Checking the weather for the week showed Monday to be the best day for a walk,
so I planned a route following the next section of the Serpents Way from above
Haslemere past Liphook, and then back around Hollycombe steam collection
Parking at the Marley Common car park down a single track lane. The car park was
nearly full with the early morning dog walkers, but we found a space near the
entrance and set off onto the common past a pond we had passed on our last visit
when we turned off the Serpents Trail to return to Haslemere. Crossing the back
road once more heading East on a driveway.
as the drive turned sharply left we continued on into the woods, as it opened
out into heathland
Climbing up gradually to the high point of the woods before turning right, after
a slight diversion down the wrong track where I messed the sign post.
The track crossed a back road and continued into Linchmere Common, climbing
slightly
I had assumed that the Serpents way had got its name because it round around the
several times on its way south, however it also snaked its way around through
these commons
Luckily the path is quite well signposted and we zigzagged through the common.
Dropping down to Lower Brookham past some ponds before climbing up the ridge
left
The calm before the storm as we followed the edge of Stanley common.
The route on the map and the one signed on the ground now diverged.
The real track snaked around the rolling hills of the common working its way
down towards an unmarked car park
Just before the car park the trail wound its way through some new Christmas tree
vague plantation, coming out at a road junction.
The winding nature of the trail was now passed and changed into a byway that
followed the Sussex border path. the recent storms had created some impenetrable
barriers on the sunken track and we had to climb over the huge trunks.
As the track continued it followed a forestry trail through the woods in a
generally straight line.
The track improved as it got to the Liphook golf course, where we crossed part
of it, and then down the drive to a complex set of road junctions.
Opposite the old Black Fox Inn, we took a path across the heath towards the back
road we had just crossed.
Pillars on the sides of the back road harking back to the past. Probably leading
to Milland house. We left the road here (through an electric gate with a very
small button and sign asking you to "press here for footpath" very confusing
when you are looking for a right of way.)
Beyond the house the path passed through a number of horse pastures, before
opening into a huge grass field bordering a steep wooded slope.
The most direct route would have taken us across the hill down the side and up
the other side through Hollycombe steam, collection, however there were no paths
in that direction so we turned south and dropped down the steep wooded slope
Coming out at Home farm (now so much accommodation and a small farm). Then up
the back lane towards the slope on the other side of the valley.
To avoid a longer route down the hill on the road and a U-turn up the New
Lipchis Way, we took a dirt track contouring the woodland below Hollycombe,
after checking for private land signs etc. This came out on the New Lipchis Way
part way up the slope, with views across to Linchmere, and Fernhurst.
The old track way climbed steeply up the slope
Top of the slope allowed a view through the fence to the train track of the
steam collection. Then turning back into Stanley Common.
Past Stanley Farm dropping down the steep (ish) slopes on a foestry track.
Occasional views across to the hills of Linchmere, as we walked along the common
boundary.
Reaching Newlands Cottage the path dropped down to a pond and stream, although
it cut right through the trees slightly before
Coming to a back road past a farm (with a strange boat outside a barn). We
walked up the road past the Shulbrede Priory, before turning up a track.
After following the track around the back of the priory we turned up the slope
and climbed a path leading into the woods.
As we contoured around the woods of Linchmere there was a lot of forestry work
going on and the track was very churned up (although not too muddy with the wood
debris).
The final slope contoured around the woods ahead before turning around a small ridge maintaining a gradual climb.
Looking across to the hills we had come from, before entering the start of Marley Common, to meet the road we had driven up to the car park earlier.
Across the road and following various unmarked paths heading in the general direction of the car park. Arriving there to find it almost deserted with no lunchtime dog walkers.
