Abinger & Gomshall circuit, North Downs

After the rain of the last three days at last we had a forecast of sunny spells - Bertie and I set out for another exploration into the Surrey Hills between Dorking and Guildford. We had a route planned startign at Friday street and going through Abinger common to Gomshall then back through the Abinger roughs to Wotton and back to the car park.

When we arrived at the car park and crawled under the barrier (at 2m it gave a clearance of 4 cm which can be a little tight on rough ground) we were the first of the day, and selected a suitable point back to the midday sun.

We set off through the woods of Abinger Common open access area of Wotton estates, heading west to pick up the road to the village of Abinger Common itself

A short section up the side of the road and we came into the village crossing the green to the church.

The map showed our desired path coming out the other side of the church grounds, and only a small sign on the entrance arch showed the way through the graveyard and out the back via an old iron gate.

The path went around a mound shown as a Motte on the map but looked too small to be significant.

As we came out into the fields the views of the north downs - Netley Heath and White Downs - opened up

Continuing through the fields - sweetcorn and turnips - to Raikes farm, with more views of the downs.

The path dropped down onto Raikes Lane - a deep cut road - for a very short section, before ascending out the other side and up to the fields once again.

Wide views of the North Downs on the other side of the valley.

Still more turnip fields, and then down an old drove lane towards the outskirts of Gomshall.

The track came out onto a tarmacked lane alongside the large ponds of the Tilling Bourne before it came out onto the A25

Coming out by the railway bridge in Gomshall, turning East along the road until we could pick up the ancient trackway of Beggars lane.

Shortly after turning up the lane we cut off, rising into Piney Copse - NT owned, but originally owned by EM Forster to prevent housing in the area.

Coming out the East side of Piney copse and along a path with views up the North downs, and across Hackhurst lane

the lane then leads into the woods as they rise into Abinger rough. This is National Trust woodland and is crisscrossed with paths, however we followed the main bridleway through the broad-leafed trees.

Passing a memorial to Samuel Wilberforce - son of Wilber.

Crossing another road the track continued alongside Deerleap woods, with views along North Downs past Box Hill.

Arriving at a lonely house in the bottom of the valley, selecting the path running south and through the woods - once more hemmed in by fences up and over Deerleap woods.

Passing a saxon church, supposedly with carved heads of King John and Stephen Langton. Thence down the drive way to the village of Wotton.

Picking up the path again at the back of the pub carpark in Wotton, lead through a grazing field - luckily the belted Galloway cows were far enough away from the path.

Down to cross the Tillign Bourne once more ... the hedge forming a cover over the path and across the trickle, even after all the recent rain.

Into Damphurst wood, inevitably climbing and descending before coming out onto a bridleway running up a valley with ponds and weirs

Coming out at Mill pond, just outside Friday street - we could have cut back to the car park from here, however as we had made good time and were early, there was time for a little extension at first East through Severells copse