Slightly overcast this morning, with the promise of sunny periods once
the clouds disperse. I had worked out a route from Witley common following the
A3 down to the start of the tunnel under Devil's punchbowl. Then crossing over
though Greyswood turning north again before reaching Chiddingfold. Up to
Sandhills and then onto go around Witley in the open access areas and hence
back to the car park.
We parked up and waived the NT car at the parking meter, then off into the woods
of the common , we cut across the common parallel to the A3.
A little bit of freestyle walking through the trees and bracken to reach a track
on the edge of the common, which was followed over a back road into a nature
reserve beyond. There seemed to be a number of marked walks through it, but I
could not find any further information.
Passing Lake Cottages - a residential development from Witley Park. Then down a
sunken bridleway dropping down to French lane.
We followed French Lane down to a double bend where we followed the Greensand
way across a field and down a steep slope to a stream.
Past Coford House, and along a dirt track that followed a stream and a series of
odd houses
At Mole farm we turned onto an ancient trackway along a stream and several
ponds.
Through grass fields to Blackhanger farm then around an area called the soaks.
We then ended on a grass track beside more grass fields up to a back road.
Down the driveway to Boundless farm and onto a byway - much used by bikes as it
climbed up the side of the devil's punchbowl.
The Byway led up into Hurthill Copse turning away from Gibbet Hill. We had been
around here several times before and followed the tracks hidden in the woods.
Dropping down, steeply at first then less so through Tuders copse to go under
the main railway line on the outskirts of Greyswood village.
Up the driveway for Greyswood farm then freestyling once more following unmarked
paths to come out opposite the village green. Down the back road opposite
(ignoring the road closed for water works signs).We left the village down a
gravel track to a sewage works.
A path down the side of a sheep field and into Frillinghurst Wood.
There were lots of new tracks in the wood and we had to use the GPS to make sure
we ended up at the correct end of the wood. Now out onto the driveway for
Frillinghurst farm, dropping down past the houses to the back road.
Taking a shortcut across grass fields as the back road looped around.
Just re-touching the back road then along a track through some woods and out
into grass fields approaching Langhurst manor farm
A path down the side of the farm buildings and a further overgrown path led to a
back road. We used the back road to get to the drive way for Coombe court farm.
We used this driveway to cut across to a bridleway.
Through the fields behind Combe Court. Into some woods and across a stream.
The other side of the woods led to a railway crossing - difficult stiles for
Bertie then into the fields beyond (after collecting a handful of
blackberries)
In the "private" woods beyond, but it did not stop Bertie going into the
stream.
The path mutated into a track as it approached Sandhills village. We had a close
encounter with a truck down here and although he paused for us we had to climb
the bank to let him past.
We climbed over the common, passing the Greensand way once again - I remembered
the bench on the common). Then up an ancient pathway up to church lane following
the fence line for the King Edwards school boundary.
Up the driveway to Winkford farm - now an architectural experiment.
We followed a path around the house conversion and continued on the remnants of
a farm track through the fields, winding down to houses on the edge of Mare
Hill.
Climbing up the sandy top of Mare hill, then down the other side to the edge of
Milford village. We stopped for a quick refreshment on the top looking over to
Guildford and beyond.
Skirting the houses of Milford, whilst inside the woods then across the A286 and back into Witley Common. We turned parallel to the road and followed it to the visitor centre, then cut through the woods back to the car park.
The van parked in the car park with all the dog walkers. A pause for snacks then back home.
