Wet and windy it was forecast to be and wet and windy it was. Actually not too much of either in the morning, but more after lunch. There was the odd moment when the swaying of the trees got a bit worrying, but mostly it was within acceptable limits.

On days like this you discover who the tough ones are. (Also those prepared to get up for an 8.41am train…). A merry band of 6 we were, and as always with such small groups, cohesion was good.

To my amazement the tea kiosk was open on Leith Hill, but we did not stop. This was not a day to linger at viewpoints (and there was not much view anyway). Later in the day on Holmbury and Pitch Hills there was no view at all, just mist.

All six of us stopped at the Royal Oak for lunch. We had booked for five, but in fact the place was nearly empty. Ordering was a bit of a faff (the staff seemed unfamiliar with the till system) but food came quickly. Two also had puddings, which turned out to be enormous: the rest of us helped finish them.

After lunch, more wind, rain, woods and hills. The ground was covered in golden leaves and there was still a few good patches of tint on beech trees. We filled the afternoon with happy chat.

Much though some of us (OK, me…) cursed the early start, it paid off, as we got to Shamley Green just about in the daylight (an unprecedented feat on this walk at this time of year). One of our number had streaked off mid afternoon and we later heard he had walked all the way to Guildford, arriving there at 5.50pm.

The rest of us went to the cosy Red Lion and had wine, beer, tea, mulled wine, crisps and nuts, and generally passed a very pleasant hour. We then went to the bus stop and spent half an hour there in the dark, being given contradictory information by the dot matrix indicator. Just when we were wondering if we would have to walk to Guildford ourselves, a bus turned up. It didn’t have any heating, but it got us back to civilisation.

What to do when you book upper table at the pub for 1.30 and your food doesn’t show until 2.30? No chance of making it to Shamley Green in the light so we re routed ourselves to Gomshall - after all we’d followed the instructions to buy ourselves tickets to Gomshall. We were not disappointed - fantastic views, lovely woods, beautiful skies, a steaming manure heap and more than few mushrooms. What more could you ask for? We made towards Abinger Church from Holmbury St Mary - fine fungi country - where we met another SWC route, then a diagonal across to the hollow road and over towards the main SWC route towards Gomshall. We arrived as it grew dark in Gomshall where we found two other walkers who’d started out an hour later and done the orthodox Holmwood to Gomshall walk. The replacement bus service had for reasons known only to itself not bothered to stop at the railway station so long story short 8 ended up on the bus to Dorking. Thankfully the station at Dorking does not disappoint. The normally small toy railway has been expanded to a two table Christmas extravaganza but having two engineers in our party was not sufficient to find the start button. Another time then. And plenty of tea and coffee available. So we left on the 1743 to Victoria decamping as we went along. An excellent walk and new possible routes found.

I seem to recall that in some Pacific Island cultures they count one, two, three…many. I want to say “many” on this walk, but that might bust the algorithm. So I got to 30 on the platform and at least two appeared later, including one late starter I am told, so let’s say 32. At least.

(In parenthesis: nice to see so many on a walk again after a long period of small numbers. Come more regularly, guys…)

Of course it helped that it was sunny . A glorious day in fact. Some cloud in the afternoon, but we will pretend we did not see that.

We streaked up Leith Hill, leaving two mycologists (fungi hunters) behind (they did a circular walk). Gorgeous autumn colours, particularly on beech and sweet chestnut: this really is a fabulous autumn walk. Up on the airy heights, the Mount Everest of the south east, we gasped for breath in the rarified air and gulped tea from the kiosk. Then on down to Holmbury St Mary.

Nine people had indicated at the start of the walk that they wanted lunch in the pub, so predictably 18 piled inside the King’s Head. We were about the only customers. Staff were friendly but food came slowly and some portion sizes were risible. “If I have the ravioli, will it just be four of them?” said one diner on our table. “No, of course not” said our server. There were in fact seven. On a plate with a silly little central bowl and a huge rim. To be fair my meat pie was a good size and very nice, but the consensus was that we will go to the Royal Oak in future. There were good reports from someone who went to the nearby cyclists cafe.

Back at the pub we watched the clock anxiously, conscious of the approaching dark. Many of us left at 2.10pm, but not one table of six, the only ones to have booked, who did not have their food yet. I think they planned to walk to Gomshall.

For the rest of us, a lovely afternoon, crossing Holmbury and Pitch Hills, with their gobsmacking views. On the descent from the latter the beech colour was particularly vibrant, but alas the light was fading now. A great clacking chorus of roosting pheasants serenaded us as we descended the last wooded slopes.

The backmarker group I was in got to the Red Lion in Shamley Green at 5.10pm, having only been in anything like darkness for the last 20 minutes or so. We saw Jupiter rising. Those who had had scanty portions at lunch eyed the menu there wistfully, but in the end I was the only one to order (a pudding). Many got the 5.42 bus, but five of us got the 6.12.

Our train from Guildford was packed with Charlton football fans returning from a 2:2 draw at Portsmouth. But, doubtless helped by a whole regiment of transport police, they were all well-behaved. One of them shared our bottle of wine.

The following report was posted by one of the diners whose food arrived late at the pub - and then mysteriously was not later on the website. So I am reposting it (unless its author would rather I did not, in which case I will remove it again...).

What to do when you book upper table at the pub for 1.30 and your food doesn’t show until 2.30? No chance of making it to Shamley Green in the light so we re routed ourselves to Gomshall - after all we’d followed the instructions to buy ourselves tickets to Gomshall. We were not disappointed - fantastic views, lovely woods, beautiful skies, a steaming manure heap and more than few mushrooms. What more could you ask for? We made towards Abinger Church from Holmbury St Mary - fine fungi country - where we met another SWC route, then a diagonal across to the hollow road and over towards the main SWC route towards Gomshall. We arrived as it grew dark in Gomshall where we found two other walkers who’d started out an hour later and done the orthodox Holmwood to Gomshall walk. The replacement bus service had for reasons known only to itself not bothered to stop at the railway station so long story short 8 ended up on the bus to Dorking. Thankfully the station at Dorking does not disappoint. The normally small toy railway has been expanded to a two table Christmas extravaganza but having two engineers in our party was not sufficient to find the start button. Another time then. And plenty of tea and coffee available. So we left on the 1743 to Victoria decamping as we went along. An excellent walk and new possible routes found.

One hour ahead to beat dark.

Austen

16 emerged from a train laden with walkers -- most having fortunately alighting at Box Hill. We set for Leith Hill and admired the views -- the brighter south downs with Chantonbury Ring visible and a gloomier northern aspect -- but with the towers of the City and Canary Wharf still visible. We carried along the undulating escarpment enjoying more views and some wonderful tree color. Along the way, we picked up another who has driven to near the lunch pub...

Most lunched at the Royal Oak with mixed results -- some food arrived quickly and was tasty; other orders took ages and were disappointing....The Kings Arms has reopened -- so it may be worth trying that in the future...Leaving the pub we emerged into bright sunshine and some even more spectacular views that we admired in the soft winter afternoon sun....in fact, we did so much admiring that most of the party finished the walk in the dark...then enjoyed a drink at the Red Lion while waiting for the bus to Guildford.

So, with the earlier starter, 18 in initially cloudy clearing to bright sunshine then dark . A fine day out!

Great news that the Kings Arms has reopened - I had lost hope

19 assembled on the Holmwood station platform, including one first timer in mild misty conditions . The group fragmented a bit on the way up Leith hill, some going the steep direct route, while others chose a less demanding contouring option. Most re-congregated at the summit to enjoy the views of the South Downs, some with a hot beverage in hand from the kiosk. Along the ridge were splashes of good autumn color, though the season is definitely drawing to a close. In Holmbury St. Mary, nine went to the Royal Oak pub (the King's Arms is still closed) and were later joined by two picnickers. Unfortunately I had to head back to London after lunch, but I understand the afternoon was uneventful with the beeches providing more pockets of color and some more faint views of the South Downs. The pub lunches arrived in Shamley Green about 5pm where some caught the 5.22 bus and others the 5.52....Not sure how many did an extended version, but know at least one was headed for Shalford when last seen.....

A neat 6 on this strenuous walk with spectacular viewpoint after viewpoint. Lunch was a picnic at Holmbury Hill. The threatened rain didn't happen though the morning sunshine didnt last the whole day. 5 of us took the bus from Shamley Green at the end.

Brilliant walk. Easy to follow route, as the Greensand Way is very well marked. Lunch: the Royal Oak, is the only option as The Kings Head is closed.

21 on this walk. They were rewarded with the most perfect autumn colours you ever saw - an absolute riot of gold that at times achieved New England levels of intensity. Beech trees were the main cause of this but every type of tree was fully turned. The best autumn walk ever!

Or it was in the morning when the weather was fine: cloud and some sun; showers visible to the south from the airline-high eminence of Leith Hill but not coming near us. Several of us enjoyed a cup of tea at the National Trust kiosk there, which is now open daily year round.

Descending to Holmbury, mountain bikers were a minor nuisance - they could be a worse one in summer. We found the Royal Oak empty, so perhaps booking a table was not necessary, but it did fill up later. Credit to them for several vegetarian and one vegan option, and for friendly and efficient service.

One walker left in a taxi after lunch for - how can I say the words? - the AGM of ANOTHER walking club. Two other walkers, seeing drops of rain fall from a now grey sky, left with her. “Softies!” we thought, but they were right. It started showery but then rained relentlessly. So a bright morning but a wet afternoon .

That was a shame as the leaf colour was if anything even better in the afternoon. There were also several dramatic views south across the tempestuous landscape. I hear some of the group got to the end of the walk at 4.30, others a bit later. But my two companions and I, the backmarkers, did not arrive till 5.30. It was a memorable last hour and a half in the gathering darkness and heavy rain, the ground underfoot turning to lakes and rivers. My waterproofs may not dry before next Saturday. But at least, on the first muddy day if the winter, our boots ended the day perfectly clean.

Actually the walk author recommends you buy a day return to GOMSHALL, not Guildford. I doubt a day return to Guildford would be accepted via Dorking.

Apologies, Peter, I corrected the post.

Is the Saturday walk really 8/10 toughness?

Will there be an early break-out point?

Hope to do this walk again did it last year led by aKa Walwith ker. Great wooded walks in the Greensand Way hills to climb and you will definitely enjoyed it. If I can get away from the workmen who is renovating my house I shall attend. Wish me luck.

Monica

Sorry I meant to say the walk last year was led by AKa Walker.

Monica

Hi Guys I shall be attending this walk a respite from the workmen. Hope to see some of you at Victoria station. Weather good and not too hot.

Monica

I believe there were five on the recommended train, another an hour later and two who started at Gomshall to make 8 on this walk. All managed to meet up at the Royal Oak at lunch time - the King's Head is currently closed for renovations. The day started sunny but became cloudy with some drizzle . Most caught the 17:32 bus to Guildford. Two stopped for a drink at the red Lion, one of whom then caught the 18:12 bus while the other walked on to Guildford.

Sounds like a very interesting route.

- You can also get a bus earlier from the Duke of York's School

- These 2 Greensand Way walks follow the middle and end parts of it if you need the GPS.

https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/gomshall-to-dorking/map.html and https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/witley-to-ewhurst/map.html

Is there a basic GPX track for the whole route? Could you post a link to it?

If you read the walk post (!!) , I said:

I have also created a basic GPX track: email saturdaywalkersATyahooDOTcoDOTuk and I will send it to you.

This route piqued my interest too but I won't be able to do the whole walk. I may investigate getting the train to Gomshall or bus from Dorking and joining you at lunchtime. I'm pretty familiar with the area but am not promising to navigate successfully. i don't think the Greensand Way markers are 100% reliable so definitely take a map, digital or other.

Could I suggest a slight detour after Leith Hill Tower to Leith Hill Wood? It is a rhododendron wood, managed by the National Trust, open to all, and must be looking lovely at this time of year. It can be reached by a footpath down from the Greensand Way not long after Leith Tower, or by the lane that the Greensand crosses a little further on. Here is a link https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/leith-hill/features/the-rhododendron-wood-at-leith-hill. It is marked with a flower on recent ordnance survey maps.

Hi, Re obtaining the GPS file is the email address correct? It bounced back as no such account. I replaced with the two periods as appropriate

The email address is correct. As well as replacing the DOTs you also need to replace AT with @, of course.

Thanks found my error I left the A of the original AT in place.

Thanks

Kevin

19 on this walk on a day of sunshine and cloud , though a rather hazy one. This became apparent when we got to the top of Leith Hill and found the views a bit limited. But it was nice to sit in the sun with a cuppa from the kiosk and sense the vastness of England in the semi-murk below.

Carrying on westwards, we found the Greensand Way very wooded and very well waymarked - little navigation, collaborative or otherwise, was needed. The woods were a bit dull at times on the descent to Holmbury, but in the afternoon were enlivened by new green foliage on beech and sweet chestnut. There were also several fine viewpoints - most notably Holmbury Hill and Pitch Hill, which were separated by a big descent and ascent and the crossing of a lovely green valley.

For lunch the Kings Head proved fairly small and basic with limited choice on its menu (especially for vegans). Having been relaxed in the week when I phoned and booked for ten, they got rather panicked when 14 of us stopped for lunch, but they managed reasonably well. Portion sizes were good.

Mid afternoon we got all excited at the prospect of a drink with a view at the Ewhurst Windmill pub, but it was closed, so instead we had to keep our thirst in check on the three mile descent (passing an interesting curved wooden shelter) to more open terrrain of the valley. Here we had tea and drinks at outside tables on the village green, just a short dash across the road from the very frequent buses. The first swifts I have seen this year screeched overhead.

Not wanting this lovely walk to end, I extended it by leaving the Greensand Way after the "flattened pine cone" viewpoint at Winterfold Hill, and headed up to Chilworth station via Black Heath.

It was risky as trains are only once every two hours, but the going is much flatter than on the Greensand and despite losing my bearings on Black Heath I managed to make the 17.59 train.

This extension provides more beautiful woodland and heath but with a different feel from the Greensand, more quiet and remote. There were bluebells and at one point some naturalised yellow azaleas.

Early in the walk a couple of us also took a detour to the National Trust Rhododendron Wood at Leith Hill. There is a path running south from the Greensand alongside a lane, and took only a few minutes to get there. The pinks, reds and yellows of the rhododendrons were underlaid with bluebells, so the colour combinations were pretty.