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Guildford Circular via Albury Park Walk

The North Downs ridge, a haunted pool, unusual churches and traces of an industrial era in the Tillingbourne valley.

Circular Surrey Tough

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
Sun, 25-Aug-24 a Chilworth Circular via Albury Park 10 warm and sunny
Sun, 14-Jan-24 c Guildford Circular via St Martha's Hill 19 dry sunny
Sun, 21-May-23 b Guildford Circular, via Albury Mill 7 Largely sunny some cloud later
Thu, 30-Dec-21 c Guildford Circular via Chantry Wood 14 misty and overcast
Sat, 17-Aug-19 Guildford Circular via Albury Park, with maybe some heather 18 fairly sunny
Sat, 06-Apr-19 Guildford Circular 7 overcast but dry
Wed, 03-Oct-18 Guildford Circular (via Albury Park) 11 sunny and warm
Sat, 07-Jan-17 Saturday First Walk - Something a bit different in the Guildford area 15 mild misty moody
Sat, 08-Oct-16 Third Walk - Guildford Circular (via Albury Park) 20 selected showers
Sun, 15-Nov-15 a 2 – the Surrey Hills 5 dry and mild
Sat, 07-Feb-15 Guildford Circular via Albury Park Walk 14
Sat, 07-Feb-15 Guildford Circular via Albury Park Walk
Sat, 23-Nov-13 a Guildford Circular via Albury Park Walk 30
Sat, 07-Sep-13 Guildford Circular via Albury Park Walk 11
Wed, 04-Sep-13 Guildford Circular via Albury Park Walk

Sunday 25-Aug-24

Sean
Extra Walk 185a – Chilworth Circular via Albury Park

Length: 16¼ km (10.1 miles), or 14¼ km (8.9 miles) with shorter ending. Toughness: 5 or 4/10

10:00 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo (Clapham Jct 10:09), changing at Guildford (arr 10:40, dep 10:57) for the GWR service to Gatwick Airport, arriving Chilworth at 11:06.

A return to Chilworth is valid for travel back via Dorking or Redhill as well as Guildford. Trains back are every two hours in each direction: 16:33, 18:33, etc to Guildford; 17:06, 19:06, etc to Redhill. However, there are also two-hourly #32 buses in each direction which stop outside Chilworth station: the last ones are 15:48 & 17:48 to Guildford; 16:24 & 18:24 to Dorking and Redhill.

Saxon Church A few years ago I posted the “Western Walk” option from the full Guildford Circular via Albury Park walk, and this “Eastern Walk” is its companion. The travel arrangements are less convenient than starting or finishing at Guildford, but this option does pack many of its best features into a 10-mile walk: the Chilworth Gunpowder Mills, two vineyards, heathland, an old Saxon Church now isolated in private parkland, a haunted pool, a famous viewpoint at Newlands Corner and finally the hilltop church of St Martha-on-the-Hill.

I haven't tried the food at the William Ⅳ since it reopened after a long period of closure; I'm sure it will be OK for drinks but I suggest booking a table (arriving 12.30/12.45pm) if you want to be sure of Sunday lunch. There are other refreshment places along the afternoon route at Sherbourne Pond and Newlands Corner, with the Percy Arms to revive you while you're waiting for a bus or train at the end. If you're going for the Guildford train be sure to allow plenty of time before the level crossing closes and cuts you off from the far platform; there's no footbridge.

You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.185.a page. You'll see that there's the option of a shorter ending (bypassing St Martha's Hill) and you could also do one of the Guildford endings from the Main Walk. If you're printing the directions from the website you can save some paper by clicking one of the headings on the Walk Options line: ‘East’ will show both the Chilworth endings, while ‘Chil.’ will show all the options starting there, including the Guildford endings. Try it!

  • Mon, 26-Aug-24

    About 10, including 1 newcomer, on a warm and sunny day. A very nice walk. Thanks to Sean for both writing and posting. Nice mix of trees, heathland, hills, viewpoints, a haunted pond and 2 very nice churches (one on a hill which served tea, and very old deconsecrated one surrounded by impressive trees). Early lunch pub was full for lunch, standing only. Some had sandwiches by the church. Group cohesion was lost on the way up to the North Downs Way. Some has tea at St Martha's. I skipped the station pub as the way in was via a queue and receptionist. As the trains were 2 hourly, I hope others had a nicer impression.

Sunday 14-Jan-24

Sean
Extra Walk 185c′ – Guildford Circular via St Martha's Hill (short walk)

Length: 11¾ km (7.3 miles). Toughness: 3/10

10:29 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo (Clapham Jct 10:37), arriving Guildford at 11:11.

There are three fast trains back from Guildford every hour, at xx:11, xx:34 & xx:43.

St Martha-on-the-Hill This is a variation of one of our popular summer evening walks to the viewpoint at St Martha-on-the-Hill. It starts with a steep climb up to Pewley Down, followed by an undulating descent towards Chantry Wood. A new section then takes you around the base of St Martha's Hill before the climb up to the church.

The return leg is via Chantry Wood and the Wey Navigation; at this time of year I suggest taking the direct ending in §Q instead of the more picturesque loop via Shalford Water Meadows, which might be rather squelchy. When you reach Guildford the alternative ‘River route’ in §R might still be stymied by a missing footbridge, but the ‘Town route’ will take you past a wide choice of refreshment places on the High Street.

There's no lunch pub on the main part of this walk, so I suggest you bring provisions for a brief refreshment break at St Martha-on-the-Hill. You can always indulge in some more substantial fare when you return to Guildford at around 2–2:30pm.

You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.185.c page. If you're printing it you can save paper by clicking ‘Short’ on the Walk Options heading line, which hides the directions for all the longer variations but shows both endings.

  • Thu, 11-Jan-24

    Do you think this walk might be flooded?

  • Thu, 11-Jan-24

    @Hayley: There are links on the walk page to River Levels and these show that the Wey and its tributaries were above normal level last weekend (when the Saturday walk was affected) but are now well below it. The local paper reported that the Wey didn't burst its banks, although it said there was some flooding in a few outlying villages.

    Most of the walk is on high ground. On the return to Guildford I expect Shalford Water Meadows will be waterlogged, which is why I proposed doing the shorter ending to bypass them. This route does go down to the riverbank for the last stretch but if there's a problem it's easy to backtrack and avoid that too.

  • Thu, 11-Jan-24

    Great. Thank you

  • Fri, 12-Jan-24

    Two of us planning to come

  • Sun, 14-Jan-24

    Lovely walk, and the sun shone!

    Thank you Sean

  • Mon, 15-Jan-24

    19 plus 2 imaginary walkers makes 19. We waited a while for the imaginary two but, as you can imagine, they never showed.. A dry sunny day, not too cold. Largely firm underfoot. Sandy at times. Group cohesion 100%

    Eventually we reached St Martha’s Hill. But we weren’t going up the easy way. No siree. We were tackling the forbidding East Face. (“if this was Kilimanjaro, we’d get a Blue Peter badge or be on Breakfast TV or something. What do we get? Nothing” gasped Mr Tiger on the way up). However, because he knew what to expect, it didn’t seem as forbidding as last time and the summit was reached without further complaint.

    For ‘summit’, read ‘lunch stop’. No pub today, No chips. No cider. Luckily, Mr Tiger found a week old bagel in his bag so everyone was happy. Sort of.

    After lunch it was all downhill.

    When Guildford was reached, (at 2:30) some went direct to the station, some climbed back uphill to the Kings Arms. Mr Tiger fell in with a bad crowd and was lured into a Wetherspoons. Would you believe they had a 7.2 % beer called Death or Glory? Would you believe he drunk it? One and a half pints later, he managed to escape and made his way to the station.

    A grand day out.

Sunday 21-May-23

Sean
Extra Walk 185b – Guildford Circular, via Albury Mill (‘Western Walk’)

Length: 16¾ km (10.4 miles), or 15 km (9.3 miles) with shorter ending. Toughness: 5/10

10:30 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo (Clapham Jct 10:39), arriving Guildford at 11:10.

Fast trains back from Guildford are half-hourly, at xx:05 & xx:35.

St Martha-on-the-Hill The full Guildford Circular walk is too long and tough for one of my Sunday postings, but it can be split into two mid-length walks and I reckon these are about right. This ‘Western Walk’ follows the main route out to the Chilworth Gunpowder Mills, then loops back via the ponds at Albury Mill to rejoin it on St Martha's Hill. There are stretches through Chantry Wood on both the outward and return legs but I suspect the bluebells will be past their best. The main ending takes a loop via Shalford Water Meadows and enters Guildford alongside the Wey Navigation, but there's the option of a shorter ending.

The most conveniently-placed lunch pub is the Percy Arms (01483-561765) near Chilworth station (after 5½ km), although it looks like one of those establishments that requires a firm booking. If you bring your own provisions there are picnic tables nearby in the Gunpowder Mills, and benches with fine views outside St Martha-on-the-Hill on the return leg. At the end of the walk I expect the ‘River route’ in §R will still be stymied by a missing footbridge, but the ‘Town route’ will take you past a wide choice of refreshment places on the High Street.

You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.185.b page. This ‘Western Walk’ option was incorporated in 2021, so please don't rely on an older version. You can save paper by clicking ‘West’ on the Walk Options heading line, which hides the directions for all the other variations but shows both endings.

  • Mon, 22-May-23

    7 Largely sunny some cloud later Dry underfoot. The ascent to Pewley Down included a diversion through the Castle gardens . Interesting, but part of me would prefer the short brutal climb to get it over with. On top, had I been wandering lonely as a cloud, I might have waxed lyrical about the host of golden buttercups that awaited me but, no sooner had we reached the summit, than we were plummeting down again, battling our way through rampant cow parsley. (Which the Laura Ashley in me quite likes, so no complaints).

    The morning’s ups and downs were fairly gentle after this and we reached the Percy Arms by 1. Despite being busy, service was efficient and I think people liked what they got. (Except, maybe, the beetroot-infused salmon). A kindly benefactor fed Mr Tiger chips.

    After more walking, a climb up St Martha’s Hill ensued. The ascent seems a lot harder this way round and poor Mr Tiger struggled a bit. But, like the Little Engine that Could (look it up), he made it.

    Up top he mused about SWC investing in a “drunkard’s basket” (look it up) to carry ‘tired’ walkers round the more difficult sections of a walk.

    After a long flowery stretch through Shalford Water Meadows and another along the Wey, Guildford was reached.

    You’d think, readers, that would be the end of it, but, no, we went back up the hill to the Castle Gardens to see the Alice sculpture. Then back down through Guildford, stopping at Gail’s bakery on the way for coffee.

    A grand day out and even grumpy old Mr Tiger seemed to enjoy it, despite being a bit tired from the day before.

Thursday 30-Dec-21

Sean
Extra Walk 185c – Guildford Circular via Chantry Wood (short walk)

Length: 10½ km (6½ miles). Toughness: 3/10

11:00 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo, arriving Guildford at 11:32. From Clapham Jct you'll need to take the 10:53 Portsmouth & Southsea train, arriving Guildford a few minutes earlier at 11:26.

There are three fast trains back from Guildford every hour, at (roughly) xx:19, xx:35 & xx:49 in the afternoon.

It's been suggested that we could try a few short winter walks with no more than an alfresco pit stop in the middle but a choice of refreshment places at the end. It will be easier for the group to stay together and if it finishes at around 2pm you can choose whether to have a late lunch or an early tea, hit the shops or simply head for the station.

This particular short walk is similar to one of our popular summer evening walks: a steep climb (on a new route) up to Pewley Down, an undulating descent via Chantry Wood and a final leg alongside the Wey Navigation. There's the option of a more direct ending into Guildford; conversely you could easily tack on a 1½ km out-and-back extension up to St Martha-on-the-Hill. At the end of the walk in §Q note that the alternative ‘River route’ is still likely to be stymied by a missing footbridge, but the ‘Town route’ will take you past a wide choice of refreshment places on the High Street.

You'll need to bring the directions from the L=swc.185.c page. You can save paper by clicking ‘Short’ on the Walk Options heading line, which hides the directions for all the longer variations but shows both endings.

  • Wed, 29-Dec-21

    lovely late walk!

  • Sun, 02-Jan-22

    About 14 assembled in front of Guildford station in misty and overcast conditions. I have been to Guildford many times but never walked through the castle grounds before. The things one misses in life ... At the bottom of St Martha's Hill, the author of the walk appeared and continued with 4 others towards the Wey while 10 climbed up to the top for an atmospheric view into the misty distance. Hugging the North Downs escarpment closely lead us to Shalford Mill where intelligence from the advance party informed us that there were some impassable flooded parts next to the Wey which made 3 of us walk along the road in order to bypass the flooded area while 7 adventurous types wanted to have a closer look. We found a 3m section of the path flooded deeply enough that crossing without wellies was not an option. A local standing in the middle of the flood, water almost lapping the top of his wellies, suggested to walk further south to cross the Wey navigation via Broadford Road which we did. Instead of following the walk instructions back to the castle grounds we walked along the Wey straight into Guildford, where some had drinks in the Wey Side Inn, others at the King's Head. One additional walker was found there who got a later train and did his own Guildford circular. Two continued walking around Guildford before finishing the day with dinner there.

Saturday 17-Aug-19

Walker
Length: 25.5km (15.5 miles), with shorter endings at Chilworth (18.5km/11.5 miles) or Shalford (20km/12.4 miles)
Toughness: 7 out of 10. T=3.185

9.45 (Haslemere-bound) train from Waterloo, (9.52 Clapham Junction) to Guildford, arriving 10.24.

 Buy a day return to Guildford, unless you might want to take one of the shorter endings at Chilworth or Shalford, in which case by a return to one of those stations (Chilworth is the further away, if you want to cover all options).

For walk directions click here, for GPX click here, and for a map of the route click here

One rationale for choosing this walk is that it crosses Albury Heath shortly before lunch, whose heather may now be starting to bloom (but catching heather at the right time is always tricky). It also passes a decommissioned church and the interesting Silent Pool. In the afternoon there are fine downland views.

The lunch pub is the William IV in Little London, 7 miles into the walk, which has reopened after being renovated. I am always a little nervous relying on just one pub, but the walk also passes within a kilometre of Shere, which has oodles of lunch options. In extremis Newlands Corner, 3 miles after Little London has both a takeaway kiosk serving burgers and chips and the like, and a sit-down cafe serving meals: otherwise this is a possible early tea stop.

After Newland's Corner you are following a ridge route into Guildford, with the option to cut down to either Chilworth (limited trains: see below) or Shalford to shorten the walk (to 11.5 miles or 12.4 miles respectively): both have refreshment options. Not mentioned in the walk directions Shalford has the wonderful Snooty Fox cafe, one of my favourite tea places, but it closes at the cruelly early hour of 4.30pm.

Trains from Chilworth go at 15.56 and 17.56, changing at Guildford: between those hours there is may be bus services. Shalford has hourly trains to Guildford on the hour (00 minutes past) and also regular buses.

Trains back from Guildford are every 15 minutes: just turn up and get the next one.



  • Sat, 17-Aug-19

    18 on this walk, I reckon, including one person on a slightly later train and one on a slightly earlier one. The weather was fairly sunny : not wall to wall blue skies, but a perfectly decent day.

    This was the first time I had done this walk in its current incarnation, with the river and lowland bit first, then the ridges to finish. I thought this worked well. I saw two lots of swallows near Chilworth and there was decent amounts of heather in flower on Albury Heath and St Martha’s Hill.

    Lunch at the William IV was very nice. I am not sure I have ever tried this pub before and I was agreeably surprised. Interesting food, efficient taking of orders at the bar, cheerful waitressing, a tranquil location and good coffee.

    After lunch there was a slight disappointment when the decommissioned church was closed for a theatre performance. One walker left at this point to walk to Shere and Gomshall. The rest of us pushed on to the Silent Pool, which was neither silent nor clear-watered, followed by the good stiff climb up onto the downs.

    Many of us had tea with the bikers at the tea kiosk on Newlands Corner. Four or five left here to do the shorter ending to Chilworth, lured by the promise of a lift. At least eight carried on along the ridges to Guildford, with a sit down in the sun on the benches at St Martha’s Church. Five of us helped a boat work the gates of Millmead Lock and then had a drink at the White House.

Saturday 06-Apr-19

HollieB
HollieB
15.5 miles / 25 km
(Shorter versions possible with later start from Shalford and early finish from Shalford or Chilworth)

A varied walk - the morning route heads out of Guildford along the River Wey Navigation, then follows the valley of the River Tillingbourne, across Albury Heath to lunch at Little London.
The afternoon route passes through Albury Park to Newlands Corner and up to St Martha-on-the-Hill, then heads back to Guildford via Chantry Wood.

Trains: 9:30 from London Waterloo, arrives at Guildford at 10:03. To start at Shalford take the 10:00 from London Waterloo, arrives at 10:53 (change at Guildford). It is also possible to start from Chilworth, but the train service is rather infrequent.

Lunch: William IV, Little London - this pub is recently under new ownership and getting very good reviews, phone ahead for a table (01483-202685).

Newlands Corner has a couple of places to get refreshments mid-afternoon.

Click here for full walk details and directions
T=swc.185
  • Anonymous
    Thu, 04-Apr-19

    Sandwich eaters note There isn't anywhere to eat by the pub but there are some benches just before the pub on the Heath

  • Anonymous
    Fri, 05-Apr-19

    Hi Guys hope to done familiar faces on this long walk.Taking the 09.28 from Waterloo. Monica

  • Peter Gibson
    Sat, 06-Apr-19

    I was the only one who was apparently interested in a longer walk today. Very enjoyable. Bluebells and daffodils on the route helped brighten up any overcast day.

  • Anonymous
    Sat, 06-Apr-19

    Sorry Pete we must have missed you. 5 of us were on the 09.28 train from Waterloo. We waited till 10.15 for late comers but no one appeared so we set off. At the King William we gained another walker and 2 later decided to end walk early at Gomshall. 4 of us head off to the main walk via St Martha and the lovely Chantry wood and yes blue bells appearing. got to Guildford station and just miss the 16.17 train. Lovely long walk day good weather no rain and hardly any mud! Monica

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 07-Apr-19

    7 overcast but dry

Wednesday 03-Oct-18

Thomas G
Length: 24.9 km (15.5 mi) [shorter walks possible, see pdf or webpage]
Ascent/Descent: 407m; Net Walking Time: 6 hours
Toughness: 7/10
Take the 10.00 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo (10.25 Woking), arrives Guildford 10.33.
From Clapham J take the 09.42 Guildford train, arrives 10.34.
Return trains: 4 fast ones per hour, on xx.00, xx.17, xx.34, xx.47.
This fairly long circular walk explores the area to the south-east of Guildford. The landscape is exceptionally varied, with water meadows, valleys, woods, heathland, parkland and fine views from the contrasting chalk hills of the North Downs and the adjacent Greensand.
The walk leaves Guildford via Shalford Water Meadows alongside the River Wey Navigation, then heads east from Shalford up the valley of the River Tillingbourne. This was once an important industrial area and the route includes a heritage trail through the extensive ruins of the Chilworth Gunpowder Mills, the national importance of which is reflected in its status as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. An attractive stretch along the quiet valley of Law Brook (one of the river's tributaries) and across the small Albury Heath brings you to a lunchtime stop in the hamlet of Little London.
The route now heads north through Albury Park, designed by the English landscape pioneer John Evelyn. In 1819 the estate was acquired by the banker Henry Drummond, who built a new parish church in Albury and closed the old Saxon Church, now isolated in the private parkland but accessible to the public. At the same time he became one of the founder members of a new religious movement and built the neo-gothic Catholic Apostolic Church for it. The route then passes the crystal-clear waters of Silent Pool on its climb up the North Downs, where a stretch along the North Downs Way leads to a mid-afternoon refreshment stop at the Newlands Corner viewpoint.
The final section of the walk includes one more climb to another famous church with a long history, St Martha-on-the-Hill, perched on the side of the Greensand hills. A gradual descent through Chantry Wood leads back to the River Wey and Guildford. An alternative return route to Shalford (see below) takes in another historical site on the Tillingbourne, the 18thC Shalford Mill, now managed by the National Trust (open Wed & Sun, by guided tour only; last tour 4pm); admission (2018) is £3.
Lunch : The William IV in Little London (11.5 km/7.1 mi, food to ???). Under new Mgmt, and with a new chef as of end Sep…
Tea: Snack Bar and Café at Newlands Corner (5 or so km after lunch) ; plus plenty of options in Guildford. See the webpage for details.

For summary, map, height profile, photos, walk directions and gpx/kml files click here . T=swc.185
  • Marion
    Sat, 29-Sep-18

    Anyone prefer a shorter walk say 10-12 miles with fewer hills?

  • Sat, 29-Sep-18

    Shorter versions from as little as 8.7 miles are available on this walk.

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 30-Sep-18

    Shalford Circular springs to mind. Even that could be shortened by ending at Chilworth which has a train an hour all afternoon.

  • Sun, 30-Sep-18

    ...as the walk post says, in its very first line: "[shorter walks possible, see pdf or webpage]"...he/she who can read...

  • Anonymous
    Mon, 01-Oct-18

    Marion, where are you starting from please?

  • Wed, 03-Oct-18

    3 arranged on the train and/or the platform to take a connecting train and 'only' walked Shalford to Chilworth (or even only the Chilworth Circ?), and after the rest of us had disentangled ourselves from a Richmond Ramblers group, 8 others assembled outside the gates at Guildford Station (as has become custom for Guildford walks, due to there always being some car drivers turning up for Guildford walks, today it's been two of them - and a dog). So 11 in sunny and warm weather.

    All info panels en route were studiously surveyed (rare for a SWC group), but still the short walkers were met just before lunch. The William IV pub had indeed been re-opened under new ownerhsip and after a full refurb. And today was the first day of food service with their new chef in situ.

    Prices are London-lite, the quality was good, service attentive and (apart from the plaice dish arriving quite a bit later than the other dishes) there was no glitch. Recommended. And still with 4 ales on the pump...

    On to the Saxon church and up the North Downs, where the sandwichers were 'caught' at the Newlands Corner cafe. The 'fast' walkers were by now at the back (deserts and coffees at the pub saw to that) and also stopped for a spot of sunbathing on a bench. It was that type of day.

    Convivial drinks near the end at The Britannia for 4 of us. And then delays on SWR into London. Welcome to the real world!

Saturday 07-Jan-17

Walker
SWC walk 185 (variant) - Shalford to Chilworth
Length: 17km/10.6 miles

(or Shalford to Guildford - 21.5km/13.4 miles)

Toughness: 6 out of 10

10.00 (Portsmouth Harbour-bound) train from Waterloo to Guildford, arriving 10.33, changing there for the 10.48 to Shalford, arriving 10.53.

(From Clapham Junction get the 9.52 to Guildford, arriving 10.23)

Buy a day return to Chilworth

 For walk directions click here. If you click on the word "Shal" below the map before printing, this eliminates unnecessary directions from the documents.

There are a dizzying array of options for this walk and I am not sure that this particular one has ever been tried. It takes you into the familiar territory of the North Downs east of Guildford, but approaches them from an unfamiliar angle, with various delights along the way including an abandoned church and the mysterious Silent Pool.

Lunch is at the William IV pub in Little London after 8km/5 miles, but if that is full, the cafe and food kiosk (two different places) at Newlands Corner 5.5km/3.3 miles further on are a backstop: both do a good range of hot food.

Towards the end of the walk you have a choice of finishing in Chilworth (the 10.6 mile version) or hammering on to Guildford (13.5 miles).

Trains back from Chilworth are at 15.59, 17.59, 19.59, 21.19 and 22.01, changing at Guildford, which then has fast trains every 15 minutes to London

If you miss the trains in Chilworth, there is also the 32 bus from the stop immediately outside Chilworth station (on the same side of the main road), which goes at 31 past until 18.31. This takes 13 minutes and deposits you in the centre of Guildford, from where it is a five or ten minutes walk to the station (use Google Maps on your smartphone!)



  • Anonymous
    Sat, 07-Jan-17

    15 mild misty moody and muddy under foot

    Vast views of vague, vaporous and veiled vistas ?

    Food was a bit if a disappointment for some of us at William IV as they only did sandwiches and baked potatoes though one person spoke highly of them - she only ever has sandwiches anyhow so same old same old for her.

    A swift refreshment at Newlands corner in the cafe with a note about it’s marvellous views - of mist ? - one of our crew did ask for a discount due to the lack of views but to no avail

    Down from Martha's was hard and there were some complaints from a couple of folks with knackered knees and at least one took some Ibruprofen during the day

    Slippery all day all the way really

    Arrived at the station with 10 minutes to spare so well timed seeing as the trains are very 2 hours

    That’ll do

    P.I. L L Poppers

  • Anonymous
    Sun, 08-Jan-17

    1 went on to Guildford leaving 3 others who were heading to Shalford for the hourly train.

Saturday 08-Oct-16

Thomas G
Length: 24.9 km (15.5 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 486m; Net Walking Time: 6 hours
Toughness: 7/10
[to shorten the walk: start or finish at Shalford or Chilworth, for details see the webpage]
Take the 09.30 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo (09.56 Woking), arrives Guildford 10.03.
From Clapham J take either the 09.22 stopping service (arrives Guildford 09.50) or the 09.27 to Woking, changing onto the 09.30 Waterloo departure.
There are four (fast) return trains per hour.
This walk was premiered a few years ago and I remember it as a very good walk through areas not touched by other Guildford walks. But since then “it was significantly changed”, to quote the author. So presumably it’s even better now…?
Here’s the summary to give you an idea of what to expect: “This circular walk explores the area to the south-east of Guildford. The landscape is exceptionally varied, with water meadows, valleys, woods, heathland, parkland and fine views from the contrasting chalk hills of the North Downs and the adjacent Greensand.
The walk leaves Guildford via Shalford Water Meadows alongside the River Wey Navigation, then heads east from Shalford up the valley of the River Tillingbourne. This was once an important industrial area and the route includes a heritage trail through the extensive ruins of the Chilworth Gunpowder Mills, the national importance of which is reflected in its status as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. An attractive stretch along the quiet valley of Law Brook (one of the river's tributaries) and across the small Albury Heath brings you to a lunchtime stop in the hamlet of Little London.
The route now heads north through Albury Park, designed by the English landscape pioneer John Evelyn. In 1819 the estate was acquired by the banker Henry Drummond, who built a new parish church in Albury and closed the old Saxon Church, now isolated in the private parkland but accessible to the public. At the same time he became one of the founder members of a new religious movement and built the neo-gothic Catholic Apostolic Church for it. The route then passes the crystal-clear waters of Silent Pool on its climb up the North Downs, where a stretch along the North Downs Way leads to a mid-afternoon refreshment stop at the Newlands Corner viewpoint.
The final section of the walk includes one more climb to another famous church with a long history, St Martha-on-the-Hill, perched on the side of the Greensand hills. A gradual descent through Chantry Wood leads back to the River Wey and Guildford. An alternative return route to Shalford (see below) takes in another historical site on the Tillingbourne, the 18thC Shalford Mill, now managed by the National Trust (open Wed & Sun, by guided tour only; last tour 4pm); admission (2015) is £2.75.”
Lunch is in Little London at the William IV (11.5 km/7.2 mi, food to 14.00).
For tea, a mid-afternoon break at the Newlands Corner viewpoint (5¼ km after Little London) is possible. At the end of the walk there are many tea places in Guildford , Bill’s and Coffee Culture seem to be the preferred options (see the webpage for details).
For summary, map, height profile, photos, walk directions/options and gpx/kml files click here .
T=swc.185
  • Anonymous
    Sun, 02-Oct-16

    There's nowhere suitable for sandwich eaters to sit in the vicinity of the pub so if bringing your own lunch it's best to stop before or after Little London.

  • Sat, 08-Oct-16

    15 met at G'ford station, 1 caught us at lunch, having missed the posted train, 4 started from Chilworth, which makes 20 walkers in mostly dry weather, but with selected showers .

    There are a couple of (admitted but unavoidable) dreary stretches in the morning (through Shalford and along the railway line), the rest is just a very good walk, in any weather, I would think: a long stretch through otherwise uncovered-by-the-SWC paths in the Wey Meadows, The Wey River, the Tilling Bourne, many streams and catchwaters, an interesting and well info-panelled historic site, some fine views (to and - later - from the North Downs) and plenty of mixed woods.

    Plenty of traffic on the footpaths (incl. several cyclists, undeterred by stiles and kissing gates), but overall some very peaceful scenery.

    The William the IV pub had just lost its 'new' chef (and some support staff), so was only serving sandwiches, but they went down well, with everyone sitting outside.

    It's such a nice location that even the (non-pub) sandwichers waited for the main group before moving on.

    Through the beautiful Albury Park and up the North Downs (with a new 'tea stop' discovered just off-route: a vineyard offering wine tastings (apparently only measly portions though)).

    One of the few showers started just as we arrived at Newland's Corner, so 12 of us waited out the rain in The Squirrel Cafe.

    The Chilworth starters then went back down from St. Martha to whence they came and the rest arrived in Guildford in drips and drabs around 5 o'clock.

    Off to The Keep pub by the Castle for 7 of us, 4 of which then added The Kings Head to their route.

    A very fine walk.

Sunday 15-Nov-15

Sean
Extra Walk 185a – Chilworth Circular via Albury Park
Length: 14¼ km (8.9 miles). Toughness: 5/10

10:00 Guildford train from Waterloo (Clapham Jct 10:09), changing at Guildford (arr 10:40, dep 10:56) and arriving Chilworth at 11:04.

You can also travel to Chilworth via Redhill or Dorking, but the connections are poor and you'd have to hope that the Percy Arms is open for refreshments while you wait 15 minutes for the main group.

Trains back from Chilworth are every two hours in each direction, with the ones you're likely to want being at 16:49 (fast, via Guildford) and 17:05 (slow, via Dorking or Redhill). However, you could also catch a 32 bus from Chilworth station to Guildford at 15:47 and 17:47; it also stops where you cross the A248 about 1 km before the finish.

Apologies for a walk in the same area as last Sunday, yet another blip in the walk posters' co-ordination. At the start you do indeed revisit the old gunpowder mills and the church of St Martha-on-the-Hill, but the rest of the walk covers different territory. The morning continues with a famous viewpoint at Newlands Corner, a haunted pool and a curious old church isolated in private parkland, while the shorter afternoon has heathland and a pretty valley with old watercress beds.

The lunchtime pub is the William IV in Little London, serving local beers and good food; as it's a Sunday and you'll be arriving around the peak time of 1.30pm, call ahead and book a table. At the end of the walk the Percy Arms is right by Chilworth station, but be sure to allow plenty of time to get across the level crossing for the Guildford train as there's no footbridge.

You'll need to print the directions from the Extra Walk 185 page. You can save a few sheets of paper by clicking Option a. T=swc.185.a
  • Anonymous
    Sun, 15-Nov-15

    5 dry and mild

    A sign at St. Martha's on The Hill informed us that visitors (and their dogs) were welcome to join in the service and stay for refreshments afterwards. We pushed on, however, to Newlands Corner where most stopped at Tillings Cafe and one at the kiosk. Then on through the woods - look out for the impressive inosculation of trees - to Albury Park, where old chestnuts and holm oaks can be found in the woods and the isolated old Saxon Church is well worth a visit. We had a brief drink at the pub in Little London, before heading on to Chilworth.

    All in all, a pleasant walk with some lovely views and woodland and some interesting features along the way. Quite a few sandy paths, a couple of slippery chalk bits but generally very little mud.

    Margaret