Walk 24th February 2017 Admiral's Road - Polesden Lacey - Fox cottages - Dorking Wood

Start point:- TQ151548

Distance:- 13.7 km; 8.51 miles
Time taken:- 2 hours 48 minutes
Route:-

Youngs St (Top) CP - Admiral's Road - Connicut Lane - Preserve Copse - Polesden Farm - Fox Cottages - Dorking Wood - Bagden Farm - Chapelhill Wood - Chapel Wood - Crabtree Cottages - Bookham Wood - Denshire Hill - CP

This walk varies from the one on the 22nd, after reaching Logmore Green, the path splits and I took the path with Dorking Wood on the right, and this path is muddier than the one to the left

Walk 22nd February 2017 Norbury Park - Polesden Farm - Fox cottages

Start point:- TQ151548
Distance:- 13.90 km; 8.64 miles
Time taken:- 2 hours 55 minutes
Route:-

Youngs St (Top) CP - Admiral's Road - Connicut Lane - Preserve Copse - Polesden Farm - Fox Cottages - Bagden Farm - Chapelhill Wood - Chapel Wood - Crabtree Cottages - Bookham Wood - Denshire Hill - CP

The National trust has started work to restore field just before reaching Bagden Farm to original Chalk grassland.

Calcareous grassland is an ecosystem associated with thin basic soil, such as that on chalk and limestone downland. Plants on calcareous grassland are typically short and hardy, and include grasses and herbs such as clover. Calcareous grassland is an important habitat for insects, particularly butterflies, and is kept at a plagioclimax by grazing animals, usually sheep and sometimes cattle. Rabbits used to play a part but due to the onset of myxomatosis their numbers decreased so dramatically that they no longer have much of a grazing effect.

It existed for hundreds possibly thousands of years and is a very rich grassland.
Ancient chalk grassland is now very rare. In the last sixty years, it is estimated that 80% of chalk grassland in Britain has been lost. There is estimated to be about 40,000 hectares of chalk grassland left in Britain today, which may represent about half the chalk grassland in the world.
Chalk grasslands support an incredibly rich and diverse flora. Originally created when the woodlands were cleared, this grassland now relies on grazing and cutting to maintain biodiversity. The thin, lime-rich soils of this grassland habitat are derived from the underlying chalk or limestone rocks, and attract plants that don't grow in other soils. Home to many beautiful orchids and wildflowers, and the insects they attract including rare blue butterflies, chalk grasslands have been in decline in the UK for the last 50 years. The best examples are found in Wiltshire, Dorset and the South Downs.

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/habitats/lowland-calcareous-grassland

Walk 20th February 2017 Norbury Park - Polesden Lacey - Tanners Hatch - Fox cottages - Crabtree Cottages

Start Point:- TQ151548
Distance:- 12.4 km; 7.71 miles
Time taken:- 2 hours 31 minutes
Route:-

Youngs St (Top) CP - Admiral's Track - Connicut Lane - Tanners Hatch - Fox Cottages - Bagden Farm - Chapelhill Wood - Chapel Wood - Crabtree Cottages - Bookham Wood - Denshire Hill - CP

Walk 16th February 2017 Betchworth - Brockham - Deepdene - Stepping Stones

Start point:- TQ198498

Distance:- 13.2km; 8.20 miles
Time taken:- 3 hours 5 minutes

Route:-

Big Field CP - Betchworth church - OldPark Wood - Brockham - Coach Road - Betchworth Park - Pixham Lane - Stepping Stones - Pilgrims Way - CP

This walk incorporates one from the Big Field car park out to Betchworth and a walk on 4th January 2017 to produce a longer walk. There are opportunities to extend it further by taking a path towards the quarries on the Downs and return to the car park

Walk 15th February 2017 Headley Heath - High Ashurst - Mickleham Downs - The Nower

Start point:- TQ205539

Distance:- 9.43 km; 5.86 miles

Time taken:- 2 hours 57 minutes

Route:-

Headley Heath NT CP - High Ashurst - White Hill CP -  White Hill - The Nower Wood - Langley Lane - Heath House - CP

This walk was led by a member of Mole Valley Ramblers with 43 walkers, the time taken to complete the route will be reflected in these numbers.

Be aware that taking the path from White hill car park up to the top of White Hill will mean climbing 183 steps and your heart rate may achieve that same figure

Walk 14th February 2017 Silent Pool - St Martha's Hill - Lockner Farm - Blackheath Forest - Brook - Albury Heath

Start point:- TQ060485

Distance:- 14.9 km; 9.26 miles

Time taken:- 3 hours 6 minutes

Route:-

Silent Pool CP - Fox Way - NDW - Water Lane - Pilgrims Way - St Martha's Hill - Downs link -Lockner Farm - Postford farm Cottages - Blackheath Forest - Broomfields - Ponds Lane - Dark Lane - Silver Wood - CP

The walk starts at the Silent Pool CP

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Pool

and climbs the hill via Fox Way and turn towards Newlands Corner. Taking a stony track down and then across to St Martha's hill.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Martha%27s_Hill.

Descending towards Lockner Farm crossing the Chilworth Road and on to Postford Farm cottages. Then to Blackheath Forest and Broomfields into the small hamlet of Brook,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brook,_Surrey

and picking up Dark Lane to the edge of Shere before turning left towards the church at Albury

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albury_Park

and finally rejoining the car park. Don't forget to visit the Silent Pool Gin distillery.

Walk 9th February 2017 Norbury Park

Start point:- TQ151548

Distance:- 11.5 km; 7.15 miles

Time taken:- 2 hours 19 minutes

Route:-

Young St CP (top) -Fetcham Downs - Updown Wood - Icehouse Coombe - The Priory -  Sawmill - Beechy Wood - Crabtree cottages - Bookham Wood - Denshire Hill - The Hazels - CP

Walk 8th February 2017 Chinthurst hill - St Martha's hill - Chantries

Start point:- TQ015463
Distance:- 11.9 km; 7.4 miles
Time taken:- 3 hours 16 minutes
Route:-

Chinthurst Hill CP - Tangley farm - Downs Link - Rosemary Hill - Lockner Lodge - Lockner farm - St Martha's Hill - NDW - Manor farm - Bradstock Brook - Lower Chinthurst farm

I led this walk for Mole Valley Ramblers with 12 people walking and the time taken will reflect this.

The walk starts at Chinthurst hill car park and it is worth walking up this hill at the end of a walk to see the folly built at the top. There are good views in all directions.

http://www.surreywildlifetrust.org/reserves/chinthurst-hill

You will cross the road and pass Great Tangley Manor and the Doomsday Book makes reference to this 11th century moated manor house. http://www.thebigdomain.com/large-houses/great-tangley-manor

Crossing Blackheath past a war memorial erect to remember the sacrifices made in two world wars on to Lockner Farm and then a climb up to St Martha's hill.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Martha%27s_Hill

There is a tradition belief that the church was originally known as Saints and Martyrs Hill, the martyr being Saint Thomas of Canterbury. The graveyard contains several note worthy people including Yvonne Arnaud.

Taking the Pilgrims Way along the edge of the Chantries (with carpets of blue bells in Spring)

http://shalfordvillage.co.uk/shalford-history/the-chantries-the-gem-of-guildford

Walking towards manor Farm looking back from the direction walked you will see the ruins of St Catherine's chapel and Guildford Cathedral.
About a half mile south of Guildford on the road to Godalming is St. Catherines village, between the River Wey and Portsmouth Road. The village sits on a sandstone outcrop near the ancient Pilgrims Way and its crossing point of the river. Nearby are the tunnels and cuttings of the railway line.

The name derives from the Chantry Chapel, an ancient monument on a beautiful site on one of the sandstone outcrops. This was probably always a chapel of ease to St. Nicholas Church in the town and was built in the early 14th century by Richard de Wauncey, rector of that church.

Crossing the railway line and the RGS playing field will bring you back to the car park via Lower Chinthurst farm with a view of St Martha's hill to finish.

Walk 7th February 2017 Chinthurst Hill - St Martha's hill - Chantries

Start point:- TQ015463

Distance:- 11.9 km; 7.4 miles

Time taken:- 2 hours 26 minutes

Route:-

Chinthurst Hill CP - Tangley farm - Downs Link - Rosemary Hill - Lockner Lodge - Lockner farm - St Martha's Hill - NDW - Manor farm - Bradstock Brook - Lower Chinthurst farm

I shall lead this walk on 8th for Mole Valley Ramblers

Taken on the path leading up to St Martha's Hill looking south

Walk 3rd February 2017 Silent Pool - St Martha's Hill - Blackheath - Brook - Albury

Start point:- TQ060485

Distance:- 16.8km; 10.44 miles

Time taken:- 3 hours 35 minutes

Route:-

Silent Pool CP - Fox Way - NDW - Water Lane - Pilgrims Way - St Martha's Hill - Downs link - Postior Pond - Blackheath Lane - Blackheath Forest - Broomfields - Ponds Lane - Dark Lane - Silver Wood - CP

The walk starts at the Silent Pool CP

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Pool

and climbs the hill via Fox Way and turn towards Newlands Corner. Taking a stony track down and then across to St Martha's hill.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Martha%27s_Hill.

Descending towards Albury via Postior pond, and Waterloo pond joining the road and going via Blackheath Lane to Postford Farm cottages. On to Blackheath Forest and Broomfields into the small hamlet of Brook,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brook,_Surrey

and picking up Dark Lane to the edge of Shere before turning left towards the church at Albury

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albury_Park

and finally rejoining the car park. Don't forget to visit the Silent Pool Gin distillery.

                                 St Martha's hill looking south towards approaching rain

Looking towards NewBarn on the way to St Martha's hill

Walk 1st February 2017 Riverside Park nature reserve - Jacob's well - Sutton Park - Wey Navigations

Start point:- TQ011526

Distance:- 9.84 km; 6.12 miles

Time taken:- 2 hours 46 minutes

Route:-

Riverside Park Nature Reserve CP - Stoke Lock - Jacobs Well - Sutton Park House - Sutton Green - River Wey Navigation - Bowers Lock - CP

This walk was led by a member of Mole Valley Rambler with 17 walkers. And this is reflected in the time taken to cover the route.

Riverside Park is an 80 hectare nature reserve which straddles the A3 near Guildford.

http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/special/lnr/lnr_photo/734/Riverside%20Park%20Surrey%20Leaflet.pdf

The walk crosses the Wey Navigations at Stoke Lock

http://www.weyriver.co.uk/theriver/wey_nav_2.htm

and is the oldest lock in Surrey. The walk skirts the edge of Sutton place

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutton_Place%2C_Surrey

And rejoins the Wey Navigations which you follow back to the car park

Looking north as the route rejoins the Wey Navigations which are followed back to the car park via Bowers Lock

Walk 31st January 2017 Silent pool - St Martha's hill - Albury

Start point:- TQ060485

Time taken:- 2 hours 19 minutes

Distance:- 10.8 km; 6.71 miles

Route:-

Silent Pool CP - Fox Way - NDW - Water Lane - Pilgrims Way - St Martha's Hill - Downs link - Postior Pond - Water Lane - Water Lane cottages - Albury Church - CP

The walk id based on a figure of 8 starting at Silent Pool. there are many options to vary and extend this walk as I will do on future days.

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!


St Martha's Hill is the 18th highest hill in the country

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Martha%27s_Hill

The sandy soils around St Martha's hill means that it can be fairly dry to walk footpaths etc.

 Looking back towards the direction of Water Lane cottages approximately 9.6 km into the walk