I was invited to offer up a walk for the BOC retirees walking group, and out of a number of suggestions, the walk along the Wey & Arun Canal starting from Loxwood was selected. The date for this would be the end of the month, however I needed to check out that the route was suitable and that the timings were good - I could not do this on my own as I walk faster than a group, so I arranged a small group t come and critique the route and timings.
Sorry no photos today...
We met in the canal centre car park - I walked down with Sue as part of her daily exercises, and then hung around in the car park while she walked home. Everyone in the group arrived and we set off around 10:15.
The route followed the canal along to Devil's hole lock, on to Gennets wood lock and through Bonfire hanger to High Bridge.
Next through Sydney wood to the old lock house on the forestry track before picking up the canal once again as it zigzagged up through Sydney wood.
At the end of the woods where they merge into the nature reserve we turned off and through the woods to Satchelhill lane. Down this to Rosemary Lane and the continuation to the Sussex border path junction. Following the border path around Oakhurst farm to meet up with B2133 and a short hop to the Roger Tichborne pub.
After lunch we crossed the road and continued on the border path to Songhurst farm, into the woods. Then through teh middle of the woods to cross to Woodlands furze. A minor alteration when I missed a path and turned early before cutting back on a forest road to the large layby near Pephurst farm.
Over the Loxwood road and into Jenkins wood, before a calculated turned onto a farm track to avoid Baldwin's knob track which can be slippy after the rain, re-joining the proper track after the knob.
Finally down to the canal and along the tow path back to the canal centre. I left everyone here while they got ready to drive home and returned to the canal. I now had the final stretch along the well trodden section back to Ifold along the canal and through the adder field then home.
