BOC Walk, Pyrford lock from Ripley

The next BOC walk I could attend was along the Wey navigation from Ripley to Pyrford lock then back around Wisley. I was not sure what the traffic would be like going through Guildford so allowed plenty of time and was early to park near the playing fields towards Dunsborough farm - this was where I had parked last time I was walking around here so knew it quite well. As it turned out this was also where a lot of the others also parked.

We met in the Nest café - as I was early I was tempted by the Pain Raisin - then off around the back of the houses behind.
The path came out at the side of a large lake, which we followed the side down to Send Marsh and on following field edges in a woodland path.

The path turned sharply and followed a stream then a back road to meet the canal at a bridge. Then along the tow path up to Papercock Lock.

Over the lock and weir coming back to the eastern side of the canal along open pasture.

Over the B367 and into the complex at Newark Lock. the tow path continued to Walsham lock where a combination of weirs let water over.

passing a number of moorings, and a tower house dedicated to a dean of St paul's - I needed the zoom facility to read the plaque. 

There were a number of large expensive houses along the far bank, with exclusive canal accesses. Eventually we arrived at the Pub sitting just below the Pryford lock.
A pleasant meal (although the seating was rather crowded), and ready for the return journey.

The next section was over the Wisley golf course - a rather exclusive club with some coloured sawdust covering the barer patches. We also did a loop to go past Wisley Church for some unknown reason

Then into Wisley common, doing a loop around to the car park opposite the exit from the RHS car park.

Down a path through part of the RHS gardens (fenced off from the paying guests) then along the back of all the workshops and growing sheds. Finally coming out into fields leading over to Ockham mill.

The last section followed the path through the woods and onto Ripley green, hence back to the car park.

Extended Surgery Run, Loxwood

I needed to pick up Sue's prescription from the surgery today, however as the pharmacy did not open until 10am, and with another sunny day forecast, I planned a longer route to get there. I would follow the canal up to Syndey wood, then cut over to Alfold and back down to Loxwood over the fields. After picking up the prescription I would then come back the normal route.

Very little navigation aids needed on this walk, however I still took the GPS to help record it. I left the village down the Lane up to Ifold Bridge lane, which I followed to the canal. The morning mist was still hanging around and even highlighted the cobwebs on the post and rail next to what will always be known as Jodie's house.

Next along the canal to Gennets wood bridge continuing up to Rosemary Lane - the mist still hanging over the water. Over the lane and into Sidney wood, where I left the Wey-South path and followed the short cut to re-join it beside Firtree copse. The mist dissolved while I was in the woods and the sun came out. Along tot eh car park and out onto the back road for a short section past the reworking of the canal road bridges.

Down the driveway into the Springbok estate past the care ashore homes to the farm buildings and campsite before continuing down the driveway the other side. Along the path and then driveway for Park farm to the B2133, which I used the pavement to get into Alfold village. Then through to the A281 for a scary section (despite there being a pavement the traffic was fast and close!) down to Hook street lane.

The calm of the lane helped relieve the nerves after the road section and I followed it as it snaked down passing Males farm. turning back on myself through the fields to cross the Sussex border path, then continuing along the line south to finally meet Loxwood (or Station - depending on which end you start)) road

Into the surgery to pick up the prescription, and also to use their outside bench for a break and a cup of coffee.
Finally back down the twitten to the Onslow arms and back to Ifold over the fields.

Writers Way, Selborne

 The last time I walked around Selborne, I had seen signs for Writers Way, and determined to go around it one day as it was within my capabilities for a single day. I also determined to start at Selborne since this shortened the distance to a car park, and avoid the tail to Jane Austin's house.

Parking in the car park behind the Selborne Arms, and walked along the main street to a lane dropping down to a small stream. Behind a small building I crossed over to join the Walkers way where it crossed into Long Lythe NT area.

Through the NT area on a wide track passing a tree with a bite taken out of it.

At the end of the NT area the path moved through the branches of a fallen tree and changed direction through a couple of sheep fields.

Into Coombe wood where the path joined a farm track. this crossed a further grass field and then joined the Hangers way around Wick Hill Hanger,

This joined a back road at Candovers, where I left Hangers way and followed the road until a path climbed the side bank via a steep slope.

This ended at a huge field above and the path followed the edge of the field above the back road in the dip. Just before Hartley pond this path dropped back onto the road, and I crossed over into the field on the otherside.

This path avoided following the road around the opposite side of the church and through a field

Avoiding the same mistake as last time I was here I cut around the hedge and across the grass to re-join the Writers way on the road through West Worldham.
Just past Manor farm I joined the end of a by way - Water lane.

There were signs at the start of the lane that had been removed - presumably stating the path was closed. The lane was blocked by the debris from hedge cleaning. I tried along one bank for a while then the track before I could escape into the field beside it

The field definitely made for easier walking and I did not have to cross nay fences. Eventually another path led back to the lane where they had completed the clean-up and I re-joined it.

A parallel path jumped out of the lane to follow the edge of Worldham Park golf course. 
At the end of the golf course, I re-joined the lane and crossed another lane before climbing up to the edge of the A31.

On the other side of the major road, the lane continued up to the edge of Alton.
I followed a path that circumvented the residential area past Windmill hill

Continuing along the path to the edge of the parkland and picking up a bridleway that snaked its way into the town.

The path merged onto a road that crossed the railway line (no trains today on this steam line). This met the main street which I followed westwards.

At an open grassy area called "The Butts" I veered away from the road and over the A32. On the continuing back road past the hospital and several sports buildings. Here the Writers way signs got confusing and I had a couple of false trails before finding my way out of the car parks and along the edge of the railway line.

Along the edge of the final sports field to its end and then a zigzag to get onto a bridle way that paralleled the railway line. This path passed through a long section of scrubby brush.

The brush gave way to a plantation on one side and a dirt track for auto sports on the other.
After Brickiln farm the path followed a farm track beside a plantation (I think this may be a forestry commission area, with its own paths)

The track continued along the edge of Eighteen acre plantation and also a reservoir and water tower.

At teh edge of Four Marks the track joined a back road beside a forestry Commission car park and I turned towards the A31.

Over the A31 and onto a path through the residential areas hemmed in by fences on both sides.

The residential area path crossed a back road and moved into the woods on the far side. At a crossroads of tracks this mutated into a byway along the edge of the woods.

Joining St Swithun's Way I continued along the edge of the woods when it turned.

At the woodside farms (upper and lower) the path joined onto the driveways. these zigzagged across to the A32

Over the A32 and along another Byway (that looked more like a road before it broke to gravel further along).  Into Farringdon and along the edge of the village. The path merged onto back roads before turning off to Hall farm.

Along the bridle way until a footpath crossing a grass field split off.

At the far side of the field I merged onto a farm track heading for Noar copse. Along the way there were two red kites wheeling around, but all my pictures showed just sky and clouds until one stopped int he trees.

At Noar copse then Noar plantation the path bent through the trees. This came out into a large field partially ploughed.

The path crossed the field, but part way across I dropped to the edge to avoid where it had been ploughed over. This joined a farm track as it followed the field edges to a back road.

A=long the back road passing a house on the side of a large pond (dammed stream). There was an intriguing rope bridge over the pond.

The back road ended up back into Selborne after several twists and turns. Finally along the main street passing Gilbert White's house and back to the pub before gaining the car park behind it.