Length: 19.8km (12.2 miles). A shorter morning route across the Ash Ranges is possible if they are open (see * below) but how much this saves is not specified.
9.30 Guildford service from Waterloo change at Woking for the 10.04 Alton service arriving at Ash Vale at 10.18.
Return trains from Woplesdon to Waterloo are at xx:06Buy a day return to Ash Vale.
This classic Surrey walk has good reviews from prevous postings. The route in the morning follows some very picturesque sections of the Basingstoke Canal, then skirts through unrestricted Ash Ranges and lightly forested sandy heathlands. After lunch there's a nice variety of scenery - fern-filled woods, some fields (you might see Alpaca, Ostrich and Lama) and Whitmoor Common (a Surrey Wildlife Trust nature reserve with heathland and mature woodland).
* Morning short cut across the Ash Ranges: I haven't been able to get through to the Range Office at the time of writing. F I manage to get through to them, I'll update this post regarding access later this week.
Lunch is at The Royal Oak (Aldershot Road GU24 0DQ, 01483 232 466), a Greene King pub in Pirbright after 7.2 miles. It does food all afternoon but I'd suggest calling to book before setting off from the station as they have been fully booked in the past.
For tea, the recommendaton is to follow the short (0.5km) diversion in the written walk directions (this is not included on the GPX but it's easy to see on the map) to the Jolly Farmer, a Fuller's pub nestled on the edge of Whitmoor Common (Burdenshot Road GU3 3RN, 01483 976048). ‘This pretty village pub is set in a beautiful countryside location. In the heart of some of the most stunning National Trust territory, it is a popular retreat for walkers, ramblers and people who just like being outdoors. Inside, the real fires and low beams create a cosy and intimate atmosphere. Outside there is a lovely garden with a covered seating area.’
From the Jolly Farmer, allow 25 minutes to get to the station to be on the safe side (it includes a stretch along a modestly busy road).
If you don't want to do the diversion to the Jolly Farmer, you could stop mid-afternoon at The Worplesdon Place Hotel about 9.6 miles into the walk at (Perry Hill GU3 3RY, 01483 232 407). From there it's about 2.6 miles to Worplesdon station.
Please remember that there isn't a walk leader and you'll need to download your copy of the directions from this walk's web page. L=SWC.136
4 comments:
I imagine that the firing ranges will be open over the Easter weekend. Please let me have any necessary updates to the walk, or any offers to take it off me!
N=15
Approximately fourteen walkers assembled at the station. Approximately, as in the mild chaos of locating the correct exit, we skipped a precise headcount. A late arrival joined us at the lunch pub just long enough to be included (and being a regular, it felt only right), bringing the likely total to fifteen.
One walker peeled off shortly after the start, not to be seen again (at least by the main group), while nine of the more energetically inclined pressed on together along the longer route to the Royal Oak pub. Of these, four committed to a proper pub lunch, while the remainder opted for sandwiches. A smaller contingent took the shortcut via the shooting ranges, which, in the spirit of the long Easter weekend, were reassuringly peaceful.
The four lunchers reconnected with the sandwich group at the station, and, in due course, were joined by some of the short-cutters who made a detour to the Jolly Farmer pub for an end-of-walk drink. Most of the group then caught the 16:06 back to London Waterloo, but not after a short argument as to which route was a short-cut or really a long-cut.
The weather improved as the day progressed: from a tentative drizzle at the start, through mild and overcast conditions, and finally into long, generous stretches of sunshine, with spring itself joining us for the latter stages.
Being the first week of April, the countryside was fully engaged in its seasonal performance. There were flowers-a-blooming and birds-a-singing in abundance. We passed several magnificent gardens in full spring flourish, with daffodils of such impressive proportions one felt they might be rented as flats in London, and early lilacs offering their unmistakable fragrance. Notable highlights included a splendid Araucaria (monkey puzzle tree) near St Mary’s church, and a particularly well-trained mulberry tree nearby, demonstrating a level of discipline (in its effort to resemble a super-sized bonsai tree) unknown to many short-cut taking walkers.
Additional entertainment was provided by a number of friendly pub dogs, a deer gracefully hopping across a field of daffodils, and several alpaca farms.
All in all, a fine walk and an excellent choice for the season, though perhaps marginally shorter than the advertised 19.8 km. That said, I am confident that the subsequent boot-cleaning efforts will comfortably make up the difference in the final accounting of effort
Supplementary
This walker took a more reasonable train (09:39) than the recommended. De-coupling at Woking to Alton he started around 30 mins behind the main group.
Overall this is a great walk for the time of year and the weather was set fair. His being an entire solo walk using the text (correction attached), he was pleased to catch up with the four lunchers at the Royal Oak from the posted train (thanks Maverick). Due to a prompt lunch service this walker treated himself (following in the steps of another swc member) to a pudding with coffee combo rather than press on.
Post the pub, with less than half the walk remains and with hourly trains back he pressed on to Worplesdon via the Jolly Farm (busy so not worth a drink stop - NB approx 20 minutes left to get to the station if taking the direct route)
In time for the 17:06 back and delighted to catch up with another regular walker where having not met him in a long while, uk politics was discussed.
Text corrections for the author
Point 14 page 9: The house is called West Heath no longer Shepherds Well and across the common no information board exists (must ask the author about the board and local giraffes and elephants)
The large gates of the firing ranges were closed at both ends, though nobody was using them. A local man (ex-military) told us that he thinks this is because of irresponsible dog owners.
Soldiers have to run forward, fall down flat and then fire, only to discover they’re now covered in dog mess.
However there are so many paths nearby, it’s not difficult to improvise a bypass.
The Jolly Farmer is an excellent pub providing both sunshine and shade in its spacious gardens.
As Karan says allow 20 mins to the station via the road, but if returning to the route, (more scenic and quieter) allow 40 minutes.
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