East Clandon Circuit, North Downs

 The day was dry, relatively warm but cloudy with some rain predicted for tomorrow I worked out a walk to the north of yesterdays..   taking in a little more of the Fox Way and a tour of Horsley and Clandon villages. the idea was to park in one of the car parks south of Horsley, then cross over to pick up the Fox Way at Clandon golf course, following it to Ripley lane, where we would leave it. Cross over to the woods around Drift golf course, from here following Horsley Jubilee trail through the forest and across the railway line and Effingham common. Keeping outside East Horsley to Effingham golf course then cross back to the car park.

We drove up the back lane north from Shere, climbing over the North Downs and up Shere Road, however the car park beside Sheepleas had a 1.9m height restriction, .05 m too low for the van. On to plan B ...  up to A246 then back down Green Dene lane - unfortunately the car park there also had the same height restriction. Plan C ...  continue back towards Shere, and pick up a car park on top of the Downs, however at a sharp bend above Netley Heath we came upon an unmarked parking area beside the bridle path into the open access area - Plan D. 

From the bend we went back up the road to pick up a bridleway that cut over to the Shere road, and across onto Fullers Farm lane, this dropped down to Woodcote farm

Up again before dropping down to Fullers farm. Here the lane finished and we moved onto a farm track that bordered grass fields.

Suddenly everything opened out and we could see across to the skyline of London. Then it closed in as we descended to East Clandon.

Along Blakes Lane to the A247 and across into the village, down to the Queens head, where we followed a lane behind the pub.

The track changed into a footpath as it continued beside the golf course, before cutting across it (and a slight detour where we lost the path). Eventually reaching the club house

Down the footpath beside the club house to the A247 leading through teh village of West Clandon. At the village we followed the road over the railway to the edge of the village (passing a policeman on speed control).

Along a lime tree lined road before a path took us back into horse land

Through more grass fields up to Tithebarn lane. Following the back road up to the T junction at Sussex farm where we continued on the Byway ahead.

At a crossroads we turned into Brambleride Copse at teh same time as a van was emptying around a dozen dogs out for a walk - we hurried past before it got too overwhelming, the track through the copse led past a pheasant feeding station wired off from teh rest of the wood but carpeted in bluebells. Beyond the copse the track continued up past Ryde farm to Ripley Lane where we had another section down the road.

Turning off the lane and down a boggy path euphemistically called Bachelor's lane, which did not really start until we passed the house.

Across another back road and we picked up a bridleway through Rydings farm - much more a livery yard and fields full of horses. The track was covered in bark chippings and very spongy, until we turned parallel to the B2039 where the mud started. Gratefully we crossed over onto Whitehill Lane and into the woods.

Picking up the bridleway in the woods and turn towards Horsley rail Station. This was very enclosed and we saw nothing of the next door golf course before crossing what was marked as a byway, but now a busy tarmacked cut through.

Here we picked up the Horsley Jubilee trail as it entered into "the forest" - this was obviously a very popular walk as the path was completely muddy and very well churned up. Following the trail through teh forest and out over the railway using a road

Through the edge of East Horsley until a housing road led down to Effingham common - a large open grassy area. We walked up the side of this to the top corner.

Leaving the common and walking down a track - marked as Old London road - still on the jubilee trail. Initially dry, however as it moved into Great Ridings where it reverted to a wide mud swamp. The Jubilee trail took a diversion through the plantation, but we kept on the track

At the edge of the Horsley Towers estate (memories of corporate training in the detention centre) we followed the stone wall around and up Dirtham Lane eventually coming out at the A246. The dirt track had been used by vehicles but not too unpleasant.

Across and into Oldlands wood - part of the Lovelace estate passing the site of a few of the bridges keeping to the managed trails, although they were spongy with the leaf debris.

Still on the jubilee trail we left the woods to Crocknorth farm before crossing a road and back into Dick Focks Common - a further part of the Lovelace estate and more bridges.

We left the jubilee trail as I tried to make a more direct route back to the car park. Following the fire break tracks through teh common, as the slope made it difficult to go direct. We came out in Honeysuckle Bottom after a zigzag descent.

We climbed up the other side to meet a path that climbed in a big curve - again no easy direct route.

At the edge of the open access area, I had hoped to take a path through Upper Weston Wood, however this was fenced off and we had to follow the fence up to a back road. Then we took a track to the right to avoid returning along the road.

This track doglegged through the woods and back to the bridleway we had started on - just up from the car park.

Silent Pool. Clandon, Pewley Down & Albury, North Downs

 Clear sky, with the promise of blue skies all day, and after last weekends trip to the North Downs it was time to explore teh northern slopes of the same downs. Starting at Silent Pool the aim was to walk over the downs to Clandon Park, around the back of the National Trust property to the edge of Guildford. Across the A25 through the golf courses to Merrow Down, then along the tracks and beside Guildford conurbation to Pewley Down. Descending the other side and picking up the track from last weekend up to St. Martha's Hill, dropping down Colyers Hanger and around Waterloo pond into Albury. Up through Albury Warren and across to Albury Heath, before descending down through Albury Park and back to Silent Pool.

We parked in the car park below the Silent and Sherbourne Pools and started up the track past them climbing up the side of the north Downs following the Fox Way signs.

Climbing up the track past the vines and through Boxwood to reach the North Downs Way.

Into the woods on the other side of NDW following a track past New Scotland Farm, and down to Old Scotland Farm.

Looking out beyond the woods to the north, before the track followed the edge of an open access woodland area.

Looking down to Clandon Park, as we walked down the path between fields towards the A246. Across the road and alongside the first of today's golf courses - Clandon Regis.

A knights move and onto a path behind the Clandon Park house - currently being renovated after a fire.

The path crossed the fields behind the Temple Court (slightly boggy) before picking up a track that led back to the A25 at a roundabout on the edge of Guildford housing estates.

Across the road and up the side of a cricket field, and the second golf course - Clandon. The path followed the edge of teh course until it reached teh Merrow Downs.

Into the Merrow Downs, and across a back road and into the woods beside the third Golf course - Guildford. We dropped down through the woods, initially in the direction of Newlands Corner, dropping to Walnut Tree Bottom. Reaching the track we then followed it through the woods until it came back to teh golf course.

Crossing the golf course and along to the club house.

Past the practice range and also the putting green before crossing the open access area beyond until it ended at Warren road. Along the road until we could turn down towards Warren Farm.

Then up to the skyline which hid the open area of Pewley Down

The view across to Chantries and St. Martha's Hill, as well as towers on the continuation above Loseley Park.

We visited the dedication stone, before turning back on ourselves so we could drop down to the Pilgrim's way  

Following the path down to the track we had walked at teh weekend before continuing up the track towards the Halfpenny Lane.

Along the main track up St. Martha's Hill, until the bypass track that contours around below the church on the top - just because we were up there 3 days ago.

Down the other side past the pill box to the track leading down to Colyers hanger.

Into teh woods of the hanger, and the associated bluebells

Coming out at Waterloo pond, before following the edge out to the A248, and then along the pavement into the village of Albury. Around the back of the village past the church into Warren Lane.

The lane mutated into a track deeply cut into the slope, which we followed until a turning took us up to Albury Warren

Over the other side of the Warren fields with bright mauve flowers led down to the railway.

We crossed the railway at a cattle crossing, and past Ford Farm, before following a managed stream to a byway track.

The track passed back under the railway and climbed up to Albury Heath and across it to gain park road.

Along the back road until we could get to the path through Albury Park - only limited access

Dropping down the track through teh park to the main driveway, which we followed out to the gatehouse.

Out of the park we followed the A248 crossing last weekend's trace beside the church before going back across the A25 to the car park.