Posts tagged Surrey Hills
Walking The Greensand Way Part 8 - Winterfold Wood and Reynards Hill

Reynards Hill Viewpoint

Start & Finish: Hurtwood Car Park 3, Pitch Hill, Cranleigh, GU6 7NL
Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 204m
Greensand Way section covered: Long Copse to Pitch Hill Car Park: 4.62 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Wey South Path
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22, Surrey Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
and Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Links: Winterfold Forest

This is the eighth 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 at Pitch Hill Car Park at the far eastern end of this section of the route. The first half of this route heads west back to where section 7 leaves off. There’s a lot of paths through Winterfold Wood with many junctions and few sign posts. You’ll highly likely get lost without a GPX route and/or map. We inadvertently took a route through private woodland, only realizing once we exited and saw a sign on the gate. I’ve since edited the route to follow public rights of way.

From the car park cross the road and take the right-hand, northerly headed path (not the Greensand Way). This will cross Barhatch Lane and into the Winterfold Wood Estate. Continue in a north-westerly direction along the estate road to a junction where the road becomes private. Take a left and continue heading in a westerly direction. Continue heading west through the wood until you reach Madgehole Lane and follow this to the junction with Woodhill Lane.

Take a left onto Woodhill Lane, heading south-west then take the first left to join Stroud Lane. Follow Stroud Lane south for ~50 and you’ll rejoin the Greensand Way. Continue along Stroud Lane and stay on the Greensand Way when it leaves the lane on a footpath to the left. Continue following the Greensand Way for another 4km back to the car park.

Take a moment to see the viewpoints at Winterfold Hill and Reynards Hill, both with beautifully carved benches. The final point of interest is the Ewhurst Windmill, a listed building now privately owned by visible from the trail.

Richard gowerTrek, Surrey, England, Surrey HillsComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 7 - Shamley Green and Grafham

Near Gate Street Farm

Start & Finish: Shamley Green Christ Church, Church Hill, Shamley Green, Guildford, GU5 0UD
Distance: 10.3 km (6.4 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 107m
Greensand Way section covered: Gate Street Farm to Long Copse, Stroud Common: 4.4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Wey South Path
Other routes touched (cycle): Downs Link
Pubs / Cafes on route: None, however the Bricklayers Arms and Red Lion are a short walk from the start/finish
Map: Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Links: Shamley Green, Grafham, Gate Street Farm

This is the seventh 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 planned to park in the small car park on the opposite side of the B2128 (Church Hill) to Shamley Green Christ Church. Normally this would be OK but there was a wedding at the church at the time so we parked near the village green. Although it adds 10 minutes to each end of the walk, there's more parking options and 2 pubs for a pre or post walk rest. The Greensand Way crosses the B2128 by the church. Follow the trail initially in a north-easterly direction and continue as it curves to the south-east. After 1.6 km (from the church) you'll leave the Greensand Way at a fork in the woods and follow the right hand path for ~400m until you reach a small road.

Take a right onto the road and follow it down to meet the B2128 again. Take a right onto the B2128 and follow it north for ~300m to take the first footpath on the left. Be careful here as there's no pavement, although there's a narrow grass verge so you don't need to walk on the road. Cross the field then take a left onto Upper House Lane. Follow this south until you meet Run Common Road.

Take a right onto Run Common Road and follow it for 1.1 km before taking a left hand footpath opposite the entrance to a farm. Be very careful on this road. There's no pavement and, although the road isn't busy, cars can go quite fast. Once you cross the River Wey there's a 300m section where you can walk on a protected path to the left of the road.

Having left Run Common Road, follow the path alongside the left hand side of the field to the A281 Horsham Road. Take a right onto the road, following the pavement, and take the first footpath on the left. Follow this path to Gate Street.

Take a right onto Gate Street and continue past the farm and back onto the Greensand Way. You'll now be on the same part of the trail where you left off on section 6. Continue to follow the Greensand Way back to the start at Shamley Green Christ Church.

Richard gowerTrek, Surrey, England, Surrey HillsComment
Walking The Scholar's Trail, Guildford

Pewley Down, Guildford

Start & Finish: Millbrook Car Park, A281, Guildford, GU1 3XJ
Distance: 8.1 km (5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 147m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Wey-South Path, North Downs Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Weyside (at start), Seahorse Guildford (at 2..3km), The March Hare (at 7.6 km)
Map: Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Links: Guildford, River Wey, Shalford Mill National Trust, Chantry Wood, Pewley Down, Semaphore House, Guildford Castle

This is a short circular walk starting and ending in the centre of Guildford, Surrey. I’d seen it a few times on maps and crossed it a couple of times but otherwise hadn’t heard much about it. I also couldn’t find anything about it on the internet. Please contact me or comment below if you know anything about the background to the trail. Despite not knowing much about its background we found this to be a very pleasant short walk with several points of interest along the way.

We parked at Millbrook Car Park in the centre of Guildford and headed south along the east hand-side of the River Wey. Shortly after the Weyside pub you can cross over the Wey to join the Wey-South Path continuing south on the west side of the river. The towpath was blocked off for repairs when we were there but you can also follow the river on the east side of the path and reconnect ~1km later at the next bridge.

If you’re on the west side, you’ll reach a wooden bridge near Ferry Lane. Cross this bridge and return to the east side of the river. You’ll now be on the North Downs Way heading east. When you reach Shalford Park leave the North Downs Way and follow the path on the western edge of the park, continuing south over the Tillingbourne. At a path junction follow the Scholar’s Trail signs to take a left turn to meet the A281 near the Seahorse pub. Take a right onto the A281 then, cross over and take a left onto the lane to Shalford Mill. The Mill is a small National Trust property that’s worth a visit, especially if you’re a member.

From Shalford Mill continue along the path in a north-easterly direction. Join Shepherds Way in a northerly direction for ~300m then take a right onto a narrow path when the road curves to the left. When you reach the next road take a right into Chantry Wood. The Trail snakes through Chantry Wood for 2.5km. We didn’t see a lot of Scholar’s Trail signs here, especially on some important junctions, so a map or GPX route is essential here.

At 5.5 km into the walk the Trail takes a sharp left turn out of the wood and though fields in a north-westerly direction. This is a long, straight section that takes you across Pewley Down back into Guildford. Stop on the way for some great views to the south from the top of Pewley Down. Head to the north-west corner of Pewley Down to Pewley Hill (road). Follow this for 750m descending down to the March Hare pub. Along Pewley Hill you’ll pass Semaphore House, an example of a series of semaphore towers that linked The Admiralty in London with Portsmouth Dockyard. This one, now a private residence, is the next along the line from the Chatley Heath Tower seen on the Discover Downside walk.

At the March Hare pub take a left onto South Hill and continue south-east for 220m, taking a path on the right into woodland. Follow the path down the hill to Quarry Street and the Millbrook Car Park. An alternative finish that we took is to take a left after the March Hare and walk around the grounds of Guildford Castle. This is well worth a visit if you’ve not been there before. The Castle Grounds exists onto Castle Hill, then Quarry Street and then the car park.

Richard gowerTrek, National Trust, Surrey, England, Surrey HillsComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 6 - Winkworth and Hascombe

View to the east near Thorncombe Street

Start & Finish: Free parking opposite the White Horse Pub, The Street, Hascombe, Godalming GU8 4JA
Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 179m
Greensand Way section covered: Hascombe to Gate Street Farm: 3.86km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: White Horse Pub Hascombe, Tea Room at Winkworth Arboretum
Map: Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Links: Hascombe, Wintershall Partnership, Gate Street Farm, National Trust Winkworth Arboretum

This is the sixth 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 at a free car park opposite the White Horse pub in Hascombe. This is less than 200m from where section 5 left the Greensand Way and starts you off right on the trail. From the parking spot cross the road and take a left in front of the pub onto Church Road. Follow the Greensand Way for just under 4km until a path junction in the woods north of Gate Street Farm.

At 2.6km into the walk you’ll enter the grounds of the Wintershall Estate and the Rosary Way. This is a short walk lined with carvings depicting the life of Jesus. Walking in this west-east direction, you’ll encounter the end of the story first with the carving of the Transfiguration. To see the full story tracing back to the first carving of the Annunciation you’ll need to take a small diversion from the Greensand Way towards the main building on the estate. Scroll down to see our photos of the carvings.

From the path junction in the woods north of Gate Street Farm take a sharp left onto a westerly path ascending through a field. Continue for just over 1km to Thorncombe Street. Take a left, then first right onto Alldens Hill then the first footpath on the left. Follow this path in a southerly direction until you reach Thorncombe Street again. Continue along Thorncombe Street for ~50m until you reach a path on the right to enter Winkworth Arboretum. This is shortly after the Disabled Car Park entrance.

Entrance to Winkworth Arboretum is free for National Trust Members and charged for non-members. There’s no gate or ticket office on the Thorncombe Street entrance so you’ll need to pay or show your membership pass at the main entrance. From the Thorncombe Street entrance, follow the path at the north end of the lake and up the hill to the main entrance and Tea Room.

When leaving the Arboretum take a left on to a footpath leading to the south parallel to the B2130 Brighton Road. The path will end at the B2130 where you’ll take a right, following the road for 20m to take a left onto an unnamed lane. Be very careful on Brighton Road as there’s no pavement and cars can come quite fast. Make sure you’re seen and cross over to the left hand side before the road curves to the right.

Once on the unnamed road you’ll be on familiar ground as you’ll have covered this section in the opposite direction in section 5. Continue south then east until you meet the Greensand Way again and follow it east until you reach the car park opposite the White Horse pub.

The Rosary Way, Wintershall Estate

Richard gowerTrek, Surrey, National Trust, England, Surrey HillsComment
Walking The North Downs Way Part 2 - Puttenham to Newlands Corner

Footbridge over the River Wey near Guildford

Start: The Good Intent Pub, 60-62 The Street, Puttenham, Guildford, GU3 1AR
Finish: Newlands Corner Car Park, A25 Shere Road, Newland's Corner, Albury, GU4 8S
Distance: 12.8 km (7.9 miles)
Elevation change: +256m / -181m. Net +75m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Puttenham Walk (SCC), The Fox Way, Wey South Path, Scholar’s Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22, Downs Link
Pubs / Cafes on route: Ye Olde Ship Inn (GU2 4EB) and Newlands Corner Cafe at the end.
Map: OS Explorer Map (145) Guildford and Farnham
Guidebook: The North Downs Way National Trail from Farnham to Dover (Cicerone)
Links: Puttenham, Guildford, St Martha’s Hill, Newlands Corner

This is the second 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 outside the Good Intent Pub and the other at the large car park at Newlands Corner. Heading east, the first few kms of his section heads through Puttenham Golf course and quiet fields and woods. After 6km the trail descend to its lowest point of this section to cross the River Wey. Here you’re directly south of Guildford, the first major town near the trail since Farnham. The trail crosses the river on a wooden bridge shown in the banner photo above.

1 km after the river the trail passes through Chantry Wood and ascends to the sections high point at Martha’s Hill. The view from here to the south is spectacular on a clear day and the church is worth having a look inside. Descending from the summit of Martha’s Hill you’ll pass the start of the Downs Link which connects the North Downs Way to the South Downs Way, mostly along disused railways. Next the trail curves round to the north and follows the southern edge of woodland to Newlands Corner.

Richard gowerTrek, National Trust, National Trails, Surrey, England, Surrey HillsComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 11 - Westcott and Bury Hill

Farmland between Broadmoor and Wotton

Start & Finish: Holy Trinity Westcott, Logmore Lane, Westcott, Dorking RH4 3NN
Distance: 9 km (5.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 163m
Greensand Way section covered: Broadmoor Village to Bury Hill: 5.2km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): Leith Hill Greenway
OS Trig Pillar: TP4514 - Logmore Farm
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Links: Wescott

This is the eleventh 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 at Holy Trinity Church just off the A25 at Westcott. From here you can access the Greensand Way by walking south for ~100m up Westcott Heath lane. Take a left at the junction and follow the Greensand Way for 1 km until you reach Milton Street. Take a left onto Milton Street then the first path on the right, following the Greensand Way to the house at the top of the hill. Here you’ll leave the Greensand Way to take a path on the right back down the hill to Milton Street. Follow Milton Street south until it becomes a footpath then reaches a small footbridge over the Milton Brook.

Cross the footbridge over the Milton Brook and through a kissing gate into a field. Follow this footpath for 1.2 km in a south-westerly direction until you meet Logmore Lane. Turn left then immediately right to follow an unnamed lane to Logmore Farm. The lane ends at the farm but you can continue heading south-west up the hill through woods until you meet the Leith Hill Greenway. Take a left onto the Greenway and follow it to the Logmore Farm Trig Pillar on the left of the path.

From the Trig Pillar continue south for 300m then take a right hand path, leaving the Greenway. Descend through the woods, crossing over the Tilling Bourne until you reach the Greensand Way. Take a right and follow the Greensand Way. You’ll shortly pass Broadmoor Village where you left the Greensand Way on Section 10. Continue following the Greensand Way for 4 km until you reach Westcott Heath lane to return to Holy Trinity church.

In this final section near Westcott you’ll pas close to OS Trig Pillar TP3280 - Furzefield. However, this is on private property with no public right of way leading to it so you’ll need permission to visit.

Richard gowerTrek, Surrey, England, Surrey HillsComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 5 - Hydons Ball and Holloways Heath

View north from the Greensand Way to Hydon’s Ball

Start & Finish: National Trust - Hydon's Ball and Heath car park, Salt Lane, Godalming, GU8 4BB
Distance: 9.3 km (5.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 172m
Greensand Way section covered: Hambledon Church to Hascombe: 3.7km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Octavia Hill Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): None
OS Trig Pillar: TP4093 - Hydons Ball
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Links: National Trust - Hydon's Ball and Heath, Octavia Hill, Hambledon Church

This is the fifth 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 at the free National Trust Car Park at Hydon's Ball and Heath. Follow the paths through the heath in a southly then south-westerly direction to the top of the hill with the OS Trig Pillar and stone memorial bench to Octavia Hill. Stop for a while to take in the view to the south and the Greensand Way at the bottom of the hill.

From the Trig Pillar follow the Octavia Hill Trail west for ~120 metres, then take a left hand path to follow it down to the memorial pillar. After the memorial continue along paths in a south-westerly direction for approx 1km until you reach Hambledon Church. You’ll now have reached the start and finish of section 4. Take the left hand track onto the Greensand Way and follow it in an easterly direction for 3.7 km.

This section of the Greensand Way is very quiet, along pretty holloways with occasional long vistas to the south. When you get to the edge of the woods just before The White Horse Pub at Hascombe you’ll leave the Greensand Way on a north-heading path. Continue onto this path onto Hoe Lane, then take a left-hand path that climbs steeply up a hill, initially on wooden steps and back into Holloways Heath. Cross over Mare Lane and follow a private road with some very expensive houses on it for just over 1km until you reach the junction with Hascombe Road. Take a sharp left onto a path before Hascombe Road and follow this in a south-westerly direction back to the Hydon’s Ball car park.

Richard gowerTrek, Surrey, National Trust, Trig Pillar, England, Surrey HillsComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 4 - Witley and Hambledon

Start & Finish: Hambledon Church, 1 Church Lane, Hambledon, Godalming, GU8 4DS
Distance: 9 km (5.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 124m
Greensand Way section covered: Edge of Heath Hills Wood to Hambledon Church: 4.5km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): Surrey Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Merry Harriers (near start/finish)
Map: Haslemere & Petersfield Map | Midhurst & Selborne | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL33
Links: Witley, Hambledon, Hambledon Church

This is the fourth 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 at the end of the Greensand Way part and walked back to where we left the trail on section 3. Hambledon Church has a handful of parking spaces and had several available when we arrived early afternoon on a Saturday. You’ll probably be fine getting a space there as long as it’s outside of church service times. Alternative parking is at the Merry Harriers pub 300m into the trip. Ask permission to park there first.

From Hambledon Church the route back to Heath Hills Wood runs in a westerly direction on mostly wide paths. It was muddy in parts even after a relatively dry spell so come prepared with waterproof shoes or boots. This section back to the Greensand Way is slightly over 4km and flat(ish) until the 2.5km point where it climbs back up to the trail.

Once you meet the Greensand Way again you’ll be heading in an easterly direction. You’ll cross the railway on a bridge behind Witley Station, missing the town, and through the pretty village of Hambleden. There’s a great viewpoint just before the descent to Hambledon village where you can see back to the hills around the Devil’s Punchbowl and almost to the south coast.

The walk concludes with a gentle climb out of Hambledon village to the church where you started.

Richard gowerTrek, Surrey, England, Surrey HillsComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 3 - Thursley and Witley Park

Walking north through fields between the Greensand Way and Mare Hill Common

Start & Finish: St Michael and All Angels Church, Thursley, Godalming, GU8 6QQ
Distance: 10.9 km (6.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 163m
Greensand Way section covered: The Street to edge of Heath Hills Wood: 43.km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): National Trust Heathland Walk on Witley Common
Other routes touched (cycle): Surrey Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: Haslemere & Petersfield Map | Midhurst & Selborne | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL33
Links: Thursley, Witley Park, Witley and Milford Commons National Trust

This is the third 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.

This walk starts at the church of St Michael and All Angels where the previous section left the Greensand Way. From the front entrance of the church take a left onto Highfield Lane then a right onto a small lane on the corner where Highfield Lane becomes The Street. Follow the Greensand Way in a westerly direction for 4.3km until the corner of Heath Hills Wood.

At the corner of Heath Hills Wood you’ll leave the Greensand Way and continue in a north-easterly, then northerly direction following a well marked footpath through fields. After 2 km from leaving the Greensand Way you’ll reach Mare Hill Road. Cross over the road into Mare Hill Common and take a left on the first path in the Common that runs parallel to Mare Hill Road. Here you’ll get some great views to the north. Continue walking in a westerly direction on paths on the south side of Mare Hill Common and Witley Common. You’ll cross over the A286 Haslemere Road and Lea Coach Road along the way.

When you reach the western edge of Witley Common the path will take a sharp left, heading south to join French Lane. Follow French Lane in a westerly direction, crossing over the A3 on a bridge to join the Old Portsmouth Road. Take a left onto Old Portsmouth Road and follow it for 400m until you reach Mathwall Engineering (an old petrol station) on the right. Take a footpath to the right of the old petrol station, following it diagonally across a field until you join back with the Greensand Way near the start of the route.

Much of this route is a circuit of the large Witley Park Estate. Much of the land covered in these first 3 Greensand Walks was owned by the estate until it was passed to the National Trust. The Witley Park Estate remains in private ownership.

Richard gowerTrek, Surrey, National Trust, England, Surrey HillsComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 2 - Devils Punchbowl and Thursley

Devil’s Punchbowl, Hindhead

Start & Finish: National Trust Devil's Punchbowl Car Park, Thursley, Hindhead, GU26 6AG
Distance: 11.1 km (6.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 199m
Greensand Way section covered: Hindhead Common to The Street: 5.6 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): National Trust walks in Devil’s Punchbowl
Other routes touched (cycle): Surrey Cycleway
OS Trig Pillar: TP0323 - Hindhead
Pubs / Cafes on route: National Trust Cafe at Devil’s Punchbowl and The Three Horseshoes, Thursley
Map: Haslemere & Petersfield Map | Midhurst & Selborne | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL33
Links: The Devil’s Punchbowl, National Trust Hindhead Common and the Devil’s Punchbowl, Thursley

This is the second 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.

This walk starts at the National Trust Visitors Centre at The Devil’s Punchbowl. From here you can either pick up the Greensand Way from the car-park, repeating a small section of Part 1, or, as we did, follow the route of the old A3 to meet the Greensand Way neat Gibbet Hill. The old A3 route is more interesting as it takes you past the Sailor’s Stone, a memorial to an unknown sailor murdered on the road to Portsmouth. A little further along the trail you’ll get to Gibbet Hill, site of both an OS Trig Pillar and a Celtic Cross that marks the place where the sailor’s killers were hanged.

From Gibbet Hill, return to the Greensand Way and follow it in a northerly direction. The route follows the eastern edge of Devil’s Punchbowl to meet the Church of St Michael and All Angels on the south end of Thursley. The church contains the grave of the unknown sailor whose memorial stone you passed earlier on the route.

The Street, Thursley, just beyond the church is where you leave the Greensand Way for this section. Follow The Street north until you reach Thursley Village Centre. This is a good place to stop for a rest at The Three Horseshoes pub, just off the route on Dyehouse Road. From Thursley, take a left onto The Lane to cut off a small section of Dyehouse Road. You’ll now be starting the return section to the start, closely following the path of the Truxford Brook. This is a tributary of the River Wey that starts in the Devil’s Punchbowl, flowing north to the Wey.

From the end of The Lane, you’ll continue onto a footpath that rejoins Dyehouse Road. Take a left onto the road, then first left onto a footpath on a private lane. Take the first footpath on the right of the lane, crossing over a wooden bridge on the Truxford Brook. Follow this path to the Thursley Road, then take a left to follow the road. Be careful here as there’s no pavement on the road. It’s fairly quiet but cars can come fast so keep on the right and keep a look out. After ~400m take a left onto Sailors Lane and follow this for 3.6 km back to the start at the Devil’s Punchbowl NT Visitors Centre.

This walk follows a similar route to Walk #4 in the excellent guide West Surrey Walks into History by David McDowall. David’s book has detailed turn by turn directions and fascinating descriptions of local history and points of interest on the routes.

Richard gowerTrek, Trig Pillar, Surrey, National Trust, England, Surrey HillsComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 1 - Haslemere and Hindhead

Devil’s Punchbowl, Hindhead

Start & Finish: Start of the Greensand Way at alley to the left of 43 High Street, Haslemere, GU27 2LA
Alternative Start: National Trust Devil's Punchbowl Car Park, Thursley, Hindhead, GU26 6AG
Distance: 9.8 km (6.1 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 231m
Greensand Way section covered: Haslemere to Hindhead Common: 4.8 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Grayswood Walk SCC
Other routes touched (cycle): Surrey Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Haslemere High Street plus the National Trust Cafe at Devil’s Punchbowl
Map: Haslemere & Petersfield Map | Midhurst & Selborne | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL33
Links: The Greensand Way, Haslemere, The Devil’s Punchbowl, National Trust Hindhead Common and the Devil’s Punchbowl

This is the first 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-tun guide.

For this section we started at High Street Haslemere and followed the Greensand Way to the National Trust car park at The Devil’s Punchbowl. From here, continue along the Greensand Way for another 1 km before taking a right hand path towards Hurt Hill in an easterly direction. After Hurt Hill continue in a south-easterly direction to the A286 Grayswood Road. Follow Grayswood Road in a south-westerly direction for ~350m until you reach a war memorial on the right hand side of the road. Shortly after this carefully cross over to the left hand side taking a footpath cutting though the woods to Sandy Lane. Follow Sandy Lane then Highercombe Road in a southerly direction until you get back to the A286. This is now the Haselmere High Street where you’ll shortly be back at the start.

Richard gowerTrek, Surrey, National Trust, England, Surrey HillsComment
Leith Hill: Surrey County Top

Leith HIll Tower

Significance: Highest peak in Surrey (Historic County Top), Surrey Hills National Landscape High Point
Member of: Marilyn, Hardy
Parent Peak: Walbury Hill.
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Walbury Hill
Elevation: 295m
Date climbed: 25th August 2012 and 20th March 2022
Coordinates: 51°10′33″N 0°22′11″W
Map: OS Explorer 146 Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate
Guidebook: The UK's County Tops (Jonny Muir), Walking the County High Points of England (David Bathurst)
Links: Wikipedia (Surrey), Wikipedia (Leith Hill), Peakbagger, Hillbagging, National Trust

Leith Hill is the highest point in both the Historic and Ceremonial Counties of Surrey. It’s on the Greensand Way in the heart of the Surrey Hills and I’ve visited it on several occasions. My favourite walk featuring Leith Hill is Section 10 of the Greensand Way which also takes in Broadmoor and Abinger Common in a 10km walk.

GREATER LONDON BOROUGH HIGH POINTS FORMERLY WITHIN Surrey

Richard gowerTrek, UK County Tops, National Trust, Surrey, England, Surrey HillsComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 10 - Leith Hill and Broadmoor

View from the base of Leith HIll Tower

Start & Finish: Starveall Car Park, Leith Hill Rd, Dorking, RH5 6LU
Distance: 10.3 km (6.4 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 206m
Greensand Way section covered: Holmbury St Mary to Broadmoor Village: 6.4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Leith Hill Greenway
Other routes touched (cycle): Surrey Cycleway, various mountain bike trails in Leith Hill woods.
Pubs / Cafes on route: National Trust Cafe at Leith Hill (1 km in)
Map: OS Explorer 146 Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate
Guidebook: The UK's County Tops (Jonny Muir), Walking the County High Points of England (David Bathurst)
Links: Wikipedia (Surrey), Wikipedia (Leith Hill), Peakbagger, Hillbagging, National Trust

This is the tenth 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.

Our first visit to Leith Hill was in 2012 at the start of my UK County Top mission. That one was a quick drive-by on the way back from somewhere else, taking in only the 1km walk from the car park to the summit. I had wanted to return to do it as a part of a larger Surrey Hills Circular. So, nearly 10 years later, we made our second ascent.

This 10km walk starts at Starveall Car Park and follows the Greensand Way for much of its length. From the car park, follow the well-signed path to the tower. On both occasions that I’ve been there the actual tower has been closed but the small kiosk in the base has been open. This is the only place to buy food or drink on the route to it’s a good place to stop and admire the view before continuing.

After the tower continue along the Greensand Way, descending steeply in a easterly direction. At the bottom of the hill take a left turn to remain on the Greensand Way, now heading to the north. Keep on the Greensand Way for nearly 3km until you reach Broadmoor Road. Take a left onto Broadmoor Road (leaving the Greensand Way) and follow it for 100m, taking the footpath on the right next to the village information sign. At the first path junction take a right and follow this path as it curves to the west to the Mill Pond at Friday Street. You’ll cross over Sheephouse Lane and Noon’s Corner Road on the way.

When you reach the Mill Pond you’ll be back on Noon’s Corner Road. Follow this in a westerly direction, ascending until a bend in the road where you can take the footpath on the left. Follow this path for 300m, then take a right to follow another path to meet Hollow Lane at Abinger Common. Cross over Hollow Lane, then over Abinger Lane following a path through Pasture Woods until you descend to a path next to a stream that runs parallel to the B2126. Take a left to follow the path with the stream on your right until you meet the B2126 at Holmbury St Mary.

Take a left onto B2126 at Holmbury St Mary following it for 300m then take a left onto Pasture Wood Road. Follow Pasture Wood Road for another 300m then take the footpath on the right as the road bends to the left. You’re now back on the Greensand Way which you can follow for 2km back to the Starveall Car Park

Richard gowerTrek, UK County Tops, National Trust, Surrey, England, Surrey HillsComment
Newlands Corner and Chilworth Gunpowder Mills Circular
Fields between Newlands Corner and Guildford Lane

Fields between Newlands Corner and Guildford Lane

Start & Finish: Newlands Corner Car Park, A25 Shere Road, Newland's Corner, Albury, GU4 8SF
Distance: 10.6 km (6.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 209m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): North Downs Way, Scholar’s Trail, Tillingbourne at Work SCC
Other routes touched (cycle): none
OS Trig Pillar: TP4779 - Merrow Downs
Pubs / Cafes on route: Newlands Cafe or The Plucky Pheasant at the start/finish.
Map: Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Links: Newlands Corner, Merrow Downs, St Martha’s Hill, Chilworth Gunpowder Mills

There’s a lot of options for circular walks from Newland’s Corner. This one is a variation on most as it takes in the Merrow Downs Trig Pillar and Chantries Wood. The route is a mix of large well-signed trails and cuts though woods with lots of similar looking paths. For these I’d recommend a GPX route or Explorer map to keep you on track.

From the Newland’s Corner Car Park take the path that heads north to the right of the Visitor's Centre. Follow paths to the edge of Merrow Downs Golf Course where you’ll find the OS Trig Pillar. From the pillar head west then south through the woods until you reach the North Downs Way. Follow the North Downs Way as it south-west past St Martha’s Church and down to Halfpenny Lane.

Cross over Halfpenny Lane and leave the North Downs Way, heading south-west through Chantries Wood. After the campsite, take a path heading steeply downhill to the south-west until you meet a path T-junction after a hedge. Take a left, heading east along the hedge until you get back to Halfpenny Lane. Take a right onto Halfpenny Lane, then a right immediately onto a footpath rather than following the Lane.

At the end of the footpath you’ll re-join Halfpenny Lane. Follow this south for 100m crossing the Tilling Bourne stream where you’ll see the entrance to the Gunpowder Mills on the left. Enter the Gunpowder Mills and follow the path through it for ~1km until you meet the Downs Link. Take some time here to see the remains of the old East India Company Mills. There’s information signs at the main entrances with leaflets explaining the different remains.

Once you reach the Downs Link you’ll need to leave the Mills and continue east though a field remaining parallel to the Tilling Bourne. Continue through an estate of some very nice houses set around Postford Lake and Waterloo Pond. You’ll emerge onto the A248 Chilworth Road. Follow the road east for 200m and take a left onto Guildford Lane. Follow Guildford Lane north-west for 500m then take a path on the right. Follow this path for just over 1km through woods, past a farm and then the final ascent to Newlands Corner.

For a shorter version of this you could save ~1km by heading directly west from Newlands Corner, missing out the Trig Pillar. Another 1k can be saved by walking south down Halfpenny Lane instead of the Chantries Wood section. I highly recommend the full route though as it takes in several of the main points of interest in the area.

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Richard gowerTrek, Trig Pillar, Surrey Hills, Surrey, EnglandComment
Downs Link Ultra Marathon
Crossing The Old Shoreham Toll Bridge on the last mile

Crossing The Old Shoreham Toll Bridge on the last mile

When: October 10th 2021
Start: Church of St Martha-on-the-Hill, Halfpenny Lane, Guildford, GU4 8PZ
Finish: 3rd Shoreham Sea Scouts, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 5LT
Distance: 61.3 km (38.1 miles)
Elevation change: +456m / -622m (Net -166m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): North Downs Way, Tillingbourne At Work (SCC), Wey South Path, The Fox Way, Greensand Way, Sussex Border Path, West Sussex Literary Trail, South Downs Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22, 223
Maps:
- OS Explorer Map (145) Guildford and Farnham
- OS Explorer OL34 Crawley & Horsham
- OS Explorer OL11 Brighton and Hove
Finish time: 8 hours 32 minutes
Links: Downs Link (Wikipedia), The Cranleigh Line, The Steyning Line, St Martha’s Hill, Surrey Hills AONB, Wey and Arun Canal, South Downs National Park

This was a return to familiar territory for Mark and I. We’d cycled the Downs Link in July and passed by St Martha’s church on the Hardest of Snails 10k shortly after. Running the whole of the 38 mile trail was an altogether bigger challenge. This was also Mark’s first Ultra and my first running one with a friend.

I had worked out a plan to get us through it at a steady pace with 30 minutes contingency for the 10 hour cut-off. I have a consistent pace for Ultras, but not knowing how Mark would get on I didn’t know whether we would be able to stick together or not.

The first 6.4k to the old railway path is steep and hilly. With a lot of runners packed tightly into narrow paths you have to go at the speed of the group. This was a comfortable pace for a short race but faster than I had planned for this. I couldn’t see Mark at all in this first section and was worried that I was getting a long way ahead. I needn’t have worried as he arrived at the first Aid Station 30 seconds behind me.

This was the pattern for the first half of the race. I was slightly ahead on each section and we met up at the Aid Stations. Somewhere between Henfield and Steyning we’d both slowed to a fast walk and kept together to the end. By the finish point at Shoreham-by-Sea we were a hour ahead of our planned time and well within the official cut-off.

This is billed as a great Ultra for first timers and I’d argue that it’s a great one all round. After the first 6.4k it’s mostly flat and on good ground. There’s a few long straight stretches that got a bit boring but made up for by the remains of the old stations along the way. See my post on the cycle trip for more about these.

Running and crossing the finishing line with a friend made it special for me. Well done Mark on joining the Ultra club and huge thanks for Mark’s family for supporting us along the way.

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Richard gowerRun, Ultramarathon, Canal, Railway, Disused Railway, Coast, South Downs, National Park, National Trust, Surrey, Sussex, England, Surrey HillsComment
Hardest of Snails 10k Trail

When: July 28th 2021
Where: Shalford Park, Guildford, GU4 8AA
Course: Hilly twisted loop course from Chantry Wood to Newlands Corner via St Martha’s Hill. 5k and 15k routes run concurrently.
Other routes touched (walk): North Downs Way, Tillingbourne at Work SCC, Scholar’s Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Downs Link
Other routes touched (run): Downs Link Ultra
Finish time: 66:35

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Photos with ATT logo by Epic Action Imagery (www.epicactionimagery.com). All other photos by Richard Gower and Mark Brace.

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Richard gowerRun, 10k, Surrey, England, Surrey HillsComment
Cycling The Downs Link
Old carriage at West Grinstead Station

Old carriage at West Grinstead Station

Start: St. Martha’s Hill Guildford Lane Car Park, Guildford Lane, Albury, Guildford, GU5 9BQ
Finish: Shoreham-by-Sea Station, Station Approach, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 5WX
Distance: 61 km (38 miles)
Elevation change: +344m / -457m (Net -113m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): North Downs Way, Tillingbourne At Work (SCC), Wey South Path, The Fox Way, Greensand Way, Sussex Border Path, West Sussex Literary Trail, South Downs Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22, 223
Other routes touched (run): Downs Link Ultra
Pubs / Cafes on route: Wild & Green Kitchen (Cranleigh), The Little Teahouse (Southwater), The Old Railway (Henfield) …and others
Maps:
- OS Explorer Map (145) Guildford and Farnham
- OS Explorer OL34 Crawley & Horsham
- OS Explorer OL11 Brighton and Hove
Links: Downs Link (Wikipedia), The Cranleigh Line, The Steyning Line, St Martha’s Hill, Surrey Hills AONB, Wey and Arun Canal, South Downs National Park

The Downs Link is a ~59k trail linking the North Downs Way at St. Martha’s Hill and the South Downs Way near Shoreham-by-Sea. Having recently completed the similarly sounding Thames Down Link, this was an obvious next trip. The first 6k is a hilly route through countryside around Blackheath and Chilworth. Once it connects to the Wey and Arun Canal it follows the route of the disused Cranleigh and Steyning Lines.

There’s no practical public transport connection between the start and the end (maybe they should build a train line to connect them?) … so we did a 2-car shuffle. Our total route was a bit longer than the actual Downs Link as we started from the Guildford Lane Car Park and finished at Shoreham-by-Sea station.

Navigation is very easy, especially once you’re on the old rail line. There were a couple of path junctions on the first 6k that we may have missed if we’d not had a GPX route to guide us.

There’s remains of the former stations along the route, some better preserved than others. West Grinstead is a particular highlight as there’s a British Rail Mark 1 coach on site, now used as an information centre. Others, like Partridge Green and Bramber have been completely demolished with no remaining evidence.

Don’t miss stopping at Rudgwick Bridge over the River Arun. The previous gradient up to Rudgwick Station was too steep for trains so the embankments were raised and an iron bridge was built on top of the brick arch. There’s a viewpoint just off the path where you can see the two layers. The logo on the Down Link signs along the route are based on this bridge.

If you’re an OS Trig Pillar bagger, you can find TP1686 - Broomhall Copse 5 minutes off the path at the intersection with the Sussex Border path.

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Downs Link Disused Stations

Pictures above: top row, left to right:

Pictures above: bottom row, left to right:

  • Southwater: Wikipedia. Replica sign only, road now covers site of original station.

  • West Grinstead: Wikipedia. Station building and cottages now in private hands. Platform remains with a British Rail Mark 1 coach on display.

  • Partridge Green: Wikipedia. Station buildings have been removed and replaced by housing and the Star Road Industrial Estate

  • Henfield: Wikipedia. Station demolished. Only evidence is Beechings and Station Road sign where station used to be.

  • Steyning: Wikipedia. Station demolished but old warehouse building remains, now converted into townhouses.

  • Bramber: Wikipedia. Station demolished and replaced by a roundabout (photo). No other evidence.

More Disused Railway Posts

Richard gowerCycle, NCN, Canal, Railway, Disused Railway, Coast, South Downs, National Park, National Trust, Surrey, Sussex, Surrey Hills, EnglandComment
Walking the Thames Down Link - Overnight Summer Solstice Trek
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Start: Box Hill & Westhumble Train Station, Westhumble Sreet, Westhumble, Dorking RH5 6BT
Finish: Kingston Bridge, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1QN
Distance: 26.3 km (16.3 miles)
Elevation change: +202m /- 241m. Net -39m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Mole Gap Trail, Ranmore SCC Circular, North Downs Way, Box Hill Hike, Chessington Countryside Walk, Hogsmill Valley Walk. London Loop, Thames Path
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22, 4
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Stepping Stones pub in Westhumble, William Bourne pub in Chessington, several in Berrylands and Kingston centres
Map: OS Explorer Map (146) Dorking, Box Hill and Reigate and OS Explorer Map (161) London South, Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham
Links: Thames Down Link, Westhumble, Box Hill and Westhumble Station, River Mole, Epsom Common, Horton Country Park, Bonesgate Stream, Epsom and Ewell, Hogsmill River, Berrylands, Kingston-upon-Thames

For the last 5 years, a dawn-to-dusk Winter Solstice walk has become a feature of my hiking calendar. It was half-way through our 2020 winter walk where the idea for a dusk-to-dawn Summer Solstice was formed. The idea was simple; find a point-to-point route that we can start at sunset and arrive at the end-point at sunrise.

In the planning stage the obvious route was the Avebury to Stonehenge route described in Andy Bull's Pilgrim Pathways book. At 27 miles it was too far for my walking friends. On hunting for a shorter walk I landed on the Thames Down Link. This is a 16 mile path connecting the North Downs Way at Westhumble to the Thames Path at Kingston-upon-Thames. I'd crossed a part of it recently on the Chessington Countryside walk and was keen to return.

So, on the closest Saturday night to the Summer Solstice, Brian and I arrived at Box Hill and Westhumble station and headed north. The first section was simple: a 50 metre walk to the Stepping Stones pub where we had a table booked at 20:00 for a pre-hike dinner. It was still light when we left the pub but fading fast and the 21:22 sunset arrived as we climbed up to Mickleham Downs.

The weather forecast for the evening looked grim, a continuation of a lot of rain through the previous week. We prepared for the worst but it turned out to be a dry evening where we were. My wife called at 22:30 to check we weren't already lost and soaked. It was chucking it down where she was but perfectly dry on the trail. The sky was clear but a lot of the trail was in narrow wooded paths so we were glad of the several torches that we took along.

The route follows mostly countryside paths with only a few busy roads to cross. If we had gone in the daytime I'm sure the photos would have been impressive, but we mostly only saw dark trees. Nonetheless, it was a quiet, safe route with fairly easy navigation, making it a good choice for a night hike.

The consequence of walking at night is a lack of open cafes and pubs to stop for a rest. We had taken enough food and water, but it did mean that we made a lot faster progress than a day-time trip where we would have stopped for longer. We arrived at the Thames at Kingston at 03:00, a full 1 hour and 44 minutes before sunrise. I had hoped to have taken a sunrise photo from the Thames bridge but neither of us were up for hanging around long enough for sunrise. Instead, we drove back to Westhumble to pick up my car and returned to our respective homes ready to see sunrise from the garden.

As a first Summer Solstice, it was everything we hoped for and it's likely that this will also be an annual event. Our main learning is that we'll need a longer one next time if we're going to arrive at sunrise. Stonehenge 2022?

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Richard gowerTrek, Railway, Thames, National Trust, London, Surrey Hills, Surrey, EnglandComment