North Downs Way, Dorking

Time to get out once again - although the forecast was for occasional showers, and after the rain from the weekend, I was looking for somewhere that had some woods to protect from the rain and also sandy so it was not too muddy.
I chose to go to the North Downs and hunt for the pillboxes - It would be harder this time than last as the shrubbery was all green and covering all the slopes.
The idea was to park at the Ranmore NT car park, walk down into Dorking along the Pilgrims way, around Dorking West station and out parallel to the A25 - using the cycle network trail #22. At Shere I would then cross over and climb back up the north downs and return along the North Downs way.

Parked in the car park, and picked up my ticket for the day, then set off across the field to the south, heading diagonally leaving the NDW as it crossed behind me.

A zigzag down the track led me to the Pilgrim's way ( the lower level route below the NDW). along this until it ended at the start of Dorking urbanisation.

A lane then led to the back road that passed a junior school and down past the Dorking West station. Onto the A25 bypass of the town centre and along it as it left the town.

Onto Milton Court lane - it started off with tarmac by soon reverted to just hoggin.

The lane ended at the barrier to Milton Court itself, and I needed to walk out and around a pond. Then past Milton court farm. This was now heavily marked as the #22 cycle route.

The track followed the edge of the Rokefield developments, and the fields behind them. The track became more "looked after" as it approached the end.

Through the development at the end to a back road, before following a narrow path behind the more expansive houses. this passed alongside a small lake and out to the A25.

Down a short drive then another narrow path down beside the house, before it opened out in some woods

Back to route #22 along a driveway, peeling away from this onto a farm track.

along the edge of woods to Park farm. A slight zigzag and continuing on the track beside more woods (Dearleap wood) with views across to the north downs on the far side of the valley.

Into Abinger Roughs beside a memorial

Through the woods into the next section (these are National Trust woodlands). The path crossed diagonally to an open area with a major junction of paths.

Continuing along route #22 through the end of the rough and on between fields.

Over a back road - Hackhurst Lane - and across to Piney Copse. Through these woods on a random path to Beggar's Lane.

Down the lane to the A25 (again), over it and back until the path started again on the other side.

Along a driveway, then a gradually degrading track. The track merged onto a driveway and I followed this into the village of Gomshall. Under the railway and along a back road to a T junction.

The path continued on straight across the junction, and followed the edge of fields. At this point the heavens opened and there was a tremendous down pour. I met a young lady along here sheltering under a tree, butt she soon gave up waiting for the rain to stop and we continued with her sharing my umbrella.

Into the village of Shere (a diversion through the churchyard) and down to the central crossroads. From here up the byway beside the playing fields climbing steadily up to the north downs. After the junction with the Pilgrim's way I passed the first pillbox of the walk. Around here the heavy rain relented slightly and became more of a steady drizzle.

On up the byway, until a junction onto a bridleway cutting through Netley Park. The path joined the NDW at the top of the ridge. Here it was a wide tarmacked track.

Along the track through Netley Heath, and across a junction with Colekitchen lane. After going around Colekitchen hole the NDW left the wide track and mutated into a narrow footpath.

Around here the rain gave way and I could walk on without the umbrella. The narrow path opened out as it crossed Hackhurst Downs.

Across Beggars lane and around the nature reserve.

Now in the major pillbox area, and I found five of them. (I could not remember how many I should be seeing). Across White Downs, and past the final pillbox zigzagging into Great Copse.