Picking the one bright day in an overcast week with showers - sometimes thunderstorms Bertie and I headed off towards Guildford for a contrived route connecting odd elements I wanted to visit where the Surrey Hills meets the North Downs. So starting in Littleford Lane Car park on Blackheath, walk across to Albury Park to take in the grounds, visit the Silent pool just below the North Downs before turning back West to pick up the Downs link path to go and see what was on top of Chinthurst Hill and thence back to the van.
At the edge of the forest we left the last time route and cut across to the
return route from the same previous walk.
We met this original return route at the lonely bench with a pot flower
overlooking an open copse.
From here we continued in Eastward, the path marked on the map was hidden in
the undergrowth, but we took an easier path down a fire break track in the
forest
Leaving the forest, we entered into horse country, on a gentle descent to
Brooke village, and a section on the road climbing up to the Albury estate,
close to the touch point of two previous walks in the area.
Into Albury estate, past multiple signs warning that the only public access
was the footpath cutting through the estate woodlands. Following hte path down
through the parkland to the drive way and pasture below.
The Saxon church in the grounds kind of stood out
the Hah-hah to the formal gardens beyond next to the river Tilling Bourne.
Then along the drive way to the road beyond.
We followed the road down to the A25, and across to a car park I had passed by
many times, but never stopped.
The silent pool (filled with chalk filtered water from the North Downs), and
the larger Sherbourne pool.
Back across the A25 and picking up a path we had used from a previous walk in
the opposite direction, we crossed a cow pasture and into some woods with a
sawmill creating biomass sawdust rising above the traffic on the road above as
it climbed to Newlands corner. A break in the hedges showed the full view of
this part of the North Downs .
Continuing this line to reach Water lane, where we turned south to meet the
road through Albury (A248). The views were now looking south towards
Blackheath and the edge of Albury park.
A decision to be made - return to the van or else go around to Chinthurst Hill
... the day was too good to stop now, an easy decision to make.
Continuing West down Tingley Hill, past an interesting sign! Past Tangley
Manor estate - again converted into upper class housing.
Across the road from Cranleigh and through the fields surrounding Chinthurst
Hill, leaving the Downs link path at these signs and into the woods on the
hill side
Steepish paths winding through the woods and out into the clearing at the top
with the folly - unfortunately closed to visitors.
A time to pause for a drink looking at the view towards the hills near
Godalming and Winkworth Arboretum.
After a game of tug and sticks, we continued down the Western side, picking up
tracks to the road below.
A busy section on the road through Wonersh (from the middle of Bramley - we
had driven this way this morning, when it was all jammed up with school buses
and commuters.
Out the other side and a little confusion finding the correct road out,
however GPS to the rescue.
Leaving hte village, through some pasture and into the woods beyond ...
climbing back up
A strange cemetry in the woods - then we were onto the sting int he tail
.. a steep climb back up to Blackheath
The open woods welcomed us back back into Blackheath forest as we cut over to the car park
