We had booked onto an AAC walk that was advertised as leaving Haslemere
station up towards devils punch bowl before turning off through Nutcombe down
and on to Waggoner's Wells . Back via Greyshott and golden valley to Gibbets
hill, returning to the station through the Keffolds.
We met up with the eight others at the station - all recognisable in their OAP
rambling gear, and after a period of hanging around for no apparent reason - a
frequent occurrence on this walk - we set off along the road to the Weydown car
park. Here we turned up the multipurpose path cutting the corner off to Bunch
lane.
A section walking up the road, until we could pick up the byway Stoatley hollow,
which climbed steeply up to Farnham lane.
Up on the lane we luckily missed a party of scrambler bikes about to descend the
hollow we had just climbed - not a pleasant meeting if it had been on the steep
climb. We then cut off up the Greensand way climbing above Polecat valley.
At the next junction we left the planned route as the leader headed off up
towards the byway leading to Gibbets hill. Dispite a number of people indicating
the mistake he continued onwards.
Picking up the Greensand way once more as we turned towards the Devil's
Punchbowl car park, I stepped up to try and get us back on course, and took
everyone down a trail towards Tyndalls wood
The trail dropped over the side and down to the A287. Once across the road and
in Tyndalls wood we picked up the Miss James trail there. Not really
understanding how the leader wanted to get from here to Waggoner's Wells I took
them around the top and down to the car park opposite the B3022/ A333
junction.
A long discussion about cutting out the Waggoner's Wells section and heading
straight for Greyshott followed, before it was agreed to take a back footpath
parallel to the B3002 into Greyshott and have lunch on the green. This was a
good decision as otherwise we would have been very late through out the day.
We followed the path behind the roadside estates (I had been this way before
when last visiting the dentist), and up into the village. Across onto the green
and a seat for lunch.
Lunch eaten, the majority went to the pub for a pint, whilst we waited outside
in the sun. Finally we returned to the track behind the houses.
Once down at the bottom of the valley we turned left rather than return the way
we had arrived and wen through Whitmore vale, then climbing up to the ridge
above Golden Valley.
Into Golden valley, and again another miss turn and we set off on the long way
around the valley, however we recovered on a cross path back to the southern
track. We left the valley at the car park
Across the A287, and down the rough lane - Highcombe copse car park is down
here. Then turning sharp right following the wide, well worn trail up to the
Devil's Punch Bowl viewing spot.
Another long pause looking at the view before a consensus was arrived at to
continue.
Continuing across the end towards Gibbet Hill, however in place of following the
byway that used to be the A3 we missed the turning and took a loop towards our
route up here earlier in the day.
Dropping down from the hill (initially steep drop through the bracken) before
crossing another byway, and along the ridge to reach the Temple of four winds -
all that remains is the floor. Another long pause before everyone was ready to continue.
From the temple we dropped further down Hurthill Copse and picked up the track
that led through Keffold's copse. At Keffold's Farm we left the track to follow a path through the bracken and brambles that came out at the end of a housing estate marking the edge of Haslemere.
Following a straight line back through the estate to Saint Stephens church. Now on Church lane across the rail line and down to the B2131 and back to the station. A short goodbye then return to the van - grateful for the sliding door as the next car left very little room.
