SWC Walk 96: Ash Vale Circular – starting in Ash, finishing in either Ash Vale or Ash t=swc.96.c
Length: 16 Miles or 28.3 km for those more metrically minded to make the full circuit back to Ash or 14 Miles (22.5 km) if opting to finish in Ash Vale with further options to shorten described in the walk notes
Difficulty: 5 out of 10
Train: Take the 9:30 AM South Western Guildford bound train from London Waterloo arriving in Ash at 10:33 (changing in Guildford, arriving 10:06; departing 10:23). Return trains from Ash are at 17:47; 18:03; 18:47; 19:17; 19:47; 20:03; 20:17; 20:47; 21:17 and 21:47 and from Ash Vale 09 and 39 past the hour until 22:09. Buy a day return to Ash or Ash Vale.
This walk suffers from a lack of posting….largely, I believe, due to the complication of passing through a frequently used firing range….However, we are in luck today….according to the relevant MOD website….no firing should be taking place today on the Ash Ranges through which this walk goes….so a perfect day to explore the seldomly visited area…..In addition to the exploring the new, this walk takes in some old familiar territory along an enjoyable stretch of the North Downs….I am suggesting that we start in Ash (as opposed to Ash Vale), such that we can end the walk along the canal stretch with the option of having post (or near post) walk refreshments at the canal-side Swan Inn… More information and the walk instructions can be found here.
The recommended lunch stop is the Good Intent (01483 810 387) in Puttenham which is under new management with the Jolly Farmer, as an alternative, a little further on in Puttenham (both about 6.5 miles/11 km into the walk – starting in Ash). The suggested tea stop is the Swan Inn on the canal towards the end of the walk….
Enjoy the walk!
Ash Vale Circular via North Downs Way Walk
A circular walk starting and ending in the rarely visited Ash Ranges and including a section of the North Downs Way through the attractive village of Puttenham.
History
This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.
| Date | Option | Post | # | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 14-Mar-20 | c | Rare opportunity to Explore the seldomly visited Ash Ranges | 11 | mild partly cloudy partly sunny conditions |
| Sun, 28-May-17 | The North Downs and the Ash Ranges | 3 | sunny and warm before lunch light rain from two thirty onwards | |
| Sat, 20-Sep-14 | Ash Vale Circular via North Downs Way Walk | 0 | ||
| Sun, 22-Apr-12 | c | Ash Vale Circular via North Downs Way Walk | ||
| Sat, 27-Aug-11 | Ash Vale Circular via North Downs Way Walk | |||
| Sun, 29-Aug-10 | Ash Vale Circular via North Downs Way Walk |
Saturday 14-Mar-20
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Sat, 14-Mar-20
9 gathered on the platform in Ash for this interesting and varied outing. The walk unfolds slowly -- then picks up after crossing the hogs back...with a scenic stretch of the NDW and some fine views. Approaching the lunch pub, we were joined by one late starter walking an alternate route from Wanborough and another who had started in Ash Vale also met us at the lunch pub, making a total of 11. I think about 8 enjoyed lunch at the Good Intent -- under new management -- and seemed happy with their meals produced by friendly and welcoming staff....After lunch we continued along the NDW for a spell before heading off into seldom explored territory (parts of which were rather waterlogged)...where the group fractured a bit....The Ash Ranges were opened as promised and were an expansive heathery heathland atop a plateau with fine views (would be nice to see in August)...Three caught the train in Ash Vale, three walked direct to Ash and had drinks at the Lion Brewery (400 meters from the station) and five reconnected and had a drink at the Swan after which one went to Ash and the others, a bit later, back to Ash Vale along the canal. Aside from being slightly vague at the end, the instructions worked -- though the GPX has some discrepancies...All in all, an interesting and fun day in mild partly cloudy partly sunny conditions .
Sunday 28-May-17
Extra Walk 96 – Ash Vale Circular
Length: 26 km (16.2 miles), with shorter options possible. Toughness: 5/10 (I'd have said 7 or 8/10)
09:07 Alton & Basingstoke train from Waterloo (Clapham Jct 09:15, Wimbledon 09:22, Surbiton 09:30), arriving Ash Vale at 10:02. You need to be in the portion for Alton.
Trains return from Ash Vale at 11 & 41 minutes past the hour.
This Surrey walk doesn't get many postings because it crosses the Ash Ranges, in regular use by the Army; a Bank Holiday weekend should be fine, but the walk document includes alternative routes in the unlikely event that you find them closed. Earlier there are contrasting sections along the Basingstoke Canal, a disused railway and the North Downs Way on the other side of the Hog's Back.
The recommended lunchtime stop is the Good Intent in Puttenham, familiar from the Guildford to Farnham Walk in Book 2. There aren't many options for tea at the end of the walk so you might want to pause at one or two of the pubs close to the afternoon route.
You'll need to print the walk directions from the Ash Vale Circular Walk page. You'll see that you can shorten this long walk by diverting to Ash, Wanborough or Guildford in the afternoon; an Ash Vale ticket is valid from all these stations. T=swc.96
Length: 26 km (16.2 miles), with shorter options possible. Toughness: 5/10 (I'd have said 7 or 8/10)
09:07 Alton & Basingstoke train from Waterloo (Clapham Jct 09:15, Wimbledon 09:22, Surbiton 09:30), arriving Ash Vale at 10:02. You need to be in the portion for Alton.
Trains return from Ash Vale at 11 & 41 minutes past the hour.
This Surrey walk doesn't get many postings because it crosses the Ash Ranges, in regular use by the Army; a Bank Holiday weekend should be fine, but the walk document includes alternative routes in the unlikely event that you find them closed. Earlier there are contrasting sections along the Basingstoke Canal, a disused railway and the North Downs Way on the other side of the Hog's Back.
The recommended lunchtime stop is the Good Intent in Puttenham, familiar from the Guildford to Farnham Walk in Book 2. There aren't many options for tea at the end of the walk so you might want to pause at one or two of the pubs close to the afternoon route.
You'll need to print the walk directions from the Ash Vale Circular Walk page. You'll see that you can shorten this long walk by diverting to Ash, Wanborough or Guildford in the afternoon; an Ash Vale ticket is valid from all these stations. T=swc.96
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Mon, 29-May-17
Not a popular outing and I'm not sure if I should include myself in the total as I decided to do my own bespoke version of this walk because a) I am too old and lazy to get up to catch a 9am train; b)who wants to walk 16m and end up back at Ash Vale; and c) Guildford is an excellent end of walk option for drinks, cakes and trains.
I set off at just after 11am to do the Ash Ranges first thus essentially reversing the last section of the walk. I continued on the reverse route until just beyond Fair View Farm where I detoured along the Fox Way, bypassing Wanborough Station and Flexford to walk along narrow and sometimes overgrown paths (which includes some stepping stones over a stream which almost provided a comedy moment thankfully unwitnessed by anyone else!) I continued past Wanborough Manor towards Hogs Back taking a barely discernable diagonal public path through a wheat field to cross the busy dual carriageway and on to Puttenham (10.4km) where I dropped into the lunch pub where 2 women walkers who had started from Ash Vale from the specified train recognised me. I stayed for a drink before having a short picnic lunch in the nearby churchyard and then continued on to Guildford either by the NDW or the more attractive adjacent paths. Back at the station I had cake and coffes before catching the fast 16.35 back to London. An excellent walk of 19.3km (12.1m) and around 4/10 for toughness. Lets say 3 with the weather sunny and warm before lunch light rain from two thirty onwards .
(Sean- hope you are re-united with your Tilley Hat)