AAC Walk, Box Hill & Mole Valley

My next AAC walk as leader - Leatherhead to Box Hill and back via Mole Valley Way. I had recce'd the route a couple of weeks ago, and determined that I would park in the same place and walk up to teh rail station in Leatherhead. However this would mean that I would need to walk back at the end of the day.

I was all parked up and hour before the published start time and set off along the mole river trail.

Along the river, then the path eases away to the driveway aroudn Thorncroft manor

Around the manor, and down the drive back to the river.

Back along the river passing the Shell bridge - part of "capability" Brown landscape for the manor.

Over the old pack horse bridge into Leatherhead, looking down river to the road and rail bridge.
Around the town streets to reach the station in plenty of time to grab a coffee and croissant then around to the East side to meet up with everyone as they arrived. 9 now - originally 10 , but one escaped at the last moment

The walk started down the pedestrianised town centre and down to the church. Around this and down the lane behind that ran along to Downside manor.
Over the A24 - not easy with all the traffic, and onto the track/ lane leading up to the golf course driveway.

Over the driveway and up into Cherkley wood on a winding footpath. This led across the tops to the open swathe at the top of White Hill.
Views across to Ranmore common & church.

We paused at the end of White Hill where an opening showed views across to Box Hill on the other side of the valley.

Down the steep staircase along the edge of White Hill. This caused a degree of discrepancy between peoples ability to descend them., and indicated that we would be late for lunch.

Over teh back road to the car park and up Juniper top. We met a large group of people from a church in south London here out for a day on the hills.
Then into the trees on a large track along Ashurst Rough - past some impressive yew trees.

The track led across the top of Box Hill to the car park and hence the visitors centre.

Here we made use of the facilities and also paused for a group photo. I also phoned the pub and apologised for the delay - we would be an hour late once we got down.

Across to the stepping stones path, that led from the view point  down to the river Mole.
Another Steep staircase down

The stepping stones were under water after the recent rains, so we took the path along to the footbridge

We lost our next participant here as she rushed off to catch a train.
Around the field to reach Burford bridge and the subway that made crossing the A24 much easier, then up tot eh pub.
They were waiting for us and we got very fast service - so much so that we were out after just less than an hour. We lost 2 more here as they caught the train back into London, now down to 6 we continued up the road to the railway bridge, and onto the Mole Valley way.

Along the path beside the railway viaduct, across the fields to Cowslip farm. into the edge of Norbury Park and around the edge of the slope - the rains started here, we had had some short showers earlier, but this was more persistent.
Under the railway at Icehouse combe and into the pastures, lookign down to the car park with my car.

Past the car and following my route from earlier back into Leatherhead.
I left the others close to the railway station, and turned around. The route back was slightly straighter (I had eventually worked it out) , avoiding the diversion around Thorncroft manor using the playing fields.
Back at the car I had time to drink my coffee and change form wet clothes before going home - a long day, but we had beaten the rain.

Knepp Re-Wilding Circuit

The remnants of another Caribbean hurricane were passing over the country, however there was forecast a clear period this morning for a couple of hours. Since it had rained over night I looked for a walk that had a minimum of foliage, and well made paths. In addition it needed to fit in the projected clear period.
To this end I determined to return to Knepp and do the outer circuit (Red, Yellow and Blue circuits).

I parked in the layby near the Windmill in Shipley, and set off along the red route following it Clockwise. This started off through the fields beside the top of the village, before entering the horse paddock after it. Over the back road and into the parkland of the estate.

Up the driveway to the castle, then over to the gatehouse, and down the second driveway to reach the Kneppmill pond. Continuing down the drive to the boundary then onto the heathland.

Over to the old castle (hunting lodge) remains, and continuing over the heathland

Approaching the visitor centre collection of buildings, I noticed a new path along a boundary fence. This saved a section on the internal roadways - a good change.

I avoided the centre and connected to the Yellow circuit crossing the road adn into the heathland on the opposite side. Over to the farm driveway (and camping), before continuing around Dial Post.

Across the southern end of the estate, crossing to buildings and around the Stork field on a track. Continuing to Benthams Place farm, before curving aroudn the end of the Stork field.

A stork was on the edge of a large nest platform. Then around the woods looking for pigs - not seen today.

Arriving at the bridle way going up through the estate. I missed the first group of deer, but caught a second one

At Lower barn, I changed onto the blue route, crossing pen bridge and along a less well built but straight track. There were some puddles on this one.

Close to Haslebrook farm the path turned sharply north and wound up to a back road beside Smoke House farm.

Along the road past the Countryman inn, and then onto the footpath continuing north.

A sharp turn aroudn the edge of the school and out onto the back road leading back to Shipley village and the layby. A shorter route then normal, but enough to avoid the next rain shower.