The van was due for a service - or so the onboard computer was telling
me. It was booked in for today, and previous visits indicated that they would
be at least 2 hours for the service, but only once it was started, and
although the van was booked in for 10:20, the indication was that it would not
be looked at until lunchtime! So I had chosen a walk that had some variability
in it, starting off crossing over to the A281, then up to Shalford Mill before
following the back roads to the edge of Chilworth. From here dropping south
through Blackheath to Shamley Green, and back to cross the Wey and Arun canal.
On the other side of the A281 everything was variable working across to
Godalming/ Cattershaw, before returning to the van centre.
Since I was last at the van centre (for MOT in March) they had changed and
there were several free bays to park in, but also there were less people in
the centre - I don't know about the workshop side, but it did not bode well
for the front of house.
Leaving the van, Bertie and I headed off down to the canal towpath, before
picking up the downs link path on the old railway line.
We followed the line of the Downs link track across to teh A281, and the car
park beside the beginning of the Wey South path down the Wey and Arun canal.
We were temped to stop at the van for a bacon bap, then onwards up the path
back to the Wey canal at the wharfs of Broadford. The path followed the Wey
and Arun junction stem passing an old barn on its staddle stones.
Across the A248 and onto Shalford green, following the cycleway across the grass
and onto a track passing the allotments and caravan park, into the wooded slopes
above the canal
The path comes out beside the Seahorse pub, and we crossed over and down the
lane to the Shalford Mill (currently closed) across the Tilling Bourne river and
over a grass field towards East Shalford Lane.
The path paralleled the lane in the fields until we reached Manor farm, where we
had to leave and join the lane. We followed it down to the level crossing.
Just over the level crossing we turned alongside the track fence behind the
houses of Chilworth. We crossed back over the railway line and continued on the
other side of the tracks up to the A248 and another level crossing.
Heading south now, away from the A248 past a playing field and up a track to
Tangley Hill.
Up over the top of Tangley Hill in the woods and down to Blackheath village.
We turned along side Derry's Hill down to and crossing the Fox way
Continuing in the same direction we made our way past the St John's Seminary.
Across the B2128 down a driveway. This ends at a house where a sharp left turn
in their garden leads to Lordshill road.
We followed the back road down until we could turn along the drive to Westland
farm, and the adjoining sewage works.
Just past the farm buildings the driveway mutated into path leading down to the
Wey and Arun canal and the second Birtley bridge under construction.
Under the Downs link track and up to the A281. We crossed over beside the tennis
club and down the drive aroudn the back of Birtley House.
I was now off the bottom of my map and trying to follow a map on my phone - not
as good at seeing the complete picture, and I turned up a track too soon. We
followed the track down through a long valley to Eastwater house.
Across the dam of the mill pond, and onto the back road turning south passing
Thorncombe park.
Along a driveway up past some houses where the drive became a track in the
trees. The track climbed steeply badly cut up by horses creating steps in the
mud. At the top we turned onto a bridleway to Catteshall manor.
We zigzagged around the village of Catteshall and turning down the lane to the Wey canal.
Across the canal and I got a phone call from the garage that the van was finished. The fastest way back from here was along the A3100 skipping the bit through Broadwater park. Back at the van centre we collected everything then headed home for some late lunch.
