BOC Walk, Lovelace & Jubilee Trails, Horsley

Another BOC retirees walk, and this time I was organising the walk, with Andrew to do the admin. I had worked out a suitable route using the Lovelace bridges trail combined with the Jubilee trail, and stopping at the Barley Mow for lunch.

The walk had been tested and approved 11 days ago, this was the main day open to all members of the walking group. We had 19 people in total with 3 extras coming along to support their father/ grandfather.

I was in the van again so could not park in the meeting place car park due to the height barrier, however I could park in my usual substitute at the point where Green Dene lane becomes Combe lane. I had a good journey over (avoiding Cranleigh after the queues when going to the recce) and was early to the layby.

From the layby, I followed the same route as for the recce, and dropped through the woods to the driveway going to Woodcote farm.

Down through Hook wood to Hillside farm - I actually looked over to se a herd of pygmy goats and a full hen coop

Across to Hillside Manor and down through the horse paddocks there., then around the fields on the edge of Sheepleas to the car park.

I was about an hour early to the car park, and so sat on a gate and waited watching the world go by.
Most people arrived by 10:15, and we hung around until 10:30 in case anyone else would turn up.

The route followed exactly the same as the recce - see here - We left the car park following the trail up to Green Dene plantation, then down to cross Green Dene lane climbing up to Coles Copse and the first of the Lovelace bridges - Raven Arch.
Continuing up the path to the East and West Briary Hill bridges, before curving around to Dorking Bridge over Crocknorth Road. Then along the edge of hangers wood to the remains of the next bridge - Oak Hangar, before dropping down to StoneyDene bridge, and finally Pine Grove Bridge at the end of Oaklands wood.
Over the A246 beside a gatehouse and down Dirtham Lane beside the stone boundary wall of Horsley Towers. Leaving this to follow the Jubilee trail into the woods (forestry Commission) then over a second lane and into Great Ridings Plantation (Woodland Trust). Turning through this back to Old London Road (a continuation of Dirtham lane).
At the edge of East Horsley along some back gardens to another gatehouse for Horsley towers and into an exclusive (and gated) community to come out near the rail station crossing B2039 and along past the surgery.
Next the boring bit along the side of the railway until it exited into West Horsley and a short distance to the Barley Mow. We all got drinks and sat in the dining room, with lunch served very quickly after.
Once everyone had been fed and watered we gathered for the return.
Through the fields and along side West Horsley Place to recross the A246 beside St Mary's church, and into the lower reaches of Sheepleas.
Through the scrub and open areas climbing up to the view point, before the short section back to the car park.

I left everyone as they returned to their cars and set of along Shere road up to the entrance to Hillside manor paddocks, cutting the corner off. Back on Shere road dropping down the steep slope to the point where a track left through the fields to the woods above.

Finally on Green Dene lane and back to the van in the layby.