AAC Walk, East Horsley

I led an AAC walk along the Horsley Jubilee trail, with some diversions to take in several additional Lovelace bridges. I met 9 others at Effingham Junction station car park. This was the actual walk that I had prepared for a while ago and then previewed earlier this week. There was very little difference to the trial run except one change to avoid a muddy section.

The weather was clear and sunny - a major change to the recent week and boded for a good day. I had 11 signed up in total - it had gone up to 13 but then down again. On the way to the car park one person had broken down so would not come, but we also had a surprise person turn up to the station so that made up the numbers.

We all met up at the Effingham Junction station car park - the majority coming by train, a few in the car park and a couple who walked in from nearby.

So along the trail from last time... out of the car park and into Effingham Common, across to the pointed end of the grassland. Into the forest beyond, following the yellow arrows through the Ridings plantation (aware that there are older routes through here as well).

Over the A246 and into the Lovelace woods, following the logging paths past the bridges (it is a shame that the first one is just a ruin - if you can call two piles of dirt a ruin). Up tot eh edge of this plantation and across to one over the back road

Around in Coles copse to see the three there before dropping down to Honeysuckle Bottom.

From here a short climb into Mountain wood, before dropping down to the car park then up again into Sheepleas to see the two view points, first looking towards Heathrow and the second looking into the city. Down to St Mary's car park and church before crossing A246 again into the fields around West Horsley Place

The lunch stop was at the Barley Mow pub in West Horsley - a nice Thai orientated menu (with some standard pub fare as well). Suitably refreshed and fed we then walked along the road to Long reach, before dropping down Lollesworth lane back to the railway, passing the farm of the same name. 

Now we followed the railway into East Horsley, before crossing it yet again and down the private road into an exclusive housing estate. This ended at the edge of "The forest" - a woodland area going to the edge of Effingham Junction village. Here we crossed over the railway for the last time then another exclusive road before merging into the path back to the car park. Time for all to separate on our individual ways.

AAC Walk trial, East Horsley

More rain overnight, but I needed to do a final check up of the the route I am going to do at the weekend with the AAC walkers. It was starting at Effingham Junction railway station, then following the Horsley Jubilee trail in a circle, although I planned to add in more of the Lovelace bridges on a cutover to Sheepleas then back on the jubilee trail back round to the start.

Parked in the station car park paying the surcharge for weekday parking, then leaving the car and around the gate to access the path to Effingham common.

Around the edge of the common aiming for the narrows.

Through the harrows and past the pond before crossing over to go to the exit at the point.

Into Greatlee wood on the old London road, before turning down into Great Ridings Plantation.

The trail follows a route snaking through the beech woods then drops down towards Greenfield farm.

The track leaves the plantation and crosses over a gravel track then into an independent wood

Back onto the lane now called Dirtham Lane, around the edge of the Horsley Towers estate, coming out onto the tarmacked Dirtham calvert 

Over the A246 into Oldlands wood, at the start of the Lovelace estate. Climbing gradually on a sunken track.

The first of the bridges is only a ruin, then continuing on the track 

The first real bridge, where I climbed up the side onto the track and away up the slope.

The track climbed up tot eh top of this Kiln field wood and the remains of another bridge. Here I left the jubilee trail t cut through the woods towards Crocknorth road.

Another complete and used bridge over the back road. On the far side the path disappears into a closed in track, with shrubs on both sides.

Now in Coles Copse, the track zigzagged up around a junction, and on a more definite track.

Two more complete bridges One left and one right of the track. I then turned under the right hand one and descended down to a very muddy track that curved around for a final bridge remains - I never found it.

Along the muddy path - I think I will skip this bit on the real walk! and down to Homeysuckle bottom lane.

Back towards Green Dene to the start of a track climbing into mountain wood. Then down the track towards the car park of the same name.

Across into the woods of Sheepleas, climbing from the car park, up through the beech trees.

Up on the high point and following the bridleway along the edge of Sheepleas. At a crossroads of paths the best view over to London town.

Back through the beech woods to reach the view point - now a little overgrown with a little bit of the London skyline showing.

Next down through clearings and paths through the woods.

The last clearing and onto the track back to St Mary's car park.

Down the car park access road to the church and over the A246 into the fields beyond.

Around the edges of the fields and up the edge of the houses of West Horsley

The track comes out onto the minuscule village green just up from the pub. Then along the road to go under the railway line. A triangle route to take in Lollesworth farm (I will probably also cut this out on the day), then back over the rail on a bridge to pick up a tarmacked path along the south side into East Horsley village.

Into the village and meeting the B2039 opposite the railway station. Along the B road back under the railway climbing up a private road.

Along the very exclusive road with many different houses

At the end of the road I turned into The forest. this picked up the nature trail through the trees.

The track came out onto a back road with a sharp turn to climb back up and over the railway. On the other side along another private road that went back along beside the train tracks.

The road zigzagged as it paralleled the railway line then mutated into a path as it passed the rail works sheds. Hence back to the station car park and the end of the trail.