After the bank holiday weekend spent doing very little exercise, it was
time to get out again. I planned a route continuing on the Fox Way around
Guildford, this time up in the NW corner near the town of Ripley, it follows
the Wey canal down towards Guildford. After passing the village of Send we
would then turn across teh fields towards Old Woking, then crossing a number
of golf courses (surrey seems to have lots around here!) to get back to the
canal at Pyrford lock. A slight diversion through Wisley common and around the
RHS gardens before returning to the car park.
We drove around to Ripley beside the A3 and then up the lane beside the cricket
pitch to park beside the large open area of Ripley Green. Bertie and I set off
across the green beyond the cricket pitch angling across the field following the
major path.
beyond the field we entered some woods with a slightly muddy path (but with
bypasses of the worst bits) coming out onto Mill Lane after a bridge over a
stream. Then up the lane to Ockham mill itself (now residential).
After the mill the path followed the edge of Wisley golf course, before a slight
diversion onto the course to cross a footbridge and then onto the tow path
Turning along the tow path towards Guildford passing Pyrford Place and a fancy
boat house.
Passing Walsham Lock and joining up with the Fox Way.
Further down we passed the remains of Newark Priory just before Newark Lock.
At Newark Lock we crossed over to the other side of the canal and continued
Where the B367 crossed the tow path returned to southern side, and across some
flood meadows.
The next lock - Papercourt - had a weir beside it for the overflow, and the tow
path moved over to the northern side. A bit further along we passed a
refurbished mill
Cartbridge basin - not on my maps - on the other side of the canal, continuing
to Cartbridge village.
At teh A247 crossing we used the road bridge to transfer sides once again, and
continued down past the New Inn
A strange footbridge crossed over (we did not need it), and came to Worsfold
Gates ... I think it was just a control station to seal the canal from the
river as they were both open.
Coming to Triggs Lock - once again with a weir beside it. Here we would leave
the tow path and also teh Fox Way to return to the van.
Over the canal and down a lane for a short while, before crossing a grass field
towards Runtleywood Farm.
Beyond the farm the path started on a concrete farm track that changed into a
dirt track then a footpath fenced off from grass fields.
The path came into a large grass field with a very obvious path... we followed
it to our fault as it just circled around the edge and we could not cross a
stream wide and deep enough not to jump.
Realising the error, we picked up the correct track beside some weirs and
continued into scrub
The track came out at Gresham Mill - now very much residential, with a long
private drive that we followed up to the A247 on the edge of Old Woking
Along the edge of the town, onto B382 beside the sign, then down a lane beside
the Priory home, that came out in a boggy area. We diverted over the hedge to
the edge of a crop field as it was much dryer.
This came out onto Carters Lane which was followed beside the Sewage works. At
the crossroads we turned up to Roundbridge farm - no longer a farm and is now an
upmarket housing estate.
At a crossroads of paths on Hoebridge golf course we turned right and along the
lines of several course lines.
beyond the golf course the path continued beside the estate of Pyrford Court,
and under one of its footbridges (inaccessible from our path).
Crossing the B367, and down across fields in a series of knight's moves,
eventually coming out onto Pyrford road.
Across the road and down beside Pyrford place farm and into Pyrford golf course
(3rd of the day).
Leaving the golf course where it bordered the canal at Pyrford lock and the
Anchor pub.
We followed the towpath to get back to the point where we had joined it earlier.
On the way we passed this steam powered barge.
We now took a path that went through Wisley Golf course in a serpentine route
Perhaps the best manicured golf course in the area, we continued on the track
until it came out at Wisley village.
From Wisley village we followed a path onto Wisley common - an open wooded area,
only marred by the sounds from the M25 nearby.
Turning around the common on three sides - under foot it was dry in places and
waterlogged in others. We followed the track to come out at teh car park on
Wisley Lane.
We followed a path through teh RHS gardens - separated by high fences, then
beside teh river Wye - still fenced off from the gardens.
Beyond the RHS gardens we crossed a grass field towards glasshouses at the end.
Here we re-joined our trace from this morning into the woods.
At the stream, Bertie paused to wash off all the mud, then we went through the grass in the field to brush out any remaining mud, so that he was relatively clean once we reached the van.
