Newlands Corner Return Circuit, North Downs

A boys only trip today, as Sue and Steph were on Uckfield duty.

I headed for the North Downs and a circuit to the East of Newlands corner. As the weather was set to start off good and then deteriorate during the afternoon with rain later, and also as this was May bank holiday weekend, I set off early and aimed for a car park away from the usual hot spots. Therefore we started at a very small car park on Shere Heath, which involved navigating the single track lanes of the Surrey Hills.

The idea was to drop down to Shere village, then up the other side to the North Downs way, west to Newlands corner before dropping back to the valley bottom and then back to Shere before climbing back up to the van.

Over to the north side of the road and a quick look down to the valley, then down the lane.

At Fox Way junction we turned right onto it - slightly worrying there was a lot of Cycling Sportif signs on it, and we had to skip up out of the way to let groups of cycles past.

In the village, we followed the road through the village and over the river. There was a large number of people around even at this early time.

Cutting up the side of the sports field and car park the lane was soaking with running water - this turned out to be a mains leak further up.

The track improved after the leak point and changed into a dusty track, heading up to the A25, which was traversed through by a tunnel, and continued in a rising traverse.

The track changed to chalk as we moved into Netley park, with occasional views down and across through Shere.

The track flattened out as we reached the top ridge. Along here we passed the first Pill Box dating back from the last war.

We cut East through the park on a smaller track purely to pick up a further section of the North Downs way. This track was strange in that the plants were more ;like wet lands than chalk downs.

This came out at another main track from the valley, which we followed to the North Downs Way.

Now on the North Downs way - a wide flat trail through the forest. the only objective danger was the large number of cyclists and runners, usually in mass groups.

The next section dog legged up to the road of Combe Lane, before continuing West to the West hanger car park. The car park was full with the burger van doing a roaring trade.

Passing a strange concrete cone, we continued on the trail through the wood.

West Hanger mutated into the Boxwood, and we crossed the Fox way again, as it went north from the valley.

Although there had been a lot of tree felling it still did not open up a view to either side.

As we got close to Newlands corner there was a view point cut through the trees, with an intriguing seat sculpture

The view South would show the route back on the other side of the valley.

Newlands corner was rammed, and more arriving all the time ...  I was heading for the bench at this end, but the cyclists were not about to move, so we cut down hill for a while then paused for refreshments.

The view in front showed where we would go to return to the van.

Down the by way angled down to the valley, A hairpin with another Pill Box - this one all blocked up.

We continued down the track, to the point where we met the track along the bottom of the valley. Taking this to the East through the fields. 

Looking back up to the North Downs

The path had no cyclist or runners so was more enjoyable, with only the occasional walker.

This exited through some fields at the A248 opposite the very early church.

The grade 1 church.

We now cut along the top of the Albury estate (there being no public right of way through it) passing a number of expensive houses.

Turning south on the local road, which ended at a ford. Bertie did not want to immerse himself into as there were other dogs around.

Now we only had to climb up through the woods to Shere Heath,

The woods had some really old Oak trees in them, with a lot of strange holes and shapes.

A slight navigation error as we approached the carpark, led to me heading away rather than towards the van - I blame the suddenly large number of people filling the previously empty woods.

Back at the car park for lunch, and to watch the numerous late arrivals disappointed to not find any space.