Length: 16¾ km (10.4 miles), or 15 km (9.3 miles) with shorter ending. Toughness: 5/10
10:30 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo (Clapham Jct 10:39), arriving Guildford at 11:10.
Fast trains back from Guildford are half-hourly, at xx:05 & xx:35.
The full Guildford Circular walk is too long and tough for one of my Sunday postings, but it can be split into two mid-length walks and I reckon these are about right. This ‘Western Walk’ follows the main route out to the Chilworth Gunpowder Mills, then loops back via the ponds at Albury Mill to rejoin it on St Martha's Hill. There are stretches through Chantry Wood on both the outward and return legs but I suspect the bluebells will be past their best. The main ending takes a loop via Shalford Water Meadows and enters Guildford alongside the Wey Navigation, but there's the option of a shorter ending.
The most conveniently-placed lunch pub is the Percy Arms (01483-561765) near Chilworth station (after 5½ km), although it looks like one of those establishments that requires a firm booking. If you bring your own provisions there are picnic tables nearby in the Gunpowder Mills, and benches with fine views outside St Martha-on-the-Hill on the return leg. At the end of the walk I expect the ‘River route’ in §R will still be stymied by a missing footbridge, but the ‘Town route’ will take you past a wide choice of refreshment places on the High Street.
You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.185.b page. This ‘Western Walk’ option was incorporated in 2021, so please don't rely on an older version. You can save paper by clicking ‘West’ on the Walk Options heading line, which hides the directions for all the other variations but shows both endings.
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N=7 w=Largely-sunny-some-cloud-later Dry underfoot. The ascent to Pewley Down included a diversion through the Castle gardens . Interesting, but part of me would prefer the short brutal climb to get it over with. On top, had I been wandering lonely as a cloud, I might have waxed lyrical about the host of golden buttercups that awaited me but, no sooner had we reached the summit, than we were plummeting down again, battling our way through rampant cow parsley. (Which the Laura Ashley in me quite likes, so no complaints).
The morning’s ups and downs were fairly gentle after this and we reached the Percy Arms by 1. Despite being busy, service was efficient and I think people liked what they got. (Except, maybe, the beetroot-infused salmon). A kindly benefactor fed Mr Tiger chips.
After more walking, a climb up St Martha’s Hill ensued. The ascent seems a lot harder this way round and poor Mr Tiger struggled a bit. But, like the Little Engine that Could (look it up), he made it.
Up top he mused about SWC investing in a “drunkard’s basket” (look it up) to carry ‘tired’ walkers round the more difficult sections of a walk.
After a long flowery stretch through Shalford Water Meadows and another along the Wey, Guildford was reached.
You’d think, readers, that would be the end of it, but, no, we went back up the hill to the Castle Gardens to see the Alice sculpture. Then back down through Guildford, stopping at Gail’s bakery on the way for coffee.
A grand day out and even grumpy old Mr Tiger seemed to enjoy it, despite being a bit tired from the day before.
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