Length: 15.6 km (9.7 miles)
Toughness: 3 out of 10 Mostly flat, level walking today Expect some muddy bridleways
Either
London Victoria: 10-09 hrs Southern service to Reigate Clapham Junction 10-16 hrs
Arrive Reigate: 10-54 hrs Change trains
Leave Reigate: 11-05 hrs Great Western service from Redhill to Reading
Arrive Gomshall: 11-21 hrs
Or
London Bridge: 10-21 hrs Thameslink service from Bedford to Gatwick Airport East Croydon 10-37 hrs
Arrive Redhill: 10-53 hrs Change trains
Leave Redhill: 11-00 hrs Great Western service from Redhill to Reading
Arrive Gomshall: 11-21 hrs
Or
London Waterloo: 10-30 hrs South Western service to Portsmouth Harbour Does NOT stop at CJ
Arrive Guildford: 11-02 hrs Change trains
Leave Guildford: 11-13 hrs Great Western service to Redhill
Arrive Gomshall: 11-30 hrs
Would Victorians and London Bridgers please wait on Gomshall station for the arrival of Waterlooers
Return: Guildford to Waterloo: at least 4 fast trains an hour, plus slower stopping services
Rail ticket: Buy a day return from London to Gomshall Any Route Permitted (latter very important for ticket to be valid for both routes)
It has been a few years since this walk was given an airing. In bygone years I used to tag it on to the end of our Holmwood to Gomshall walk: now I'm a bit older the walk to Guildford suffices on its own !
Leaving Gomshall we soon arrive in the pretty village of Shere (the sort of village where you take your Aunt Agatha for tea on a Sunday). As you probably won't have your aunt with you today, instead of tea I suggest we stop in Shere for an early lunch at the White Horse pub - given the one remaining pub on the walk, the William IV, in Albury Heath, 2.2 miles into the walk, can be bit hit and miss when it comes to food, although try it if you wish.
From Shere we walk through Albury Park, then cross the vast Blackheath Common on sandy ways to continue on the Downs Link path through woods until we come out beside the River Wey. We now follow the river on its tow path all the way to Guildford. We have lots of choice in the city for walk-end refreshments, with the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre cafe being comfortable and popular with SWC walkers.
T=1.14
Walk Directions are here: L=1.14
3 comments:
Point 54
No need to walk alongside the A281 road any more. For a much more pleasant route, instead of turning right along the road, carry straight on across the road and follow the cycle/pedestrian route straight ahead. After about 5 minutes, you come to a new bridge over the river, cross it and go down the steps to the riverside path, turn left and follow the riverside path. After about 5 minutes you arrive at the A248 which you cross to pick up the riverbank path at point 57 of the directions.
Thanks Margaret
In the current on-line Directions this alternative route is shown at point 57 as being "The Cycle Path route"- with directions as per your comment.
11 of us, Victorians and locals, assembled in Gomshall railway station's car park and awaited the arrival of Waterlooers. 4 alighted from their train, bang on time, to join us. Shortly afterwards, 2 who had parked up in Shere, joined us for leg stretchers either side of Shere. We would have mustered more, but alas, the London Bridgers train was running late, and being too late to make the connection at Redhill, they opted to do another walk. I hope they post their own walk report on the mischief they got up to today.
So, for today's adventure in West Surrey, we numbered n=17, including one first timer: another good mid-week turn out, given the weather, which was w=overcast-with-fine-drizzly-rain-for-much-of-the-day. The sun took a day off, but the temperature was mild, and pleasant for walking. The two leg-stetchers dined at the White Horse in Shere, and 5 of us decided to give the William 1V a go: we were not disappointed. The pub is mightily improved since its previous incarnation, now with very comfortable internal dining areas, a pleasant bar, and a covered outdoor area in front of the pub. Taking into account the inside tables were all taken (we were fortunate to get a booking) and another group of walkers were sitting under cover outside, the wait for our delicious food to arrive was understandable. There seemed to be plenty of waiting staff as well, all very attentive and friendly, so all in all, it was a very good luncheon experience. Meanwhile, as the diners indulged, the sandwichers moved on - never to be seen again.
Post prandial, the 5 of us set out on the remaining, main bulk of the walk, in light drizzle. The route was less muddy than I was expecting: in fact, there was only one bad bit, and the rest was very manageable. The leaf colour today was excellent, both on the carpet and in the trees. Just before we rounded the bend before the final stretch of the river towpath, now in failing light, there was mist over the river, with magnificent leaf colour all around - very atmospheric.
On entering Guildford our first timer opted to head direct for the railway station: he said he had enjoyed his first experience of the SWC, so who knows, we might see him again. The rest of us headed for a pub, where we watched the denouement of the T-20 semi final, which the Kiwis deservedly won (The English quicks were pie throwing). A fast train then took us back to London, and I was home in time to switch on the wireless and listen to the Archers - now how sad is that..............
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