T=swc.184 Length: 19.2km (12 miles) with the possibility to shorten further by taking a bus from Frensham Ponds or from Waverley Abbey.
Toughness 4 out of 10
Trains: 9.53 from London Waterloo (Clapham Junction 10.00, Surbiton 10.11) arriving Bentley 11.02. If you miss this train at Waterloo there is a chance to catch up by taking the 10.00 fast train to Woking where you can change to the Bentley train.
Return trains from Farnham run at xx.04, xx:28 and xx.58 with an additional one at 16.34.
Buy a return to Bentley.
This walk takes you through Alice Holt Ancient Forest, Surrey Hills, Scotch Pine Forest, and remote heather filled heathland, Frensham Great and Little Ponds. Swimming is possible at the Great Pond where there is a beach area.
If you want to end the walk at this point, buses from Frensham Ponds to Farnham run hourly at xx.11.
Lunch: There is a snack bar at Frensham Great Pond and a cafe at the Frensham Little Pond.
Two pubs are mentioned in the directions:
The Barley Mow Tilford Green, Tilford, Farnham, Surrey GU10 2BU (01252 792 205) is located 12.6 km (7.8 mi) into the short walk and 19.4 km (12.0 mi) into the long walk.
The Bel and the Dragon Jumps Road, Churt is only passed on the long walk (01428 605 799) (8.5 mi) into the walk.
Tea: In Farnham, the following pubs are mentioned:
The Mulberry Station Hill, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8AD (01252 726 673,The Lamb Abbey Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7RJ (01252 714 133.The William Cobbet, Bridge Square, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7QR (01252 726 281). Open all day every day.
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1 comment:
N=9 off the train at Bentley set off in w=hot-sunny-windless conditions. We had lost one walker by the time we re cafeached Alice Holt visitor centre and didn't see him again despite waiting a few minutes. Perhaps he was going at a sensibly slow pace to cope with the heat. A combination of woods and tree-lined paths shaded us throughout the walk and the full glare of the sun was never felt for long. Frensham Great Pond looked very inviting but a large sign warned of blue green algae and nobody was tempted in. There was no shade on the beach so we carried on to Frensham Little Pond passing the bus stop and losing a second walker who decided to wait for the 13.23 to Farnham. The remaining 9 picnicked among the trees at the Little Pond where a couple of people and dogs were swimming despite a sign asking people not to swim.
We didn't visit the café there but set our sights on Tilford where some had beers in the Barley Mow and one had coffee and cake in the adjacent café.This fortified us for the last stretch and we reached Farnham in time for 5 to catch the 16.58 train while 2 stopped to have a drink before their return journey. Two of us risked sitting in first class while many passengers had to stand on the overcrowded train. Thankfully the air conditioning was working.
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