Ascent/Descent:
282/333m; Net Walking Time: 4 - 4 ½ hours
Toughness:
4/10
Take
the 10.15 Haslemere train from Waterloo (10.22 CJ, 10.43 Woking), arrives Witley 11.09.
Return trains from
Haslemere are on xx.02, xx.15, xx.32, journey time from 52
mins. Buy a Haslemere return.
This
walk is one of 11 stages of the Greensand Way - a waymarked long-distance path
in the Southeast of England. This is the first section of it, but for
logistical reasons, it is posted in reverse, as Haslemere is a better place to
finish, having pubs, tea rooms, and more frequent trains.
The
walk starts gently over open agricultural land, and crosses the A3 to Thursley. Its
St. Michael and All Angels church is worth a visit. There are some benches with
a lovely view in the churchyard (a good picnic spot). A nearby grave has a
poignant 'husband died 1917 wife died 1980' epitaph. Lunch is in The Three
Horseshoes, a gastro-pub with a nice beer garden, just off the route, north of
the church.
After
lunch you climb a peaceful spur to Gibbet
Hill (272m), with dramatic views into Devil's Punch Bowl. The area was
once notorious for highwaymen. In 1786, a sailor (buried in Thursley's church,
and commemorated by the Sailor's Stone) was robbed and murdered after drinking
at a pub in Thursley. The three murderers were caught and hung here. After the
summit, the walk follows the rim of Devil’s Punch Bowl to Hindhead (NT visitor
centre and café, pub). Finally, it’s down the south side of the hill into
Haslemere. The centre has some nice old buildings, tea rooms, and a Wetherspoon’s.
The station is about 10 mins walk away.
Lunch: The Three
Horseshoes in Thursley
(500m off-route, after 6.1 km/3.8 mi, food to 14.30).
Tea: Lots of choice in and
around Haslemere’s High Street, including Darnley’s and Hemingway’s Cafés, plus The Station House,
opposite the railway station.
For
summary, map, height profile and gpx/kml files click here.
T=swc.145
4 comments:
Good morning !
I’m just checking if there are any others interested in doing this walk despite the rain ? As I suddenly had an uncomfortable vision of lurking alone in the train station ...
Have changed my mind about walking due to the high winds forecast. The lunchtime pub has had an over run on electrical work. Although they will be open will only be offering a limited menu. Another reason for me to choose a shorter walk today.
I'm not going to go either then, I don't have that particular OS map so am concerned about walking alone. what a shame. thank you for replying, I appreciate you taking the time.
n=4 walkers in w=windy-with-drizzle-to-start-and-always-overcast-with-afternoon-rain kind of weather. Autumn! You gotta love it. The sky grey all day, the wind (although weaker than forecast) bending the trees and blowing down leaves. Hardly anyone out and about (certainly no dog walkers, although some hardy mountain bikers in shorts were on show). Some mud, but not much really. The fields and woods of the morning were pleasant, the lunch pub warm and welcoming as always (a reduced menu was in place of 3 each: starters, mains, desserts, pizze). The afternoon - although the GW admittedly does not take the best route through Hindhead Common - pleasant as always. Visibility from the various tops and viewpoints was severely restricted, of course. But we were all happy.
1 had left her walking poles on the platform when putting on waterproofs, and returned to fetch them, so the lunchers moved on anyway, and the picknickers were behind. We met again after lunch and stayed together to H'mere, all forgoing the diversion to the NT Cafe at the Devil's Punch Bowl. But we resisted the temptation to cut short down the road straight to the station and diligently followed the GW to the High Street, where we were greeted by some low-key but splendid Xmas lights, as well as a large Xmas tree by the War Memorial.
16.02 train for 2, The Station House pub for the others, #teainpots #beeringlasses
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