“When did we last have a sunny Saturday?” I said to someone today. “Last week?” they suggested. But it certainly seemed like the first nice Saturday in ages. Not wall to wall sunshine - sun and cloud - but a very nice day.

22 assembled at Milford station, elbowing another walking group out of the way (they were all oldies, unlike us…). We did the alternative start to avoid the busy road.

One forgets how woody this walk is, but the heather broke through in places. Thursley Common was ablaze with it. Perhaps not at its 100% best, but pretty good. The target species for the day here was the elusive (and brilliantly camouflaged) grayling butterfly, of which I saw two. Others said they saw more.

Time was when one was nervous about whether one might get a table at the Three Horseshoes. Not in these straightened times, however. We found three nice tables in the garden. At least 11 ate, others had drinks.

In the afternoon we did the rim route rather than the bowl ( with apologies for the toilet imagery..). More heather here. Exceptionally the National Trust tea room was doing tea, having not suffered any kind of outage. Nice vegan cookies.

After tea most opted to do the more direct route. I inveigled three others into doing the Gibbet Hill option, but got them a bit lost by following the old A road route. But we got there in the end and successfully navigated down to Haslemere, picking up a straggler from the direct route on the way.

The others had talked of having a drink in Haslemere, but we could not find them. We found two sandwichers in the White Horse, but they were just leaving. We had a quick drink and headed variously for the 18.01 and 18.10 trains.

According to Traveline, this train appears not to exist.

Hi Colin, this train is showing on the traintimes.org website which I use when planning SWC walks. It is usually reliable.

Just checked the train on the National Rail app and it is correct.

As for Traveline, what private griefs they have, alas, I know not that made them do this. They are wise and honourable and will no doubt with reasons answer you…..

# 15 , # perfect sunny day with light breeze . Twelve off the train and three by other means. The majority explored a way of avoiding the road walk from the station to Milford village centre and the A3, some thought this better but it is still mostly on roads, longer roads, but quieter ones. The heather was in bloom but it has been very dry and some has gone brown rather than purple. Everyone gathered at the Three Horse Shoes some just for a drink before a picnic in the churchyard but most for something to eat. This pub owned by 40 village shareholders is professionally manged, well staffed with a friendly and welcoming team and continues to offer a good choice of excellent food. I understand the punchbowl rim was favored after lunch but two of us had to return to London for a concert so I don't know how the day ended.

Understand the Three Horshoes might be booked up . Double check though.

23 at the station. Off we marched, like an army of driver ants, striking terror into all in our path (or perhaps just mild annoyance). It was sunny all day . Apart from Bagmoor Common, the ground was dry and firm. And it wasn’t that bad there, no mammoth traps, just the occasional patch of squidge. One or two got separated from the column on Thursley Heath and had to navigate their way across as only ants know how (mostly with their electronic devices).

The column had divided by Thursley. About 10 stopped at the 3 Horseshoes,where two more ants had mysteriously joined, perhaps dropped by passing birds. That made our number 25 The rest marched on to the churchyard to consume their victuals, some of which had been foraged in Milford’s Nisa.

It was a pleasant sunny sojourn in the pub’s garden. Brimstones and an orange tip were seen. There seemed to be an air of disappointment with the quality of the food, but Mr Tiger was alright. He was happy drinking his cider and being fed chips by a kindly ant.

After the pub Mr Tiger was left behind. Apart from a brief encounter with 2 stragglers, he never saw the others again, so can offer little comment on how their afternoon went, other than to say it was a tough slog, up, down, up, down and up again. Directions easy to follow. Caught the 17:02 without sampling the delights of Haslemere.

See Wendover walk comments. Is this Sunday walk invitation-only? Thank you.

No, SWC walks are never by invitation only. The walks are open to all.

Thank you.

Pub is fully booked even for drinks!!

12 on this walk, eleven off the train and one, delayed by traffic, sucessfully navigating the route alone. Light drizzle at the start quickly gave way to clearer skies and sunshine . Nine had a picnic in the churchyard and carried on in smaller groups. (Did two inveigle their way into the pub?) The landscape was at its verdant best. There were splashes of colour from rhododendrons in woods, lots of cow parsley and great displays of flowers in gardens we passed. We encountered very few people on this walk until we reached the National Trust cafe near the Devil's punchbowl and even that was not very busy. Four of us reached Haslemere just in time for the 16.41 train back to London.

Yes 2 of us managed to get a table outside the 3 horseshoes pub where tables had been set up for drinks only no food possibilities where we ate our picnic in comfort and used the facilities. Two tables of dog walkers had booked for 12 dogs which

made for interesting table companions. It seems it’s always worth checking out the pubs in person when denied a booking by phone as it seems to vary considerably as to whether there are tables available or not. We made our way slowly to Haselmere and joined up with 2 other walkers in the Swan pub and enjoyed drinks until catching the 6.42 train stopping at Milford to allow 3 car driver walkers to return home. A lovely walk with superb weather and accurate navigation across the heathland in the morning by those with GPS. The walk directions are too complex to follow without GPS. The lone Walker who missed the train had used an ordnance survey map and compass and caught the same late train as us 4 without the early evening pub stop we had enjoyed. It was her first walk so I do hope she comes again. Our founder Nicholas Albert would have been so impressed with our endeavours and ability to attract new walkers as was his wife walking with us for the first time after his untimely passing 20 years ago. She thoroughly enjoyed the day and commented how much Nicholas would have enjoyed all the new technology we now deploy. Thanks to Andrew’s web site and all the walk posters who should take credit for promoting and developing the Club. It is the only “social invention” that has endured and long may we continue to enjoy its benefits.

We are hoping to post the Haselmere circular walk on Saturday 3 July for a memorial walk to include a booked lunch.

Sorry the above should read NICHOLAS ALBERRY. Damn predicted text!! And my eyesight

Albery.

Heather in full blooms up and around Temple of Winds, very beautiful

can't see a 10.15 train

Thanks, amended.

This happened before, did it not, two weeks ago for the Milford to Godalming walk? You know, at my age you do start to worry about Pre-Senile Dementia. So just to be sure I looked up the train times for Saturday 29 August. They show a 10.15 train. So every week SWT says the Milford train will be 10.15 and then at the last minute change their mind and make it the 9.45. Nuts!

On the other hand PSD is definitely to blame for me miscalculating the likely arrival time at the pub. What planet was I on there? I hope no one made a lunch booking based on my previous estimate.

I will now check the return train times. Sigh! It is not that I have anything better to do....

Just for the record I missed the scheduled train due to engineering works on my train line but did the whole walk on my own with a bit of help keeping on track from other walkers and horse riders. Navigation by the sun through the heather and heathland south by south west did incur a bee sting as the honey bees were very active and almost invisible. No lunch served after 2.30pm as the Three Horseshoes is a community pub and closes at 3pm! Probably can’t justify keeping a chef on any longer but it’s good to see the pub thriving and looking good. Luckily I had a baguette from Greggs purchased at the Milford petrol station on route which together with a large cappuccino cost £3.80. A bargain! Am on the 18.11 train with 3 other SWC walkers who no doubt had a nice tea in Darnleys. Sorry to miss everyone Marion

22 on this walk: 21 at the start, but one apparently ended up on a later train having missed the specified one: she did the whole walk alone and met up with others on the train home. The weather was sun and cloud : possibly a bit more sun as the day wore on. There were at least three newcomers who we hope enjoyed their day

The start of this walk is not good - too much main road walking. One of our number did an alternative route that looks like it would be worth writing up. But eventually we gained the peace of the heaths. The heather here was good, though one walker reckoned a week more would bring it to its best. I was happy though. Thursley Common in particular was awash with purple and wherever the fire was in June, it was not on the bit crossed by our route.

Three of us had phoned at the start of the walk to nab the last table in the garden of the Three Horseshoes. Two of the newcomers had also booked in advance. My apologies to any others who wanted to lunch and were disappointed. I later realised that one person on the train had expressed a desire to have a pub lunch and could have joined our table. I did not think of this until too late unfortunately.

We initially felt a bit aggrieved that our table was the only one in the garden under a tree. Two weeks ago the shade would have been welcome: now a breeze made it a bit chilly. But we had the last laugh, since while we were eating there was a sharp shower - the only rain of the day. The rest of the garden emptied, but with waterproof jackets and the shelter of our tree, we were able to remain at our post.

After lunch I think most took the rim route around the Devil’s Punchbowl, though one thought we had gone the wrong way and so did the original route down into the bowl. Many managed to get tea at the National Trust cafe, but when my backmarker group got there at 3.20pm it had abruptly shut due to problems with the water supply or staff fatigue or I don’t know what. This is not the first time this establishment has let me down in this fashion and to say I was most seriously displeased would not be exaggerating. My NT subscription just came out of my bank account, but I am not sure I will be renewing next year.

Anyway, I recovered, and a bunch of us pushed on to Gibbet Hill, where the view was fine but not quite sharp enough for London to be visible, except through binoculars. We got to Haslemere and the excellent Hemingways at 4.45pm, to find some other walkers at an outside table. I said to a staff member: “Are you about to close?” They said “We close at 5pm”. I said “Do we have time for a quick tea and cake?” They said “Yes, take a seat” and came directly to take our order. This is private enterprise at its finest and the kind of spirit we need to get the economy moving again. The chocolate cake was scrummy too - moist, gooey and chocolatey. The pigeons appreciated the crumbs I dropped for them too (the lockdown must have been tough for them...)

Afterwards three of us joined five others (at separate tables, outside) at the Swan, where government rules were being strictly (maybe even fanatically) enforced. We had beer, wine, chips and sweet potato fries and discussed decarbonising transport from a socialist perspective. Having discovered that the train service was now only hourly, we then rushed for the 19.11 train, back to a fairly busy Waterloo. So busy that it looks like the M&S store might finally be preparing to open.... Easy, tiger...

If doing the short detour to Gibbet Hill, I recommend retracing your steps onto the very scenic Polecat Valley route as opposed to taking the long bridleway into Haslemere (ie the green line on this walk's OS map rather than the red line https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/milford-to-haslemere/map.html). There could well be heather there also.

Another platform-blocker of a group (pity any non-SWC passengers getting off at Milford) - 37 in all, plus one walker who got the train to Haslemere by mistake and met up with us late morning, having done the afternoon in reverse. So 38 in all. The weather was a bit of everything: quite grey at times, spots of rain, the unexpected sun. Variable sun and cloud is my term for this.

Inevitably with such a group we soon got split up, especially since this walk has remarkable amounts of wilderness - an immense bracken-filled wood in the morning, then Thursley Heath. We took varying routes across the latter, some bearing little relationship to the walk directions or GPX. The little group I was in went right, which was wrong, so had to bear left to find the right route which was to the right once we got on the plateau. It was that kind of day.

Was there heather? Reader, there was. Not 100% out, but certainly 80%. A very grand display. See our Facebook page for a couple of photos. The pub did not seem too busy and eight of us got our order in before the management abruptly stopped taking food orders because a wedding party of about 30, occupying about a quarter of the available seating, had to have priority. We were told they had “pre-ordered” but actually half an hour later were still studying their menus. The net result was that eight of us (me being the last to squeeze my order in) got delicious, if pricey, food and everyone else gave up. I would be fascinated to know how the pub takings compared to a normal Saturday lunchtime, but with half their tables unoccupied I am guessing they were sharply down.

On through wooded holloways - at one point it was like going into Hobbitland - and up onto the rim of the Punchbowl. A big bunch of us managed to get tea (for some this was lunch) at the National Trust tea room before it too went into meltdown, closing early because of a water supply problem. Many then took the main route but a few of us detoured to Gibbet Hill where the view included a Red Arrows display over a distant air show and - amazingly - a pin sharp view of the towers of the City of London 38 miles away.

Down in Haslemere we took pity on the non-lunchers and went to the White Horse, which had delicious nosh including vegan lasagne.

To add to Walker's post, the best description I head of this walk was "enchanting". And it was. For some, the Devil's Punchbowl Hotel was available for lunch and the Polecat Valley route was the cherry on the cake with it's fine display of heather and view across the sweeping valley.

I've done this one in winter before. I think it's a good choice. The stretch across Bagmoor Common in the morning may well be boggy but after that there's plenty of sandy paths.

25 at the station. A dry morning and wet windy afternoon

Despite the presence of sandy soils, there is mud a-plenty on this walk in winter. Quite a tough walk with its ups and downs and long muddy bridleways. Not that I’m complaining mind, I can’t get enough of the stuff myself :( .

Anonymous was right about Bagmoor Common being boggy. I managed to step off the path into a ditch :( The welcome signs have gone, btw.

The 3 Horseshoes was OK I guess. I don’t know about the food, I wasn’t on the same table.

After lunch about half wimped out and headed for Witley. Diehards such as myself went the whole way.

I think I still prefer the descent into the Devil’s Punchbowl over the detour round the right hand side. The views would be good if it wasn’t for the trees. I wonder if a detour round to the left would work.

Sorry to hear about the mud. This is a challenging time of year to pick walks......

After a splendid lunch at The 3 Horseshoes in Thursley, 10 of us, lightweights / people who have a life outside of just walking ( delete as appropriate ) took an off piste route to Witley which reduced our total walk for the day to 15.6 km ( it didn't seem that far but so the sat nav told us and apparently The Sat Nav is the truth much as in Google is the truth. In the old days you would argue a point in the pub and it would likely never be resolved but now you check Google and that is the truth and no argument but maybe that is a discussion for another time, I will check with Google )

The morning was a bit of a route march resulting in us doing something like 6 k an hour and one of the fellow walkers quoted

We have no time to stand and stare.

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

I should have slowed and we, who wanted to, could have slowed down but the lazy gene was whispering in our ear something along the lines of 'if we keep those walkers in front in sight we won't have to find the route for ourselves' and thus we followed.

Note to self for the future - let those at the front go and then relax into the walk and the lazy gene has just piped up with ‘ yes and then we can follow a slower walker ‘

But i digress - in the afternoon we duly followed the person in front who did a sterling job of leading us and arrived at Witley around 5 to 3 - time for refreshment but sadly there was none to be had. We could wait 15 minutes or so and catch a train to Haslemere and then catch a fast one of we could wait 40 minutes or so and catch the next stopper to Waterloo. 9 of us chose the train to Haslemere where the man at the station Pucino had his busiest session of the day whilst he served us drinks and snacks.

We then caught a fast train back to Waterloo and waved to the one who had stayed on the platform at Witley but

Woe are we Alas Alack Alarm There is no turning or going back For in the Present In the Here and Now we are and always shall be.

and she waiting on the platform did not see us

Good day out but wayyyyy tooooooooooo fst

Monsieur Whin Gin

Thanks very much to Arthur Dent and Bridie for leading us in the afternoon to Witley. Great day out plus time and energy left to enjoy London's night life!

Just to clarify - it's a Book 1 walk.

Thank you, MG: corrected!

Your lunchtime stop on this walk is the Three Horse­shoes pub in Thursley (tel. 01252 703268)

25 or more showed up. (Hard to count that high, not enough fingers). cloudy start hot and sunny later . Dry underfoot. So dry on the heath that the sand was difficult to walk through. But not impossible. The heather put on a good show. 3 Horseshoes fine. Did a nice cider called Hazy Hog.

Two more latecomers arrived on this walk on the 12.15 train from Waterloo. Lovely walk with heather at its best. No walkers or people around until the pub and Devil's punchbowl. Orientation problem at Bagmoor common, found it easier to use new footpath with yellow arrow (perhaps directions need updating here). Finished with tasty dinner and good service at the Swan Inn in Haslemere.

9

cold wet dry sunny

l=lunch for 4 in the excellent Three Horseshoes pub in Thursley. Superb beer, cider, and food. Table was booked the preceding Monday. Don't try and eat your own rations at this pub, either in the back garden or in the smokers shelter at the front, otherwise you will be chased off the premises.

m=mud one man down, seriously someone turned back before lunch. In the afternoon we seemed to fragment Into 3 groups with four making it back to Haslemere station, without a stop for tea.

Two enjoyed tea and scones at the National Trust cafe.

One on a later train. A lovely walk with nice views and I will definitely do it again.