A local walk today - the aim was to start at Hydon Heath in the National
trust car park, then head up to the outskirts of Godalming, then back down
skirting Witley and Wormley to get to the village of Hambledon. Continuing
down to Stonehurst then across to return up the Vann and into Hydon heath to
return.
We arrived at the Hydon heath car park via the narrow salt lane, playing chicken
with cars going the other way! From the car park we set out across the heath
deep in the woods heading across to the opposite edge of the area, where we
turned north and followed the edge.
Across a back road and into the Hydon Hill estate, down a driveway until it ran
out, and the path began by going around the garden and into woods beyond.
Across a back road and down the driveway to Clock Barn Farm. After the farm we
continued on a path in the hedges between fields, then dropping down to Middle
lake.
Turnign across the edge of Godalming and alongside Lower lake (fenced off from
the path). We came out onto a back road which we followed into Tuesley. Opposite
the manor we left the road and climbed the stairs hidden in the side of the
road.
The path wound around and into Tuesley fruit farm - a huge soft fruit
conurbation of poly tunnels. We had glimpses of them on the way down to the
lakes, but now we were on tracks through the tunnel fields.
Winding our way through the farm on the tracks until a cut through a wooded area
that led to a field being prepared for more poly tunnels.
A slight zigzag around the new field down the hedge line. Over the back road and
down a driveway alongside West Surrey golf club.
Climbing up Potter's Hill dodging the course tracks, and crossing a few. Then
following the edge of a wood.
Through the woods and out along a field below Enton Hall (hidden behind
hedges).
Finally Bertie got a dip in a lake before we climbed up into Buss's Common and
it's changing landscape.
A crossing into Hambledon Common, where after a trial with a group of women,
children and dogs all running loose and wild. We joined the Greensand way here
and repeated a section along previous walks.
The view from the top of the common looking south towards Gibbets hill above
Devil's punchbowl and also down towards the South Downs and Chanctonbury hill.
The heather and sand petered out as we contoured around the top of the slope. We
left the Greensand way to drop down to the village Post office to pick up some
bread for tomorrow's lunch.
Then along the back road past the cricket pitch to pick up a footpath towards
Hambledon Hurst.
Down in Hambledon Hurst we turned along the woods - not much to see beyond the
edge of the path. A scrubby section then through bushes and all around a horse
paddock to go through the livery and farm at Stonehurst
Through the farm and then into a very long thin field alongside a stream, until
it crossed a back road. Through Pickford farm to climb up through a sheep field
on a track we had used previously.
The path crossed the field and mutated into a hedgeway, then a sharp turn and a
drop down to a stream. Then around a further field to a Prest Wood.
Into the wood and we worked around to a collection of place names all beginning
with Vann. Across a field to Vann copse farm, passing a break in the hedge
showing this house and pond.
We needed to get up to the Greensand way once again and took a chance that the
Upper Vann Lane would have a way out at the end. Luckily it proved possible,
however at the expense of a zigzag towards Vann hill before turning back along
the way, with its views across to Dunsfold.
We continued along the Greensand way until it met Markwick lane. We then had a
section walking along the narrow lane dodging the traffic rushing in two
ways.
At Little Burgate farm we left the back road and followed a track out the other side that climbed up a track enclosed with hedges.
The track led to Hydon heath where we followed a track through the woods (we were actually on the Octavia Hill trail in reverse) to the car park and the van waiting there.
