Length: 19.2 km (12 miles) 4/10 (or 26km, 6/10 for the full walk without a shortcut).
This walk was posted in April but train cancellations meant only one local walker made it to Farnham. So let's try again. It takes you through Alice Holt Ancient Forest, remote heather-filled heathland, Frensham Great and Little Ponds and Tilford village. At the time of writing, the Great Pond was open for swimming – check for the latest position here .
Trains: 0953 from London Waterloo (Clapham Junction 1000, Surbiton 1011) arriving Bentley 1102. If you running a bit late you could get the faster 1000 from Waterloo and change at Woking (1024/1030).
Return trains from Farnham run twice an hour, at xx:28 and xx.58. Buy a return to Bentley (Hampshire).
Lunch: There is a snack bar at Frensham Great Pond and a cafe at Frensham Little Pond. The Barley Mow Tilford Green, Tilford, Surrey GU10 2BU (01252 792 205) is located 12.6 km into the posted walk (19.4 km into the long walk).
Tea: The aforementioned Barley Mow could make a mid-afternoon refreshment stop. In Farnham, we usually end up in the Mulberry, Station Hill, GU9 8AD (01252 726 673) by Farnham station, but there are interesting options in Abbey Street across the A31, including the Lamb, GU9 7RJ (01252 714 133) and the William Cobbet, Bridge Square GU9 7QR (01252 726 281). Open all day every day.
Longer or shorter walk options: You could of course do the full 26km walk, taking in the interesting Flashes area, the Devil's Jumps and Hankley Common (but check the guidance on access to military land here). From Tilford, there is an alternative finish along the Greensand Way and North Downs Way (similar to the Haslemere to Farnham walk SWC 144), adding 600m but cutting out a steep ascent. The walk can be shortened by taking a bus from Frensham Great Pond (cuts out 10km) or, if you go by the Greensand Way, Waverley Abbey (cuts out about 3km).
For walk directions, map and GPX click here
T=swc.184
4 comments:
From Tilford followed the main route in reverse hoping to meet others but didn’t so took the shortcut loop back.
Sorry Southern Explorer, we all took the "Tilford shortcut". 10 started at Bentley - so making #11 in all - but I'm afraid we lost track of one regular back-marker soon afterwards. He didn't make the hoped-for reappearance when we stopped so I hope he found the way OK. The rest all picknicked at Frensham Great Pond and two swam in cool calm water, having the cordoned-off swimming area to ourselves.
When we got to Tilford, some remembered birthday drinks there on a previous outing, so all but one went in to the Barley Mow to partake of beer, cider or coffee and cake (there's a cafe beside the pub now). We opted for the finish through the Bourne, but the road at the start was very busy so might try the other route another time. 1658 train, with supplies for some.
It was #cloudy-but-warm.
The ‘back marker’was starting to come down with something and was walking even slower than usual. Didn’t help that he was deceived by the hidden turn off through Mill House and had to backtrack.Got to Frensham Pond for 2:10. Decided against continuing and got the 2:34 bus to Farnham.
Flashes, Hankley Common, and Devils Jumps would be stunning at the end of August when the heather is in full bloom.
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