I had to go to Cranleigh for an opticians appointment to check out my contact
lenses, as it was an early afternoon appointment I chose to walk there and back,
taking in a bit of the Sussex border path, the downs link and a return via the
canal(ish). I also opted to pick up a prescription from the surgery on the way
Taking the usual route to Loxwood down the road and across the fields, before
picking up the twitten at the Onslow Arms.
A slight diversion to the
pharmacy and out to the station road, before picking up the path through the
fields behind the village.
Following the path northwards through the fields.
Moving onto the track at Songhurst farm, took me to the Sussex border path.
Turning East and following this through the farm
Into Hope rough and the swathes of bluebells
Beyond the rough the track merged into Hook street, and continued East, before
separating into the woods once more.
The path cut through the grounds of the Rikyo (Japanese) school on some wide
grassy avenues.
Leaving the school grounds onto the A281, which was crossed onto Hillhouse
Lane.
The lane ended at a T-junction, where the border path continued alongside a deer
park, and a steep drop and rise to a small stream.
Beyond the deer park the border path came out into a field rising up to woods
beyond. The view opened out for the first time looking south to the Downs.
In the woods the met the Downs Link, as it dropped down to the old Baynards
station house.
The old station house is now a private residence (with all that goes with it)
and only a limited view of the platforms.
Beyond the station the Downs link follows the old track bed in a flat
straight(ish) route to Cranleigh.
The green tunnel continued to the outskirts of Cranleigh and beside the new
housing creeping ever outwards.
Leaving the track and into the town, stopping for lunch by the bandstand,
waiting for the appointment time.
Following the appointment I walked back along the outward route up to the edge
of the new housing where I deviated onto a track past Snoxhall farm
Down the farm drive to Knowle Lane, crossing over and along the pencil straight
drive to Waterland
Moving through the gardens of the house and a strange exit onto a farm track
around a huge field, it was supposed to cut the corner of the field, but this
had all been ploughed up.
Turning the corner of the huge field, and heading to the rugby club fields, then
a zigzag and into a narrow path to the residential conversions beyond.
Crossing over the A281 once more, and turning down the equally pencil
straight drive to Farnhurst farm. Beyond the farm and into fields where we
picked up the Wey South path beside the mobile home park.
Missing the path we left the field over a gate onto the Dunsfold road
I could have followed the Wey South path or a straighter track from the
car park, however there was an earlier option to turn down through Seven
Acre copse and then zigzag south to meet up at Gennets wood lock.
The path followed the edge of a ploughed field past the wood lined with shooting
booths.
The path came out opposite the camping area at Sachel Court, and down the drive
for a short way, before zigzagging again.
Some route finding issues then cropped up, as the path became unclear in the
next field (approaching Springbok farm), and I had to vault a gate to get out.
then the farm yard was blocked by a temporary fence and I had to circumnavigate
past the cow byres, before continuing down the farm drive to Rosemary lane. At
least this was a working farm, as so many I passed today were converted to
residential!
Across the lane and down the path beside the driveway to Turtles farm, and a
collection of ponds. Beyond the ponds there was a winding track through some bluebell woods that opened out to fields.
Crossing the fields to Oakhurst farm, and picking up the lane beyond to Gennets wood lock - a track I had walked a number of times before.
From the lock the final section followed the canal - a much used route local to home.
Arriving back home in time for supper.
I could have taken more direct routes in both directions, however the opportunity to try some new paths was too great to pass over.
