The days are closing in and there was mist around this morning, but the
promise of sun later. I had planned a walk around Hambledon to take in some of
the paths we had so far not touched. Starting at Hydon Heath car park once
again, then, after a diversion up the Ball, continue across to Witley, around
the back to come out beside the playing fields and village hall. Back to
Hambledon then along Vann lane and farm tracks to Loxhill, followed by a short
stretch to get into Park Hatch. Through the fields along the side of Hascombe
Hill (passing the stone circle) and around Nore hanger, before working up to
Winkworth Arboretum. Finally back to the car park through Busbridge woods.
We negotiated the crazy drivers on the narrow back roads to get to the car park
and although it was light the sun had not risen enough to shine through yet. We
set off down one of the major trails leading from the car park and worked across
to the side of the ball before starting the final climb ... there is a reservoir
under this lump and several industrial boxes lying around.
Up on the top we found the sun for the first time, however the views were a
little hazy.
Back into the murk as we descended the opposite side towards the Robertson
memorial (see the
NT Octavia Hill walk). Instead of returning to the car park we turned away and through the woods
beyond.
The woods gave way to a path between crop fields and across a back road beside
Horsehatches where we followed a dirt track into West Surrey Golf Club.
Across a couple of fairways (and the track we had taken earlier in the year).
The bridleway entered the woods and ended at a back road (water lane), that we
followed until we could turn towards Great Enton.
This track/ driveway led past several houses and under the main line railway
before arriving at Enton Mill and it leet ponds. From here we followed their
driveway down into Witley.
Across the A283 to pick up a twitten that was parallel to the main road finally
coming out beside the church. From here we returned to the main road and along
the pavement to the village hall.
Into the playing fields beyond the hall and across the dewy grass to the far
corner. Here we picked up a path leading into the woods and under the railway
line once again.
Onca across water lane we followed a long driveway to Buss's, before it turned
off into the woods and across to Hilltop Farm now on a farm track. We followed
the subsequent back road into Beech Hill and around to continue east.
A scruffy path alongside horse fields cut the corner off to Vann lane, however
this got worse the further along we went until we entered a patch of woods and
onto Vann Lane. We then walked along the lane until it turned away.
At Vann Copse we left the back road and walked down the farm driveway to Burgate
farm. Passing the farm and continuing on the farm track through the fields
beyond.
This farm track led across the fields to Loxhill and the B2130 under the slopes
of the Hurtwood to the left. At Godalming road we had a short section along the
road until we could turn off along the Park Hatch driveway.
Through the gatehouse and along the driveway (I was not sure if this was a path,
but it did save going further along the busy road). Following the driveway as it
curved up towards Lodge Farm, and we left where the track contoured around the
base of Hascombe Hill.
At a copse of Scott's pines on the skyline I could just make out a stone circle
- worthy of a diversion!.
In the stone circle - the stones had modern tool cuts on them, but still a good
location.
Onwards across the slope below Hascombe Hill, with view down and over Dunsfold
aerodrome.
At Nore we followed the dirt road contouring below Nore Hanger, then turning up
the side of a field beside New Barn to get to the top of the ridge.
We followed the ridge line in the woods north to meet the GSW, and then along
this to the point we could turn back west and down the edge of horse fields to
Langhurst Farm. From the farm along the path down to cross the B2130 again.
The driveway on the other side led to a path climbing up behind Winkworth farm
before coming out on the private estate roads leading back to the B2130.
A short walk down the B2130 before picking up the path alongside Winkworth
Arboretum. At the Arboretum car park we crossed over the b2130 for the last time
and walked along the farm driveway
Beside South Munstead farm we followed a path down to then into Busbridge woods, and up Juniper valley
Across the back road mad into Hydon Heath to work our way through it back to the van in the car park.
