The best day for weeks - clear blue skies with the promise of sun all day.
After the mud at the weekend it was time to go back to the sandy areas of the
Greensand hills above Shamley Green. I was in the van and determined that the
car parks on Farley Heath did not have barriers so seemed a good place
to start. then walk down to the Downs link/ Wey south path, following that up
to Shalford where we would make our way back through Blackheath forest.
I missed the entrance to the roman temple car park and stopped a the next one -
Farley Glade. We parked up here and left into the woods following a path that
led back to the roman temple site.
the temple remains are just the wall foundations in the grass, that you would not notice if not for the sign.
From the temple we followed a large dirt track into the plantation and around a wood with lots of signs indicating "written permission required to enter!". the south side of this area was also bounded by a fence penning in the track. This continued until we reached a farm building and it turned into a driveway.
here we turned south again beside a horse field, dropping down steeply to Woodhill lane.
Along a driveway to a large house - the gatehouse was also suitably large. Past the bog house and down a lane lined with horse chestnut trees.
A small path beside the fields took us off the driveway, this was the Greensand way and we joined this continuing as it left between fields to come out beside the church in Shamley Green
Across the B2128 and into the fields of Plonk's Hill. this crossed the river and climbed up to the Downs link.
A slight diversion down beside a bluebell field took us to the first of two lifting bridges over the Wey and Arun canal
Along the newly renovated path beside the canal to the second lifting bridge. This bridge would take us back to the Downs link path
Now back on the flat path of the the Downs link we continued up it into Bramley and across the B2128 at the old station
At Tanyard crossing there was a garden beside the path. This is where the Downs link path separates and heads north. Still on the Downs link we continued to the canal presentation hut at the end. this is where it meets the A281. I was tempted by the snack van in the car park here and stopped for a bacon buttie (which I had to share)
Now continuing on the Wey South path (leaving the track of the old railway) following the stub of the canal until we touched the Wey navigation up to the A248. Here we crossed into the common land at Shalford where a travelling fun fair was setting up.
Back over both the A281 and the A248 we followed Chinthurst lane
Along a green lane that rose up between hedges. a zigzag and we joined the downs link path once again. Beside us was Chinthurst Hill where we would take a diversion.
Climbing up the hill we walk directly up the slope to the tower. Then we took the Bluebell walk back down in a circular route. From the top we could look across to Blackheath forest.
Looking over to the Blackheath woods as we followed the circular route down the hill and back to the Downs link path.
Across the B2128 and into Wonersh Common and alongside Great Tangley Manor. the path then climbed into the woods of Tangley Hill
Entering into Blackheath at Rosemary Hill and up to the war memorial.
Through the woods of Blackheath forest alternating between trees and heathland.
Towards the edge of the forest we turned south along a bridleway (still very sandy) and followed it all the way back to the car park.
