Walk 3rd February 2016 Silent Pool - NDW - Shere - Albury

Start point:- TQ060485
Distance 10.8km; 6.71 miles
Time 2 hours 59 minutes
Route:-

Silent Pool CP - Fox Way - Hollister Farm - Netley Heath - Gravelhill Gate - Hawkhurst Downs - Beggars Lane - Southbrook Farm - Towerhill Farm - Gomshall - Cycle Route 22 - Shere Church - Silver Wood - Albury Church - CP

Today's walk is using the same route as that on the 25th January 2016 for Mole Valley Ramblers. The start point - Silent Pool was probably an old chalk quarry fed by underground springs and would have been a precious source of pure water in days gone by. The pool and nearby Sherbourne Pond became home to many different species of aquatic life and one can often glimpse the blue flash of a kingfisher as it darts across the water.

More recently the pool has had a tendency to dry out due to the springs feeding the Pool suffering from the lower than average annual rainfall.

Silent Pool has always been a popular place to visit and many feel an eerie stillness looking out over the still water surrounded by the evergreen box trees.

Legend has it that this is due to the fate of a woodcutter's daughter who was surprised by a nobleman on a horse as she bathed in the pool. Having failed to lure her to the bank, he rode his horse into the water and caused the girl to move out to deeper water where she drowned. When the woodcutter returned and found her body, he also found the nobleman's hat floating on the water. It bore the crest of none other than Prince John!

Additional detail about Silent Pool can be found at this website:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Pool
From Cycle route 22 you can see Netley Park and house, but they are not open to public access. They are owned by the National trust.