HTAG Guildford - Country Walks Oct 06

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Country Walks Oct 06

Another year of Country Walks is now drawing to a close (the 11th year in fact!) and below are details of the last walks next weekend. The countryside is now displaying all the signs of autumn: leaves tinged with gold, fruit and nuts galore, leaf litter now carpets woodland floors, fungi in abundance and new catkins dangle from Hazel shrubs foreshadowing next year's spring.

There are 3 walks to choose from, a short walk either Saturday morning or afternoon, which includes Surrey's favourite village of Shere, or combine the two for a full-day walk. Then on Sunday, there is a 7 mile walk for those of you who love Leith Hill and its surrounds and want to enjoy its autumn splendour. Details follow -

Saturday 28 October, Gomshall and/or Shere, 5, 3 or 8 miles

Meet 1015 for 5-mile Gomshall loop or 1400 for 3-mile Shere loop, or combine the two for 8 miles, both meeting at Gomshall rail station large free carpark, off A25 Dorking to Guildford road.

Rail travellers: depart London Victoria 0833, arrive Dorking Main Station 0924, walk to Dorking Deepdene Station (on exiting main station, walk ahead to main road to Dorking Deepdene Station on the left just before the railway bridge: approximately 5 minutes. Depart Dorking Deepdene 0947, Arrive Gomshall 0957. Or depart London Waterloo 0824, arrive Dorking Main Station 0911, walk to Dorking Deepdene as above, depart Dorking Deepdene 0947, arrive Gomshall 0957. Return train to London 1604.

Gomshall
A downland walk which includes arguably Surrey's finest stretch of the North Downs Way with splendid views unfolding across the Tillingbourne Valley. Other features include magnificent woodlands and a nature reserve.

Grade: B with one short, sharp ascent with some additional gradients from time to time

Stiles: 1

Lunch: Available at The Compasses, Gomshall

Estimated Finishing Time: approximately 1300

Shere
Meet 1400 at Gomshall rail station - large free carpark - off A25 Dorking to Guildford road.

One of our favourite walks in the Tillingbourne valley with lovely tracks that wind scenically through serene and contrasting landscapes: heath and woodland, farm and riverside meadowland. We visit Surrey's most picturesque village, Shere. Here, we explore its history, enjoy its period cottages and end with a visit to St James's, a gem of a church.

Grade: A, easy with no gradients

Stiles: 0

Estimated Finishing Time: approximately. 1545

Leith Hill (NEW), 7 miles
(Meet 1030 at the Landslip carpark, Leith Hill. From Dorking South Street, part of the one-way system, after passing a garage on the left and the A2003 to Horsham, take the next left and almost immediately fork right along Coldharbour Lane towards Leith Hill. Beyond Coldharbour keep right at the fork, signposted 'Leith Hill carparks', pass church on the left, then after a sharp right bend, the entrance to the Landslip carpark is on the right.)

A scenic circuit through beautiful heathland and woodland, across fields and parkland with ponds and houses of character and historical interest. We visit the villages of Coldharbour and Forest Green and enjoy splendid views from the summit of Leith Hill and its slopes.

Grade: B with one short, sharp ascent near the beginning and a few more gentle 'ups and downs' during the course of the walk

Stiles: 8

Lunch Exactly halfway at about 1215 at The Parrot, Forest Green. (Soup, Salads, Vegetarian Dishes, Ploughmans, Roast dinners). No pre-orders taken but tables reserved.

Estimated Finishing Time: approximately 1530

You may know that we planned two extra breaks for 2007 in an attempt to meet everyone's requirements. So far, apart from Pembrokeshire where all places were taken in the first couple of days when booking opened a week ago, we have been able to accommodate everyone.

We do still have 6 single rooms available, 4 doubles and 6 twins, as follows:

Quantocks A grade, 5-8 June (2 or 3 nights) - 1 single
Quantocks B grade, 7-10 September (2 or 3 nights) - 1 single, 1 double or twin
Suffolk, B grade, 8-11 May (2 or 3 nights, midweek) - 2 doubles, 2 twins
Suffolk, B grade, 11-14 May (2 or 3 nights) - 1 twin
Brecon, B grade 10-12 July (2 nights, midweek) - 2 singles, 1 double, 2 twins
Brecon, B grade 6-8 July (2 nights) - 2 singles
Dovedale, B grade, 21-14 September (3 nights) - 1 twin

Kind regards
June and Aubrey

020 7233 6563

To find out more about Country Walks visit the Country Walks website.