Sue had an appointment at the optician in Cranleigh, so Bertie and I grabbed a
lift with the idea to walk back home via the Canal.
We left the back of the car park onto the Downs link path just over the hedge. Turning towards Guildford, then under the B2130 and into the woods of Little Mead.
Taking the track veering away past the sewage works to meet the Wey South path (the path that follows close to the original line of the canal. At the Wey South path we follow it back to the canal route (not visible at this point).
Along the driveway passing Rye farm to its junction with the B2130. Over the road and through the "secret" gateway into a garden on the other side which is the beginning of the canal on this side of the road.
The wey south path does a huge U-bend after a while - it goes past a new residential area away from the canal to Alfold road, along it and back via the drive to Uttworth manor. I chose to ignore the path and continue on the canal bed. this started off Ok but soon became very overgrown, and we had to weave aroudn the brambles and reeds. It became more overgrown the further we went until at the point where ethe official route comes back in there was water in the canal and overgrown banks we had an obstacle course to escape. Back on the Wey south path we continued on slightly less overgrown path to Mill farm.
Here the canal continues, but there is no public access at all. SO we followed the Wey South path out to Alfold road via Great Garson.
Down to Alfold road via the drive, then along the road as it zigzags to the A281. The canal comes back to the edge of the road as we approach the junction.
We crossed over and continued on the Wey South path as it follows the canal, before veering away to go around the mobile home park behind the Compasses pub
Now a section along the Dunsforld road to the new footbridge where they are changing the route of the canal to build a road crossing.
Into Sydney wood and throguh the nature reserve to pick up the canal. Then following the twists and turns of the canal through the wood.
Through the wood to the old lock house where we have to leave it (private land again) to regain it at High bridge where it crosses Rosemary Lane.
Back along the much "improved" tow path - it has been scrapped flat(ish) and ready for a new surface. Once past Gennnets wood lock we are on home territory and follow the canal down to the adder field. Up the twitten into the village and along the Drive home.
