It was overcast and some chance of rain later, but undeterred I planned
a route up in the Surrey Hills east of Cranleigh. The idea was to park up on
the greensand way above Alderbrook and walk along the ridge until it drops
down, then turn south into Ewhurst, and continue through the village and out
the other side. Pick up a green lane and across teh B2128 in to Baynard's
park. From here turn West towards Vachery farm and around the pond and up the
drive back to the B2128. Next around the outskirts of Cranleigh and through
the showground, then along the golf course. At winter fold turning west again
to work our way back to the car park.
As we parked up the van in the almost deserted car park - the dog walkers all
put off by the drizzle - the cloud had descended further and we were at about
the limit. We set off along the Greensand Way out of the car park going East.
This section of the greensand way has some interesting sculptures - the shingle
shed - over looking the clouds today. This one on Winterfold Hill
The next is a strange bench, still lookign into the clouds. This one on Reynards
Hill
Down adn up again to pass Ewhurst Windmill - just a private folly now. then down
again to the pitch hill car park.
We skirted around the northern side of Pitch Hill, then curved around and down a
wide track, coming out on back roads. Then across the fields passing Ewhurst
Place.
A zigzag using the driveway to Radnor place farm then we continued south along a
tree lines path to a wide path in the woods. This emerged on the side of a crop
field.
The path came out into Ewhurst beside the Bulls head pub. Along the B2127 until
we turned into the sports club.
The path worked through the housing estates of the village, before leaving it
into the fields beyond. A zigzag on a driveway and another field.
A wide bridleway in a line of woods - probably and ancient trackway. the track
wound through the woods, before following a corn field, coming out at Longhurst
Hill.
Over the B2128 and down a track beside a house covered in anti oil banners
The track merged into the driveway to Home Farm on the Baynard's estate.
Following the driveway through the farm and onto a path in the woods beyond.
Then on the driveway to Collins farm
Into the fields beyond before turning towards Vachery farm just before the Downs
link.
This met the Vachery Farm driveway at a strange feature in the woods - the
map showed a moat like structure, then non up the drive passing the Vachery Pond
(hidden behind the woods). The end of the pond marked by a statue in a overflow
pool.
Along the curving driveway of Vachery Lane around and up to the B2128. Across
the road and into the outskirts of Cranleigh.
Merging onto a wide bridleway through woods leading to New park and a complex
layout of paths around the houses into a field in front of Galley Wood.
A bridleway through the woods and along a track beyond, still staying just
outside Cranleigh. The bridleway mutated into a back road - Wanborough Lane for
the final bit up to the B2127. Along the B road and into Cranleigh Showground
passing the buildings.
The fields gave way to Ashen copse as we left the showground. The path came out
of the copse and crossed the edge of the Golf course to pick up an track in the
woods beyond.
The path wound through woods as teh rain came down in earnest ... however
Bertie still took a dip in a stream as we crossed.
Head down in the rain we passed Canfold Stud and up to Barhatch Lane. There we followed the driveway to Winterfold house. At the end of this driveway we had to curve around the houses then into soem new plantation around the end of Alderbrook Park.
Still in heavy rain we came out into the open access land at teh bottom of the slope up to the greensand ridge. We took a path up the slope - made slippy by mountain bikes and even more so by their manipulations of the terrain. Eventually we came out at the car park and the van.
Soaked through, we dried off before getting into the van for lunch - luckily I had some spare clothes. then back home to properly dry out.
