Length: 20.4km (12.7 miles) with option c shortcut through the woods.
4 out of 10 – a couple of extended hill climbs
"There are numerous fine viewpoints looking southwards from the North Downs escarpment, but less well known are the views to the north, where London can be seen in the far distance. This walk takes in both, starting with a climb over Chantries Hill and then carrying on to St Martha’s Church, perched high on the downs, You then descend to the village of Albury for lunch.
From Albury, there is a steady climb up to Newland’s Corner, another popular viewpoint, before a wooded stretch along the North Downs Way. To finish, the walk descends through beautiful upland country to the north of the ridge, with views right to the distant City of London on clear days."
Trains: Get the 1000 Portsmouth Harbour from Waterloo (Woking 1024) train arriving 1033. Buy return to Guildford. Frequent return trains from Horsley.
Lunch: The efficient Drummond at Albury (01483 202 039) 9.1km (5.6 miles) into the walk. For a picnic, carry on past the pub, taking in a building with dramatic chimneys, to a small recreation area on the left side of the road.
Tea: The only pub stop near the end of the walk is The Barley Mow pub in West Horsley, 1.6km (1 mile) before Horsley station. It has a garden and does tea in pots and coffee. Quaich (01483 285181) "is a pleasant coffee shop in Station Parade near Horsley station, which has sofas, a nice range of cakes"
1 comment:
8 off the train, 1 other 15 mins behind, 2 (over from T. Wells) delayed, so taking the shortcut route over Pewley Down to catch up. All n=11 united at the lunch pub. w=cloudy-and-muggy-to-lunch-then-sunny. Some familiar bits around Guildford and Albury in a different combination from other walks, then newish bits (to me) in the afternoon. It all worked well in its design and also with the weather, as we had plenty of tree cover when the sun was out in the afternoon. The walk poster's stipulated variation just before lunch, through the wood and past Waterloo Pond, was really good we thought. The three hostelries frequented all were good value for their purpose, especially the lunch pub with its fantastic garden and efficient staff (2 lunchers at The Drummond, the rest of the group joining for a drink; 3 going to The Barley Mow near the end for liquids, then also popping in to The Quaich for tea aor coffee, where 3 others were already ensconsed).
It was a bit murky to get good far views today and some paths were being encroached on by nettles and brambles, but - even in shorts - it didn't feel too bad for the season.
There were some comments though from the gadget users that the gpx route was all over the place, especially in the woods...
17.20 train for the tea rooms group.
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