Extra Walk 57: Guildford Circular – via Chantries Hill to
Albury; returning via woods and the tranquil Wey navigation
Length: 12.8 miles (with options to shorten)
Difficulty: 4 out of 10
Train: Take the 10:00
Portsmouth Harbour train from London Waterloo
to Guildford, arriving at 10:40.
Return trains from Guildford are
frequent, with regular faster services at 17 and 47 past the hour until 19:17
then 19:49; 20:17; 20:52; 21:17 and 21:49.
Buy a day return to Guildford.
I was
attracted to this walk by the following statement on the information page “While
it is not mud-free, the sandy soils in the first two thirds of this walk means
that it is drier underfoot in winter than many other walks” – so we shall
see...... In more detail, this walk leaves
Guildford along the river, then, heads up Chantries Hill with excellent views
along the North Downs escarpment before dropping back into the valley for
lunch. After lunch, you encounter
totally different terrain – the sandy heath lands around Blackheath with a
final drop back down to the river to follow the Wey navigation back to
Guildford. Please note that this walk is
totally different (opposite direction) from the Guildford walk done last
Sunday.
Doing the
full walk during daylight may be a push for some – so watch the clock at lunch –
but the moon will effectively be full – so it might be nice to finish in
moonlight..... Alternatively, the instructions include some short cut options
and it would also be possible to finish in Shalford and take a train back to Guildford
to cut off the last 2 miles or so (trains at 3 minutes past the hour) – if thinking
of doing this option, please bring a print out of the OS map for guidance to
get to the station. More information and
the instructions for the walk can be found here.
The
recommended lunch stop is in Albury
at the Drummond (01483 202 039),
which serves food all day (with a slightly more limited menu after 2:30). A reservation for 8 has been made at 1:00 PM,
please call to update/cancel (as appropriate). Alternatively, if there are
more people than the Drummond can accommodate, the Percy Arms (01483 561 765) in Chilworth is an option (however,
note, that this requires a 0.9 mile
diversion – so may necessitate some doing the shorter walk).
There are a
couple of pubs slightly off the route in Shalford for anyone requiring an afternoon
refreshment; otherwise, Guildford has several tea options (including a
self-service restaurant in Debenhams).
Enjoy the
walk and watch out for werewolves!
3 comments:
Shorter options are 9.3 miles (option a) or 8 miles (option c)
N=+20 (lost count in the fog!)
W= bright_and_cloudy_with_thick_fog_to_start
A lively wander up through the downs, woodland and moorland of Surrey. Thick fog made for "atmospheric" views(!), and slightly challenging navigation in the morning. After an entertaining chat with the enthusiastic vicar at St Martha on the Hill, 16 of us had a delicious lunch at The Drummond at Albury. Service was very friendly and super-efficient, so the advanced party headed off for an afternoon of beautiful light brightening throughout the afternoon.
Having arrived back in Guildford at 3.30pm 5 went off to find tea and cake, whilst 4 did a very thorough review of the pubs of Guildford. Having sampled several pleasant establishments, steak was devoured by the log fire at The Kings Arms.
A lovely and not excessively muddy day out!
Alternative route which avoids walking beside the A281 in the afternoon.
When you reach the A281 (point 70 in the text), instead of turning right alongside the road, cross straight over at the pedestrian crossing and carry on along the path opposite. When you come to the bridge, cross it and turn immediately right and go down to the path, following it left to join the original route at point 74
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