Leith Hill from Friday Street

Walk Report 1st November

The countryside was shrouded in fog first thing on Sunday morning, visibility at its worst which might explain the small turnout of walkers. As luck would have it by 10:00 the fog lifted and the sun shone, in fact a perfect autumnal day.

 

The 6 1/2 mile walk began in the hamlet of Friday Street on the gentle lower north slope of Leith Hill. Heading off towards Coldharbour taking in water meadows, sandy tracks and mature woodland. Spurred on by the promise of superb views and coffee ... probably coffee being the main incentive we climbed uphill to Leith Hill Tower, it was well worth the effort! 

 

With the hilly section of the walk behind us the route led us back to the starting point via Abinger Bottom and finally, The Stefan Langton pub where a few of us stopped for lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clandon House to Newlands Corner

WALK REPORT 18^th October

One thing I have really enjoyed about the last 3 months of walking has been the number of new areas or routes I have been introduced to, and last Sunday’s walk led by Chris Partridge did not disappoint. However given the location in the heart of our regular walking area this is quite a surprise.

Chris’s walk started from Clandon House carpark; it was sad to see the mansion shrouded in polythene after the fire, but it did mean we had plentiful free parking!

At the far point of the walk we popped out at the familiar territory of Newlands corner (and the coffee shop J), but the walk there and back through pretty and varied countryside was an enjoyable new route to nearly everyone on the walk – thanks Chris!

 

8 people enjoyed a good lunch at the Bull’s Head, but pre-booking was certainly essential.

 

Blackdown Common, Hazelmere

 

WALK REPORT 4th October

Thank you to Godalming and Hazelmere stalwarts Peter and Sheila (but also occasional SWSW walkers and holiday makers) for introducing / reminding us of the fantastic walking to be had if we travel just 10 or 15 minutes further. We enjoyed a lovely walk through Surrey and Sussex heathland over Black Down near Hazelmere, had some National Trust history at the ‘Temple of the Winds’, and some glorious though hazy views. The photo’s don’t really do them justice.

This is an area we should explore again, a lot of beautiful countryside to enjoy!

 

 

Can anyone identify the weird pink cone shaped fruit? Please let me or Sheila know if so!

Wooton And Abinger

WALK REPORT 20^th September

We were very lucky on our last walk to have glorious weather which meant we got the best of the lovely views from the North Downs. Most of us had walked from the Wooten Hatch near Dorking before, but Jenny surprised us with a new route over paths we had not used before. There were enough hills to build up an appetite so lunch in the Pub garden was a good finish to the morning.

 

 

Gathering by the monument to Bishop Samuel Wilberforce, who died after falling from his horse on 19 July 1873

 

 

An excellent viewpoint on the ascent to the North Downs Way

 

 

 

A field of Sunflowers

 

Windsor Great Park

Walk Report 6^th September:

Thanks Sue for a really lovely walk in welcome September sunshine – a great relief after all the recent bad weather. A lovely route, threading its way round the lake and through the gardens in Windsor Great park, with the bonus of a coffee stall half way round. We have seen the azaleas and rhododendrons in the park before, but it was great to walk in the park in a different season and see the heather and hydrangeas at their best.

 

 

The Totem Pole

 

 

 Spotting Ducks

 

View Over The Lake

 

 

Brookwood Cemetery

This walk was lead by Janet and Lynne, starting at The Cricketer's Pub.  13 walkers congregated at the pub,  and set off to Pirbright church, where we stopped to look at the grave of Stanley, the reporter to found Gr Livingstone. We  proceeded along canal under the station in Brookwood to the cemetery. We strolled in a leisurely way around the cemetery,  stopping for a break at the American chapel which was open. Then we continued over Pirbright common and woods back to the pub,  where 5 of us had an enjoyable lunch together.

Shalford & Chilworth

This walk was lead by Margo and John.  14 of us set off, joined by 2 tail-enders who between them remembered the walk description and had a bit of local knowledge, and managed to catch us up. We had a very pleasant walk south of the Chantries, with views up to St Martha’s from a different direction. We had a good arial display from a Buzzard, and managed to find a few paths that were new to even regular SWSW walkers.

This was followed by a relaxed (i.e. slow…) lunch at the Parrot in Shalford, but nice to enjoy the sunny garden.