Andrew and I had volunteered to lead a walk for the BOC veterans, and I had dragged out a modified version of one I had repeated several times, but slightly modified to drop the milage. The idea was to repeat the Lovelace bridges and Horsley Jubilee trail walk, however to make it suitable I dropped the most northern loop and also started at the Sheepleas car park, which would give a 66% before lunch.
On the day it turned out to be a walk in three sections, because I had the van I could not park in the Sheepleas car park due to the height barrier, so I started at a more open layby I knew where Combe Lane turned into Green Dene, I would then walk over to the car park where the others were waiting (We had 4 people tag along for the recce to make sure Andrew and I were doing it correctly). After the route I would then walk back a slightly different (straighter) route.
I eventually got to the parking spot after negotiating the rush hour traffic, and avoiding the most direct route since this involved very narrow lanes with speeding cars.
Quickly getting ready then down Green Dene road to the start of a path to the connection to Shere road. This was my first exposure to the results of last nights rain storm, apart from making everything much fresher it had also made some parts muddy and the track greasy over the hard packed surface.
Over the road and down the driveway to Woodcote farm, turning downhill past Hookwood farm to Hillside farm.
Along the driveway to Shere Road (again) and over it down the driveway to Hillside manor. Here the path has moved slightly but I remembered it from a previous visit. A circle then to get around into the Sheepleas car park and meet up with the others.
After a pause for everyone to arrive, then off into the woods of Sheepleas itself. Slightly up and over dropping down through Green Dene plantation to the junction of Green Dene road and Honeysuckle Bottom lane. From here we started the trail to visit the bridges. Climbing up into Effingham forest to the first one. I then took a larger path and missed the next two before getting back on track and aroudn to the Dorking Arch. Around into Hangers wood down to the next bridge.
A small zigzag at this bridge to get onto the main path down to the end of the forest and into Oldlands wood.
Over the A246 and along the outside of Horsley Towers, before leaving the lane to follow the nature trails and into Great Ridings Plantation, before coming back to the track.
At the edge of Effingham common we turned along the housing estate into East Horsley. Over a back road and along a very private (and exclusive) estate road to the town centre. Here we crossed the B2039 and past the local surgery and along the railway line to West Horsley. To avoid the road side pavement we circled around through the fields to get to the Barley Mow pub ... only it was shut today!
A swift recalculation and we walked down the village road to the next pub - William IV, which was thankfully open.
After a good lunch we were off again and had to track over to the original track - not a huge diversion - meeting up with it as we crossed the A246 again to pass St Mary's church. Hence into Sheepleas once again with the climb up the hill to the car park.
Here I said goodbye to everyone and set off back to the van.
Up the road to the lower entrance to Hillside manor, and through the horse paddocks to the top entrance. Then along Shere road (dropping down).
Leaving the road through more horse fields to reach the woods.
Through the woods to meet my outward path, where it met the road and hence back to the van.
