Effingham forest/ NDW circuit, North Downs

Time for another piece of the North Downs Way jigsaw ... this time connecting up the previous walk around Netley Park and West Hanger to White Downs. Bertie and I parked up in the small but shaded White Downs carpark, after driving up the narrow but steep lane up to it.
There was only one car there when we arrived, with a second coming soon after, however I think we were a bit early for any crowds.

The map showed that our selected route started a couple of hundred meters up the road, however across the road was a minor track heading diagonally away and it was a good bet it went where we needed to go.

The track came out at a log stacking area, and met the track we would follow to the East across White downs.

this wide track was cut up by the tree harvesting materials.

At the junction just South of the minor road we headed back slightly upwards going South towards the North Downs Road. Luckily the muddy puddles had started to dry after the latest few days of dry weather.

Bertie dived straight into Pickett's hole when we got there - a glade in the trees, just before we met the NDW track. I was expecting a wide multi vehicle track, however this section was owned by the National trust who were rewilding it and so it was purely a foot path.

Coming out of the woods we had our first view of the surrey hills to the south. In the same place was the first of the many pill boxes we would see on our trip today.

As we moved forward up the slope with the track, I stopped to take a photo. Bertie ran into the back of my legs, causing me to step backwards, onto one of his paws, the yelp unbalanced me further and the next thing he was running off and I was tumbling down the slope. No damage, just my pride.

This ridge was part of a "stop line" from the Second World War, and a large number of Pill boxes have survived along here.

These have all been mapped out by enthusiasts ...  see this web site - Surrey Pillboxes

I took a number of photos of them, mainly the hexagonal variety with the internal blast wall made of bricks and concrete.

This section of the NDW runs along the South side of the ridge with good views down to the Surrey Hills. 

The track contoured around and dipped in and out of the shrubbery. each time it came out showed grass prairie heading down.

the NDW cuts down hill a little (past another pill box and crosses the white downs road (which we had driven up earlier.

After it had regained the height lost the track continues in the same way as we moved into Dunley wood (still owned by the national trust so foot traffic only)

Much more of the same, stunning views south with the odd pill box from time to time, passing Old Simm's copse

It all opened up and the woods pulled back to leave just prairie all down to the valley below

Crossing a drove way (Beggar's Lane) and continuing into Hackhurst Downs. This was where the National trust bit seemed to end as the path turned more northwards towards the trackway in the woods

Now we were back on the familiar drove way trail, wide and semi tarmaced, but also back with the Cyclists as well, so half an ear on what is charging up behind.

Bertie found a convenient puddle for a cool off as we crossed into Netley Heath again

Gravelhill gate had one of those concrete reservoirs now out of use and a big cross roads, we could have turned north here but to complete the NDW section we continued on to the next cross roads before turning north.

Now we were on the back tracks ..  well worn and a little muddy in places, but not busy.

Cutting back around the northern side of the ridge along tracks through the older parts of the woods with huge tall trees.

After following a curving valley bottom as the track went from Eastward to Northward, we came out at a sawmill (honeysuckle bottom) operating away across the path, there being no obvious way around we went through the middle of the yard.

Turning East again onto Sheepwalk lane (another old drove road) we crossed under Troy bridge which did not seem to have a purpose and did not lead anywhere

Continuing uphill on the lane (still in the woods) there was yet another bridge to nowhere this time below a very posh house - the hermitage - maybe their way to avoid the riff raff!

The lane began to get a bit chewed up now (presumably because there was a lot of logging happening a bit further along past Sheepwalk cottage

the track from the cottage had been resurfaced with a hogging mix, however once it crossed over the drove way (Beggar's Lane once more) it turned rutted again, with huge puddles.

Back into the White Downs woods, and heading south(ish) a very sunny track open to both sides, but the woods were bordered with dead hedges to discourage roaming.

then the final section down to the carpark once more in dappled shade of the woods.

Back at the car for a snack before driving home ...  there were a few more cars around, but it was not busy and we had a quiet rest.