HTAG Guildford - Country Walks June 05

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Country Walks June 05

Next weekend there are two brand new walks. One is on Saturday morning, a short easy walk from Dorking Station to Brockham and back; this could be combined with a visit in the afternoon to the lovely old market town of Dorking, with its famous antique shops, or to Denbies Vineyard, a favourite for lunch or tea with a number of options, from visiting the Winery and wine-tasting, to touring the vineyard.

Then, on Sunday, there's a long walk on mostly new paths, taking in some of Surrey's most beautiful countryside. There are options to walk 8 miles, 10 miles or 12 miles - see below for further details.

Saturday 28 May, Deepdene (NEW), 4 miles, A grade

(Meet 1030 large rail station carpark at Dorking, off A24. Rail travellers depart London Victoria 0933 on the Horsham train, arrive Dorking 1024 or depart London Waterloo 0924, arrive Dorking 1011.)

An easy walk with a remarkable range of interesting natural, historical and architectural features, including the famous Brockham Green and Dorking's historic Cotmandene. Other highlights include the River Mole at Castle Mill, the Old Coach Road to Brockham and fine field paths with distant views. Back in Dorking for a short historical tour of one of the town's oldest streets with picturesque cottages, almshouses and the birthplace of Sir Laurence Olivier. (NB: This route follows the first and last sections of the Strood Green and Brockham Easter walk.)

Grade: An easy A grade on flat terrain throughout with a number of stiles

Lunch: There are a number of possibilities for lunch in Dorking or at Denbies Vineyard - see above

Estimated finishing time: 1245

Sunday 29 May Surrey Hills (NEW), 8, 10 or 12 miles, B/C Grade

(Meet 1015 Box Hill and Westhumble rail station carpark, signed off A24 at Burford Bridge roundabout, about 1 mile north of Dorking. Rail travellers depart London Victoria 0906, arriving Box Hill and Westhumble 0956 or depart London Waterloo 0902, arrive Epsom 0936, depart Epsom 0944, arrive Box Hill and Westhumble 0956.)

A beautiful circuit of some of Surrey's finest countryside on mostly brand new paths. An outstanding feature of this walk is the variety of scenic landscapes with magnificent far-reaching views to both the south and north. Much of the walk centres around and on Ranmore Common with its tranquil woodlands. Other features include a new National Trust route through the Polesden Valley, one of the best stretches of the North Downs Way and a traverse of Norbury Park, Fetcham Down and mysterious Druid's Grove with its ancient yew trees.

Lunch: On this particular route, there are no pubs, shops or other places of refreshment: therefore, please bring picnic.

Stiles: approximately 10

Grade: Mostly B grade with one short steep ascent after 1 mile from the beginning of the walk and 1 steep descent after 10 miles, towards the end of the walk. (The steep descent can be avoided by leaving the walk after 9 miles - see 'Options')

Estimated finishing time: 1700 if walking the entire 12-mile route

Options:

1 After 8 miles our route passes close to Polesden Lacey at about 3 pm. It would be possible to leave the walk here, to visit Polesden Lacey, have tea and return to Boxhill and Westhumble Station by taxi (only really feasible if several people wanted to take this option as the taxi, having to come from Dorking, would cost approx 12!)

2 After 9 miles our route crosses the end of Crabtree Lane; this quiet and generally traffic-free lane can be followed for 1 mile directly back to Boxhill and Westhumble Station, thus omitting the 3 mile Norbury Park loop at the end of the walk, together with the steep descent from Druid's Grove.

Next walks: Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 June.
June and Aubrey
020 7233 6563
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