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This Week's Walks - Archive

Please see the Saturday Walker's Club This Week's Walks page.

This is an archive of walks done by the Saturday Walker's Club. You should only need to use this page if the SWC website is down.

Saturday, 20 November 2021

Fading Autumn Color Along the Greensand Ridge (Holmwood to Shamley Green, Shalford or Guildford)

SWC 287:  Holmwood to Shamley Green, Shalford or Guildford t=swc.287

Distance:  11.6 miles (18.7 km), 14.5ish miles (23ish km) or 17.4 miles (28 km), respectively

Difficulty:  8 out of 10

Train:  Take the 9:25 AM Horsham-bound train from London Victoria arriving in Holmwood at 10:29. Unless walking on to Shalford or Guilford, the return journey requires a bus from Shamley Green to Guildford (bus number 53 or 63), each bus runs hourly and takes about 10 minutes, the 53 at 22 past the hour and the 63 at 52 past the hour with the bus stop located conveniently opposite the pub!  Plenty of trains in Guildford.....For those walking on to Shalford, trains run hourly at 31 past the hour (additionally the 53 and 63 buses both stop near the station). Buy a “any permitted” day return to Gomshall.

This walk provides a great late autumn outing with some invigorating hills to climb….Hopefully, there will also be some remaining flashes of color from the beech trees along the route….This is a largely map-led outing with a GPX file available for guidance. If you decide to walk to Shalford, you will need to consult the map and deviate from the GPX…it is a short diversion….With the short days upon us, the walk into Guildford would likely be in the dark, though it may be possible to make it to Shalford before darkness falls. You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions here.

The recommended lunch stop is the Royal Oak in Holmbury St. Mary (about 5 miles/9 km into the walk). Tea or afternoon refreshments can be enjoyed at the Red Lion in Shamley Green while waiting for the bus or at the Queen Victoria in Shalford also while waiting for the bus or train.

Enjoy the walk!

1 comment:

Stargazer said...

n=19 assembled on the Holmwood station platform, including one first timer in w=mild-misty-conditions. The group fragmented a bit on the way up Leith hill, some going the steep direct route, while others chose a less demanding contouring option. Most re-congregated at the summit to enjoy the views of the South Downs, some with a hot beverage in hand from the kiosk. Along the ridge were splashes of good autumn color, though the season is definitely drawing to a close. In Holmbury St. Mary, nine went to the Royal Oak pub (the King's Arms is still closed) and were later joined by two picnickers. Unfortunately I had to head back to London after lunch, but I understand the afternoon was uneventful with the beeches providing more pockets of color and some more faint views of the South Downs. The pub lunches arrived in Shamley Green about 5pm where some caught the 5.22 bus and others the 5.52....Not sure how many did an extended version, but know at least one was headed for Shalford when last seen.....