Walk 29th February 2016 - Peaslake Walking Bottom CP - Youth Hostel - Holmbury Hill - Pitch Hill - Ewhurst Windmill - CP

Start point:- TQ083455

Distance:- 11.8 km; 7.33 miles

Time taken:- 2 hours 48 minutes

Route:- 

Walking Bottom CP (Peaslake) - Hurtwood Chase - YH - Somerset Hill - Holmbury Hill - Duke of Kent school - Pitch Hill - Ewhurst Windmill - Peaslake House - CP This walk builds on one led by a member of Mole Valley Ramblers on the 24th February 2016. After leaving Peaslake you will pick up part of the Shere Millennium trail http://shereparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/shere_millennium_trail.pdf Walking on towards Holmbury Hill / Fort with a gentle climb to the hill, my route took me around the southern part of the fort. There are suggestions that the fort was abandoned in 1BC. The fort was mainly used for trading, but an information board advises that sling shot stones have been found at the site showing that at times the fort had to be defended. There are post holes within the fort marking livestock pen boundaries. Wild life that can be found include badgers and stone chats. Some of the wooded area has been cut with a view to encourage this bird to re-establish itself. There are good views looking south from both hills with viewpoints opening up as you walk from Holmbury hill towards Pitch Hill. The latter hill juts more than Holmbury, so from Pitch hill you can see Gatwick airport and Crawley to the east. Ewhurst windmill is a grade 2 listed building https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurt_Wood_Mill,_Ewhurst Its was built in 1845 to replace a post mill  which had been blown down earlier. Paths on this walk are mostly mud free and well drained. There are walk-around to get by any areas of mud that may be found en route.