Length: 13.6 km (8.5 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10 (at start): remainder of walk - 2 out of 10
Change in outward train time - better service now showing, although service shown below in strikethrough is still shown in timetable
London Waterloo: 10-15 hrs Haslemere service Clapham Junction 10-22 hrs Woking 10-43 hrs
Arrive Guildford: 10-50 hrs
Return 4 fast trains an hour
Covid-19 Compliance: the mantra is now: "Hands-Face-Space-Fresh Air". We will get plenty of the last, regardless, but the other three will be down to all of us observing social distancing and following the current guidance for walkers. The majority of SWC Walk Posters believe the "Rule of Six" still applies to SWC walks - at least until 16 May. Please all come prepared to exchange contact details for track and trace purposes. If you prefer to pre-register for this walk (not essential - but it facilitates the collection of contact details) please e-mail me at swc-marcus@walkingclub.org.uk Thank you.
An energetic start to today's walk is rewarded by fine panoramic views of Guildford and Guildford Cathedral. We then drop down from the Hog's Back plateau to the North Downs Way which we follow to the outskirts of the village of Compton. Watts Gallery is still closed until May but Watts Chapel, down the road, should be open - and worth a visit if this walk is new to you. Through a farm and then through a wood and you come to the usually excellent Withies Inn, which reopened on 12 April for outdoors dining. If seeking a pub lunch here you should book in advance.
After Compton you head for Losely Park, a good spot for a picnic (as are the grounds of the closed Watts Gallery). On through the park and you come to the River Wey for a relaxing riverside walk back to Guildford. There should be plenty of takeaway options here for post walk refreshments before your journey back to London.
T=2.12
Walk Directions are here: L=2.12
14 comments:
What time might it be good to book lunch for at the Withies?
Hi Gavin, I have booked a table for 6 at the Withies for 12-45 pm. If you now find the Withies fully booked when you contact them you may have one of my places, if you wish.
Their boking site says they have no spaces within 2.5 hours.
I could phone them, and if they do have some spaces, could book more than just one, as your spaces might be filled? Bw, Gavin
No bad thing to book a second table even if you have to wait a short while for it to become available. You can always spend some time in Compton, at Watts Chapel. The afternoon leg of the walk is short, so unless you are in a hurry to return to London you will have plenty of time today to complete the walk. As our first official (non-Renegade) SWC Wednesday walk back post Lockdown 3 - no bad thing perhaps to have a leisurely, non-rushed day.
Hi, I wonder if there is still a space for lunch at the Withies? Thanks. Alice.
Yes, Alice, I am sure we can fit you in on one of our tables.
I have booked a table for 6 at 13.00, for snacks and drinks only. The restuarant outside is full.
I would hope to eat a full meal though. However, I guess this can be sorted on the day. Obviously the weather will affect things. I would hope to make it even if there are hurricanes.
I will likely get a taxi from the Withies to Guildford station, as I prob have a meeting at 5pm in Tooting.
Great, thank you Marcus! Alice
Hi Marcus, I've got things coming up at work so cannot go for the walk tomorrow. Won't be able to join the lunch at the Withies. Have an enjoyable walk! Alice
I tried sending email to: marcus@walkingclub.org.uk
and it was called a deamon-error.
I am doing the whole walk today as my meeting at 5pm is cancelled.
gavin_robinson3@yahoo.co.uk
N=9 on a w=sunny-cloudy-and-sometimes-windy day. A pleasant easy-going walk. (Pleasant and easy-going, that is, except for the gruelling slog up the hill out of Guildford). On top, after the oxygen had been administered, our way was carpeted with celandine, wood anemone and even a few cowslips. Later, we were alongside huge yellow fields of oilseed rape. Eventually the Withies was reached and I was able to relax with a pint of draught beer (the first in 4 months) and wait for the others to catch up. Four ate and were appreciative. Some had as many as two pints of beer.
Then we were off, back to Guildford for a tea / alcohol break in the White House. One minor disappointment - the final stretch of riverside, in Guildford, is blocked. I had to divert onto the road.
Thanks for the walk report, Ian. The five walkers in my group opted to cross the pedestrian bridge before you reach the closed weir to enter Guildford and walk on the other (eastern) side of the River Wey (as suggested in the Walk Directions, para 32). We still had a short section of road walking at the end of the fields, but we though whilst the route around the weir remains closed, the alternative route is better and more enjoyable.
Good to see everyone, and a nice day out.
For para 32 in my comment below, please read para 160 in the latest on-line version of the Walk Directions.
That's what I did, Marcus, but at the point where you have to come out on the road, it was not particularly obvious that the river route ahead was blocked. I crossed over the footbridge at that point and continued along the riverside until I was blocked by a big fence. Then I had to retrace. I must have lost at least 20 minutes of important drinking time.
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