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.
