post for the first section and read on for part 2.

The first point of interest is only 1 km into the ride. On the left hand side of the path you’ll find the ruins of Odiham Castle, build in the early 1200s for King John. I had already visited it on a Three Castles Path walk a few years ago but it had a bit of restoration work since then.

Our trip was on a misty late-summer Sunday morning which made for a very pleasant quiet ride along the misty canal. Cycling in this direction shows the gradual increase of its use from overgrown and empty at Greywell to an active use at Woking. The canal takes it’s time to get to the Thames, meandering around the contours on a consistent level at the start before a much straighter and steeper descent at the end.

Navigation is super-simple (just stick to the tow-path) and there’s lots of options just off the path for food stops. We stopped at Fleet and Woking, both big towns, although there’s other choices if you keep an eye on the map.

The Basingstoke Canal ends at Woodham Junction near Byfleet and New Haw railway station. Here the canal joins the Wey Navigation and its where the Waterloo to Basingstoke railway line crosses under the M25. This is an obvious place to stop if you just want to complete the Basingstoke Canal and you also have the option here to return to Basingstoke by train.

We weren’t done yet though as we wanted to reach the Thames. We crossed the small bridge over the Wey Navigation and took a left to follow the towpath on the eastern side toward Weybridge. The Wey Navigation meets the River Wey 4km north of Woodham Junction. Keep to the towpath on the western edge of the Wey Navigation to the end point at the confluence of the Wey and the Thames.

Richard gowerCycle, NCN, Canal, Thames, National Trust, Hampshire, Surrey, EnglandComment
Walking The Guildford and Shalford Disused Railways

Broadford Road bridge over the disused railway path

Start: Shalford Station, Guildford, GU4 8JD
Finish: Guildford Station, Guildford, GU1 4UT
Distance: 9.1 km (5.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 52m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Wey-South Path, National Trust Railway Walk, Scholar’s Trail, North Downs Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22, Downs Link
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Snooty Fox cafe near Shalford Station, The Weyside (7.9 km in), many others in Guildford
Map: OS Explorer Map (145) Guildford and Farnham
Links: Shalford, Guildford, Wey and Arun Canal, National Trust River Wey and Godalming Navigations and Dapdune Wharf, The Cranleigh Line

This is part of a series of short walks in and around the Surrey Hills. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

I’d had this walk in mind for a few years after I completed the Downs Link with my friend Mark in 2021. The Downs Link connects the North Downs Way and South Downs Way, mostly following disused railways. It starts at St Martha’s Hill following footpaths and joins the old rail line near Chinthurst Hill. However, there’s a section of this old line from Guildford that the Downs Link doesn’t follow so we needed to return to complete the rest.

This is a point-to-point walk with Guildford and Shalford Stations at either end. We originally planned to start at Guildford and return back on the train from Shalford. Although the train ride between them is only 8 minutes, the trains are fairly infrequent at weekends. As there was a Guildford-Shalford train leaving shortly after we parked at Guildford we took that one and did the route in reverse.

From Shalford Station cross over the A281 Horsham Road and follow the path across the common in a south-westerly direction to Broadford Road. Take a right and cross the bridge over the River Wey. Follow the path on the western side of the Wey north for approximately 1 km until you see the path on the left to the National Trust River Wey Navigations Railway Line Walk. Climb the old embankment to the WW2 Pillbox at the top and follow the route of the old rail line. This is the old section of line where trains from Shalford would have crossed over the River Wey to turn south onto the line to Petersfield. After ~400m the path reaches the fence where you can see the current Guildford to Petersfield line.

Continue a bit further and you’ll see where the Cranleigh Line used to split off from the Guildford to Petersfield line. Look closely near the A3100 Old Portsmouth Road bridge and you can see some remains of the old track with a tree growing out of them. This is the start of the old Cranleigh Line which becomes the route of the Downs Link further to the south.

Follow the route of the old rail line for another 2km, crossing under Broadford Road, across Horsham Road and back onto the Wey-South Path. Our walk reaches its southernmost point at the Tannery Lane bridge where the Downs Link joins from the north-east. Having already done the rest of the Cranleigh Line on the Downs Link, this now completes the full stretch of the disused railway.

To complete the walk, turn around and retrace your steps back to Horsham Road. Instead of following the old rail line again take a right onto Horsham Road and follow the Wey-South Path. Stay on the Wey-South Path, along the banks of the Wey all the way back to Guildford. On this final stretch you’ll retrace the 1 km of the route between the Broadford Road Bridge and the start of the old railway line. You’ll also cross over the route of the North Downs Way. For me this would have been a more logical place to start the Downs Link as it would have run closer to the route of the rail lines. I guess whoever designed the trail wasn’t as much of a completist as I am and thought St Martha’s Hill was a more impressive place to start.

Annoyingly, the end-point of the Wey-South Path at Millmead Lock was blocked off when we got there. The footbridge onto the island was destroyed after heavy rain in 2019 and is still out of action. There’s an easy diversion along the A281 past The Weyside pub and then over the footbridge behind the theatre. The final 1 km of the walk follows the west bank of the Wey back to Guildford Station.

More Disused Railway Posts

Richard gowerTrek, Railway, Disused Railway, Canal, National Trust, Surrey Hills, Surrey, EnglandComment
Botley Hill

Significance: Parent Peak of Betsom’s Hill (Kent County Top) and Westerham Heights (Greater London High Point), Highest Point of the North Downs
Member of: Marylins
Parent Peak: Leith Hill
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Leith Hill
Historic County: Surrey
Elevation: 270m
Date “climbed”: December 3rd 2023
Coordinates: 51° 16' 44'' N, 0° 0' 45'' W
OS Trig Pillar: TP1536 - Botley Hill
Map: Sevenoaks & Tonbridge Map | Royal Tunbridge Wells & Westerham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 147
Links:
- Wikipedia (Botley Hill, North Downs)
- Peakbagger (at Water Tower, at Trig Pillar)
- Hillbagging (at Water Tower, at Trig Pillar)

I had only discovered Botley Hill recently when researching County Tops and routes in the area. It’s the high point of the North Downs, but doesn’t make it into any lists as the North Downs isn’t an AONB, National Park or similar. It’s taller than the nearby high points of Kent and Greater London, but is in Surrey so misses out to the 5m higher Leith Hill for the County Top. It’s a must-do though for high-point completists and more more interesting than both Betsom’s Hill and Westerham Heights, the high points of Kent and Greater London.

The Botley Hill summit is next to a water tower and transmitter and easily accessible by road. It’s also on the Vanguard Way, 1km north of its junction with the North Downs Way so can be bagged on a diversion from both. We bagged it on the same day as walking a section of the North Downs Way but drove to the Botley Hill summit after completing the walk.

The water tower summit isn’t the only significant point on the hill. There’s an OS Trig Pillar approximately 1 km to the east which was once considered to be the hill summit but is actually ~1m lower. We also visited this one as a drive-by after our North Downs Way walk.

Source: Legislation.gov.uk

For the absolute completists there’s also Botley Hill Northeast Slope. Peter Stone’s Peakbagger entry from March 2012 describes it as: “A 255 m slope feature inside a Reptile Zoo or behind adjacent Waylands House. Got as close as I could for a bona fide claim. However, perhaps a bit pointless and of historic interest only as this place is no longer the highpoint of Greater London since a boundary change ceded it to Surrey in 1993. Greater London's high point is now Westerham Heights, 245 m, a few km to the E and very close to Kent's top” .

The transfer between Bromley in Greater London and Surrey was actually on April 1st 1994, although the legislation had 1993 in the name. More information can be found in this article on legislation.gov.uk. The map to the right shows the southern tip of Bromley, previously the Greater London High Point, which moved to Surrey with this legislation.

The Botley Hill Family

Botley Hill is the Parent Peak to:
- Botley Hill Trig Pillar and Botley Hill Northeast Slope
- Betsom’s Hill, the County Top of Kent
- Toy's Hill, the High Point of the Kent Downs AONB
- Westerham Heights, the High Point of Greater London and the London Borough of Bromley
- All Greater London Borough High Points south of the Thames plus Heston The Vale (Hounslow)

Richard gowerTrek, Trig Pillar, UK County Tops, Surrey, England, Surrey HillsComment
Walking The North Downs Way Part 7 - Gangers Hill to Westerham Hill

Coccolith, an artwork by INSTAR, near the Titsey Brewery on the eastern edge of the Surrey Hills AONB

Start: Gangers Hill Car Park, Gangers Hill, Woldingham, Godstone, CR3 7AD
Finish: The Velo Barn, Unit 1, Betsoms Farm, Pilgrims Way, Westerham TN16 2DS
Distance: 9.1 km (5.6 miles)
Elevation change: +161m / -216m. Net -55m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Tandridge Border Path, Woldringham Countryside Walk, Vanguard Way, Greenwich Meridian Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Prime Meridian Cycle Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Velo Barn at the end of the route
OS Trig Pilllar: TP1536 - Botley Hill
Maps:
- Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
- Sevenoaks & Tonbridge Map | Royal Tunbridge Wells & Westerham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 147
Guidebook: The North Downs Way National Trail from Farnham to Dover (Cicerone)
Links: Marden Park, Oxted Downs, Titsey Place

This is the seventh of a series of short point-to-point walks along the North Downs Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Farnham in Surrey to Dover in Kent. Our walks took in short sections of 10 km to 13 km which we did with a friend over the course of a couple of years when our schedules coincided. The North Downs Way is well sign-posted however I highly recommend taking a map or GPX route to keep you on track. The Cicerone book on the trail is a great guide to the points of interest along the way.

For this section we left one car at the end of the walk near the Velo Barn on Westerham Hill and another at the start at Gangers Hill Car Park. It may be possible to use the car park at the Velo Barn but ask for permission first as the gates are locked when the cafe is closed. There’s a layby next to the barn on Pilgrims Way with space for 3 cars.

From the start at Gangers Hill Car Park, cross over The Ridge to pick up the North Downs Way heading east. This first section is a steep descent down into fields where the route runs parallel and close to the M25. After ~1.5km you’ll meet a path junction with the Vanguard Way and Greenwich Meridian Trail. If you want to visit Botley Hill, the high point of the North Downs, this is where you can take a diversion from the path for 1 km, returning back the same way. We kept on the North Downs Way but visited Botley Hill by car after the walk.

Continuing east along the North Downs Way you’ll soon pass a plaque marking the point where the North Downs Way and Vanguard Way crosses the Greenwich Meridian Line. Further along, at ~3km into the walk you’ll reach a T junction where the Vanguard Way splits off from the North Downs Way to the right. Take a left at this junction to follow Pitchfont Lane, a wide path heading uphill through land managed by the Titsey Foundation.

At the end of Pitchfont Lane you’ll reach a roundabout connecting Croydon Lane, Clarks Lane and Titsey Hill (road). Here you can take a 300m (and back) diversion to visit the Botley Hill Trig Pillar, just off The Ridge (road). Alternatively, there’s a free car park at the roundabout where you can return to bag the trig later.

Continuing east along the North Downs Way, the trail runs parallel to Titsey Hill (road) for ~800m then crosses through Crossharbour Beeches to meet Clarks Lane opposite the Titsey Brewery. Here you’ll pass the Coccolith artwork (see banner photo at the top of this post) and a great view to the south. You’ll also see one of the 12 wooden Surrey Hills boundary markers.

For the final part of this section continue east, crossing over Clarks Lane and onto Chestnut Avenue, then onto The Avenue. Look out for boundary stone near the western end of The Avenue which marks the Surrey/Kent border. When The Avenue meets Westerham Hill (road) take a right to follow Westerham Hill back to The Velo Barn.

This was the end of our first Chapter of walking The North Downs Way with our friend Mark. We had completed original objective was to complete the Surrey section. With our busy schedules it took us 2.5 years to cover the 7 sections. We’ll do the Kent sections one day but for now there’s other parts of Surrey to explore.

Richard gowerTrek, National Trails, National Trust, Trig Pillar, Surrey, Kent, England, Surrey HillsComment
Walking The North Downs Way Part 6 - Merstham to Gangers Hill

Ockley Hill

Start: Merstham Station, Station Rd, Merstham, Redhill, RH1 3ED
Finish: Gangers Hill Car Park, Gangers Hill, Woldingham, Godstone, CR3 7AD
Distance: 11.8 km (7.3 miles)
Elevation change: +270m / -140m. Net -130m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Tandridge Border Path, Downlands Circular Walk, Woldringham Countryside Walk, Over The Downs To Oxted Mill Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 20, 21
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Feathers is at the start of the route before you get to Merstham Station
OS Trig Pilllar: TP5210 - Ockley Hill
Map: Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Guidebook: The North Downs Way National Trail from Farnham to Dover (Cicerone)
Links: Merstham, Chaldon, Marden Park

This is the sixth of a series of short point-to-point walks along the North Downs Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Farnham in Surrey to Dover in Kent. Our walks took in short sections of 10 km to 13 km which we did with a friend over the course of a couple of years when our schedules coincided. The North Downs Way is well sign-posted however I highly recommend taking a map or GPX route to keep you on track. The Cicerone book on the trail is a great guide to the points of interest along the way.

For this section we left one car at the end of the walk at Gangers Hill Car Park and another at the start at Merstham Station. From the station walk along Station Road North and take a left onto a footpath next to the Village Hall. This will take you onto the Hight Street to the left of the Feathers Pub and back onto the North Downs Way. Cross over the High Street and follow Quality Street to the end where you can take a left at the North Downs Way sign. The next 1 km takes you over the M25, A23 and M25 before you’re back in pleasant countryside.

The first point of interest on the walk is the Ockley Hill Trig Pillar at 3.2 km from the start. Here you’ll get a great view to the south including Redhill Common and the Greensand Ridge. There’s also several spots on the northern side of the North Downs Way to get a view across to London.

After the Trig Pillar the route gently undulates and sticks to quiet wooded areas. There’s not as many points of interest as Section 5 offered but it’s a great walk nonetheless. This section ends at Gangers Hill Car Park on the edge of Marden Park. At this finish point you’re right on top of the tunnel carrying the Oxted to Woldringham rail line under the North Downs Ridge.

Richard gowerTrek, National Trails, Surrey, England, Surrey HillsComment
Surrey Walks: Chobham Common South

Stormy day on Chobham Common

Start & Finish: Staple Hill Car Park, Chobham, Chertsey, KT16 0ED
Distance: 7.9 km (4.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 65m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): N/A
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Red Lion (5km in)
Map: Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell Map | Thames Path | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 160
Links: Chobham, Longcross, Chobham Common

This is part of a series of short circular walks in Surrey. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

Chobham Common is a 656-hectare (1,620-acre) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) north of Chobham in Surrey, England. It is a Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I and a national nature reserve. It is part of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area and the Thursley, Ash, Pirbright and Chobham Special Area of Conservation. It contains three scheduled monuments. Most of the site is managed by the Surrey Wildlife Trust as the Chobham Common nature reserve, but the SSSI also includes a small private reserve.

For this walk we parked at Staple Hill Car Park next to the M3. It’s a convenient place to park but noisy as it’s next to the busy motorway that cuts through the once very quiet common. The motorway has now created a northern and a southern part of the common.

From the car park we crossed over Staple Hill Road and followed the boundary path in a clockwise direction past Burrow Hill to Killy Hill. At Killy Hil take the small path out of the Common onto Red Lion Road for a stop at the Red Lion Pub. After the pub follow Red Lion Road to the west then take a right onto the Windsor Road, heading north. Shortly after the entrance to Heather Way take a footpath on the right back into the common and follow paths in a northerly direction until you hit the boundary path before the M3. Continue along the boundary path until you return to Staple Hill Car Park.

Richard gowerTrek, England, SurreyComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 20 - Oxted and Limpsfield

At the half-way point of the Greensand way on the Surrey/Kent border

Start & Finish: Oxted Station, Oxted, RH8 9EU
Distance: 11.2 km (7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 142m
Greensand Way section covered: Rockfield Road to Kent Border: 4.5 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Vanguard Way, Tandridge Border Path, Greenwich Meridian Trail, Greensand Way Oxted Spur
Other routes touched (cycle): Prime Meridian Cycle Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Carpenters Arms, Limpsfield Chart (4.5 km in), several in Oxted Town Centre at end.
Map: Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Links: Oxted, Limpsfield, Limpsfield Common National Trust

This is the twentieth of a series of short circular walks featuring the Greensand Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Haslemere in Surrey to Ham Street in Kent. Our walks take in short sections of the Greensand Way and loop back to the start on other paths. The Greensand Way is well sign posted however you’ll need a map or GPX route to keep on track for the return sections of the loops. The guidance below will help but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide.

For this section we parked in the multistory car-park that serves both Oxted Railway Station and Morrisons supermarket. From the carpark, walk down to East Hill, take a left to go under the railway bridge then a right onto Old Lane. Walk up Old Lane to Rockfield Road to rejoin the Greensand Way at the junction with Icehouse Wood (road). Take a left onto the Greensand Way and follow it for 4.5 km.

This is a pleasant section of the Greensand Way, albeit without the long views to the south of previous sections. It takes you through Limpsfield Common, Limpsfield Chart Golf Club, Limpsfield Chart Village and into the High Chart woods. The easternmost point of this walk meets the Surrey/Kent border and a stone to mark the half way point on the Greensand Way.

From the border, leave the Greensand Way and follow the Tandridge Border Path in a north-westerly direction. When you reach Moorhouse Road leave the Tandridge Border path and continue through the woods on the opposite side of the road to Westerham Road. Take a left onto Westerham Road, then carefully cross over to into the grounds of the Royal British Legion club. At the back of the club you’ll find a footpath in the woods that you can follow in a westerly direction to Limpsfield then paths and quiet roads back to Oxted.

Richard gowerTrek, Surrey, England, National Trust, Surrey HillsComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 19 - Tandridge and Oxted

Tandridge Golf Course

Start & Finish: Oxted Station, Oxted, RH8 9EU
Distance: 10.6 km (6.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 165m
Greensand Way section covered: Leigh Mill Fly Fishing Lane to Rockfield Road: 4.6 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Over The Downs to Oxted Mill Walk, Greenwich Meridian Trail, Greensand Way Oxted Spur
Other routes touched (cycle): Prime Meridian Cycle Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Oxted and Old Oxted, plus The Barley Mow Tandridge (5.3km in) and The Haycutter (7.4 km in)
Map: Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Links: Oxted, Tandridge

This is the nineteenth of a series of short circular walks featuring the Greensand Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Haslemere in Surrey to Ham Street in Kent. Our walks take in short sections of the Greensand Way and loop back to the start on other paths. The Greensand Way is well sign posted however you’ll need a map or GPX route to keep on track for the return sections of the loops. The guidance below will help but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide.

For this section we parked in the multistory car-park that serves both Oxted Railway Station and Morrisons supermarket. This is at the end of this section of the Greensand Way, so the first half of this route is a westerly return to where section 18 left the trail at the A22. From Oxted Station follow Station Road West then Church Lane in a south-westerly direction to the A25. Cross over the A25 and follow Old Oxted High Street then Godstone Road until the pavement rejoins the A25. Continue along the A25 to Tandridge Golf Club and take a left to follow the footpath through the gold course. Watch out for golf balls!

At the far end of the golf course take a left onto Tandridge Road then a right onto Jackass Lane. After ~300m take a left onto a footpath that will lead you through fields, then woods to the A22. Here you’ll cross back over the same section of A22 from section 18 before recrossing it slightly further south back on the Greensand Way. It’s a tricky, dangerous road crossing but realistically hard to avoid on this section. The alternative is to stay on Tandridge Road after the golf course and follow it to Tandridge although this misses 1 km of the Greensand Way. It depends on how much of a completer-finisher you are.

Once back on the Greensand Way after the A22 continue through to Tandridge where the Barley Mow pub is a good place to stop for a rest at this roughly half way point of the walk. Continue on the Greensand Way as it passes round the back of the pub and follow it to Rockfield Road south of Oxtend Town Centre. At this point you’ll take a left onto Rockfield Road (leaving the Greensand Way) then a left onto Old Lane walking parallel to the railway line to East Hill Road. Cross over East Hill Road and take the footpath through Johnsdale to Station Road East and back to Oxted Station.

Richard gowerTrek, Surrey, England, Surrey HillsComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 18 - Bletchingley and Godstone

View to the North Downs ridge near Godstone

Start & Finish: High Street, Bletchingley, Redhill, RH1 4PA
Distance: 10.4 km (6.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 143m
Greensand Way section covered: St Catherine’s Open Space to Leigh Mill Fly Fishing Lane: 5.5 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): Surrey Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Bletchingley Arms (at end)
Map: Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Links: Bletchlingley, Godstone

This is the eighteenth of a series of short circular walks featuring the Greensand Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Haslemere in Surrey to Ham Street in Kent. Our walks take in short sections of the Greensand Way and loop back to the start on other paths. The Greensand Way is well sign posted however you’ll need a map or GPX route to keep on track for the return sections of the loops. The guidance below will help but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide.

For this section we returned to Bletchingley High Street to park in the same place as in section 17. From here we retraced our steps back to St Catherine’s Open Space to rejoin the Greensand Way. This 5 km section of the trail stays high on the ridge on the edge of woodland then descends to lower ground, crossing a field to Eastbourne Road. You’ll leave the Greensand Way on the section by taking a left hand footpath just before the A22 Godstone bypass. Follow this path north until it reaches the A22 and cross over VERY CAREFULLY. The A22 is a very busy road so you’ll need to wait for a good gap between cars in both directions. If you don’t want to cross this road there an alternative path 200m to the east at Leigh Place that avoids this crossing.

If you have crossed the A22 you’ll soon be crossing it again on the return section, however this is through a safe underpass to the north. Once back on the western side of the A22, follow Leigh Place Lane to Church Lane then continue west through paths and small roads to Pinewood Autos on the south side of Ivy Lane. Take the footpath to the left of Pinewood autos, following it south for 400m to a path junction. Take a right to follow paths along the edge of farmland to Rabies Heath Road. Follow Rabies Heath Road in a westerly direction to Godstone Road where you can take a left onto it back to Bletchley High Street.

Richard gowerTrek, Surrey, England, Surrey HillsComment
Walking The North Downs Way Part 5 - Betchworth to Merstham

Reigate Hill Viewpoint at National Trust Gatton Park

Start: Betchworth Station, Betchworth RH3 7BZ
Finish: Merstham Station, Station Rd, Merstham, Redhill, RH1 3ED
Distance: 11.1 km (6.9 miles)
Elevation change: +206m / -197m. Net -9m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): N/A
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
London Coal Duty Posts: 151, 152
Pubs / Cafes on route: Junction 8 Café in the car park for National Trust Gatton Hill (7.4 km in). The Feathers is at the end of the route before you get to Merstham Station
Map: Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Guidebook: The North Downs Way National Trail from Farnham to Dover (Cicerone)
Links: Betchworth, Colley Hill, National Trust Reigate Hill and Gatton Park, B17 Crash Memorial, Reigate Fort, Gatton Park, Millennium Stones at Gatton Park, The Royal Alexandra and Albert School, Merstham

This is the fifth of a series of short point-to-point walks along the North Downs Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Farnham in Surrey to Dover in Kent. Our walks took in short sections of 10 km to 13 km which we did with a friend over the course of a couple of years when our schedules coincided. The North Downs Way is well sign-posted however I highly recommend taking a map or GPX route to keep you on track. The Cicerone book on the trail is a great guide to the points of interest along the way.

For this section we left one car at the end of the walk at Merstham Station and another at the start near Betchworth Station. From Betchworth it was a short walk north up Station Road to rejoin the North Downs Way from where we left it on Section 4. The first 5km is along a tree-lined path gently ascending to the base of Buckland Hill. This is followed by a steep ascent up Buckland Hill to the southern end of Mogador Road. Here you’ll find the first of 2 London Coal Duty Posts, the most southerly in London. Although these posts marked a boundary of London at the time, the North Downs Way never crosses the current boundary of Greater London.

Having ascended back up to the North Downs ridge, the trail stays high for another 2 km. This is an especially interesting part of the trail with several things to see along the way. First up is Colley Hill, a great place to stop for a picnic and look out over the stunning panorama to the south. There’s also the Colley Hill Water Tower, the Inglis Memorial, the Wing Tips Crash Memorial and Reigate Fort.

At 7.4 km into the walk you’ll cross over the A217 on the Reigate hill footbridge and into National Trust Gatton Park. There’s a café, toilets and another great viewpoint here. The trail descents for ~2 km through Gatton Park to the Millennium Stones at the south-western edge of the Royal Alexandra and Albert School. Follow the North Downs Way through the school, through Reigate Hill Golf Club, Merstham Cricket Club and into Merstham Town. This is the end of Section 5.

The National Trust Sections

The Millennium Stones at Gatton Park

Richard gowerTrek, National Trust, National Trails, Surrey, Coal Duty Post, Surrey Hills, EnglandComment