Ifold to Peasmarsh more directly, Local

The garage had phoned to say that the van had been "fixed" and I could pick it up, Sue was over with her mother so Bertie and I set out to walk back to Peasmarsh, and the garage. This time though I would take a more direct route starting with a line drawn on the map and then using the paths and roads around to match it as best as possible. On paper the route was 5kms shorter, however there was a lot more up and down, and there would be some alterations on the fly to deal with traffic and fencing situations. The benefit was that the route would take in several local points of interest apart from the Godalming canal, including the Winkworth Arboretum, and Hascombe Hill iron age fort.

We set out straight after breakfast, going up through the village and down the Ifold lane. Where the lane ends and meets the track down Hog copse, to Julie's house we cut off along the Sussex border path for a short distance, and then the track going through the fields to Sydney Farm.

The last time we had been here (during lock down) the stiles had been a problem, however this time there were only a couple - by the bridge - where Bertie had to be hauled over.

From the bridges and fences the last field climbed up to the road leading to Sydney farm.

Where the road turned sharp right, we cut off through the farm yard and along side the South edge of Sydney Wood, before turning into it. A point to note is that if I need to do this again then it would be better to go along the Hog Wood road further before cutting up through Thirds Copse. to get to the point where the track cuts North and into Sydney Wood.

Looking up tot eh Old Lock house, where we touched the Wey South Path we had follow a few days ago, but then turned left onto the road heading for Dunsfold. Walking along Knightons lane was not pretty or much interest however it was slightly better than the walk along the old railway last week.

Arriving at the Dunsfold village, we could walk on the wide verges, first past the cricket pitch before crossing over and up through the common land in front of the rows of houses.

Bertie even found a pond to enjoy along the way.

Coming out of Dunsfold, above the green, we took the footpath across the fields past Park Farm. Up ahead there was the outcrop of Hascombe Hill.

The track over the fields came out onto the Godalming road, and we picked up the continuation on the other side.

Here the planned route was vague... there were lots of tracks on Hascombe hill, but few access points, a number of paths went to Lodge Farm but no obvious egress.

By the drive entrance to Lodge Farm there was an obvious, but not on the map, path through the field to the right and then into the woods beyond.

A faint track led up the hill from a wide track, including a steep final section which would be the rampart of the iron age fort.

Opening out to the clearings on the top.

Crossing over the inner fort area and dropping over the northern ramparts, and we picked up the main bridleway again heading north.

A brief stop for a snack before continuing down a ridge top.

The bridleway continued in a downward direction, before ending in a lane and back to the Godalming road at the White Horse pub.

Keeping off the road and its heavy traffic, we took the side street through a pretty little hamlet with pond. The road led to the aptly named Upper and Lower houses.

The track turned into a bridleway, then a footpath along the back of the village of Hascombe before coming back to the Godalming road. There was an interesting signpost along the way that caused a moment of mirth.

The original plan was to follow the road for a short distance and then cut down a side road around Winkworth Arboretum. However the road was narrow and fast traffic, so we went straight across and up a path climbing to Winkworth Farm - a collection of very exclusive houses and gardens

Following the driveway for these houses back up tot eh Godalming road.

A safer section of road which we backtracked slightly before heading back alongside the Arboretum.

I had not planned for there to be a fence all around the arboretum, so we had to follow the bridleway along the outside of the fence before cutting in through the main entrance (another public bridleway).

Meandering through the arboretum heading for the northernmost end of the park on tracks going roughly in the right direction.

We found a path that led to a point where the fence had been knocked down and we cut over to the bridleway on the other side, this climbed up through the woods outside the arboretum and along side a horse training area and frequent cross country horse jumps.

Crossing over a back road and continuing in the same direction, this time tightly enclosed by fencing before opening up slightly as the path dropped down in a lazy curve to the edge of Catteshall.