# 18 , # cold dry cloudy , we set off at a good pace on good paths a bit soft in places to arrive quickly at the Crown where 7 of us were shown to a long table in an almost baronial hall. Good food and ale was efficiently served, quite pricey but this a 5-star hotel / former coaching inn which is all the better for not having a "make-over". The afternoon was long, slow and very muddy, with the mud making the walk seem more like a 4 or 5 rather than a 2. We met an impressive golden retriever labrador cross swimming very enthusiastically in a near frozen pond, then went a little off piste a few yards from Haslemere getting even muddier. Four of us went into Darnleys for tea and fresh warm scones, the best scone I have had in a long time. Not sure what happened to the others but they seem to have long gone by the time we got Haslemere. Good company making an enjoyable day out despite the mud.

Note that TFL are advising tube travellers to have completed their journeys by 17:30 tonight. https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/

The Trainline App is showing that both the 10.05 and 11.03 trains to Witley are cancelled.

14 , including one driver with small dog, who had difficulty parking and caught up at lunch. It was cloudy and sunny . Nearly everyone picnicked in the churchyard at Chiddingfold. Tea at Hemingways and beer at the Swan were both sampled.

4 met at the station for an enjoyable stroll through Surrey. Weather was a mixed bag, mostly overcast and sticky, with the occasional shower. The walking was pleasant with a mix of lanes, fields and woods. We reached Chiddingfold quite early where we enjoyed a picnic lunch in the churchyard. We took the opportunity to boost our immune systems with delicious blackberries along the route, with one of our party lingering to pick a few to take home. The rest of us reached Haslemere about 2.15 where we stopped at Darnleys for tea and cakes. Whilst we were in the cafe the rain set in and we made a dash for the station to catch the 15.16 back to London.

Thanks to Marcus for posting.

At Clapham Junction but train cancelled..abandoning this walk!

Those who weren't put off by the dire forecast(I was) were probably thwarted by the cancelled train so I'm assuming 0 (feel free to correct that figure) Weather rainy start clearing later

18 on a sunny mild day. Attempts to arrange the group into sixes was described as ‘like nailing jelly to a tree’. A sizeable chunk slid off with the words “into sixes” ringing in their ears. The remainder were moulded into neat jelly portions. And one slow gobbet.

Not much mud today. If there was a hazard it was nuts. Falling nuts. Chestnuts, then conkers and, later, a barrage of acorns. How lucky we are we don’t get coconuts here. The slow guy at the back, in his group of one, accidentally took a short cut and arrived at the Crown not long after the others. 7 dined there a few just drank. Others must have picnicked.

The slow guy had a frisson of doubt on Mill Lane because the Ukrainean Home doesn’t seem to be called that anymore. Like everything else up that road it’s called 'Sydenhurst'. However, being an observant sort of chap, he noticed the bins had 'UH' written on them. And all was well. Tea was partaken at Hemingways. Nice cakes, tea in posh cups. Home.

The Ukrainian care home was demolished and replaced with https://www.countrylife.co.uk/property/truly-spectacular-21st-century-georgian-mansion-199836

They’ve still got the old bins, though.

I plan to visit the centre!!

Seven off the train but one caught a later one and essentially did the walk solo before meeting up for tea. We met another walker in the afternoon who had got off at Haslemere, whether by accident or design I'm not sure so I think we can claim 9 for the day.

A gentle June walk in the Surrey countryside so inevitably we were met with muddy woodland footpaths some with huge puddles and some slippery ascents. I thought we may have time warped into November! Overall it was rainy in the morning cloudy and breezy in the afternoon sort of day.

The seven dropped into the Equine Centre for a look around with two having tea and cakes after just a mile into the walk. (Really the SWC disciplinary commitee must take some action against this blatant contravention of SWC mores! (;>) )

The centre is a lot grander than i remember from the Lady Lockwood days when it seemed to be just a donkey sanctuary.

We all had sandwiches for lunch and decided not to have drinks at the Crown Inn which was packed with Fathers Day diners. We pressed on and I for one was glad of the open countryside sections which allowed you to clean your boots in the knee high grass where we spotted clusters of common orchids. We lost 3 walkers who who stopped to commune with goats (I think) but we all met up in Haslemere for tea and cakes to catch various trains home from 4.17 onwards. Great company on a rather gloomy day weatherwise. Summer must get better than this!!

I think we may have been 10 in total but it's hard to be sure as the train was cancelled at Guildford. 8 of us got the next train to Haslemere, then one back to Witley. At least 2 other walkers were on the platform at Guildford and we didn't see them again - hopefully they managed to get to Witley or do another walk. The weather was mostly sunny even warm at times and a 5 min sleet shower as we were finishing . The morning was quite good underfoot. There were some very mucky stretches but also some firm ground, more muddy in the afternoon. Nonetheless a really nice walk with a good mix of open countryside and woodlands.

14 on this walk including one late starter. It rained at the start but then was just grey . The dull light made it hard to photograph the autumn colours (see Facebook) but otherwise they were pretty well perfect - oak and beech gold and brown, Norway maple and field maple bright yellow: only hazel was still quite green, but green with a yellowy tinge.

This was the first walk I have been on this autumn that was quite muddy. One walker had an awkward fall as a result and complained of knee pain after, but soldiered on to the end. The Crown was awash with a wedding party but they soon left for church and we were then the only diners. Good food and attentive service. I was pleased to have a veggie curry with big portions for once.

More fine leaf colour in the afternoon - this was the best bit of the walk, I think. Seven of us had tea in Darnley’s but three others crossed the road to say the cakes were better over there. Quite a few of us got the 5.02 train and we were back in London by six. Too early! But that is winter for you.

Forgot to count but must have been 15 off the train. Weather was fine sunny and dry . A few hints of autumn colour but not full-on yet. Most raced ahead but 4 dawdled and visited the donkey sanctuary. Dawdling that first kilometer was made easy by a bountiful harvest of chestnuts. It was literally raining chestnuts. Scary! Bags, pockets, probably even a few cheeks were stuffed. In Chiddingfold, the Crown did not seem particularly eager for our company. Most went to the tea-room. A few of us went to the Swan which was much improved from what I remember. It's been taken over by a Hampshire brewery, Uphams, and the beer is quite er good. And the landlord seems to know a thing or two about wine. It’s been modernified and gastro-ised but not in a bad way. Those that ate there were pleased. I think I may have had a smile on my face when I left. Unfortunately no photographers captured that moment. And so to Haslemere where more ale was quaffed in another Swan. Then home.

Some bits could be a bit muddy after the weeks rains but that is probably true for all the walks this weekend

Bridie

I plan to go.

This Haslemere walk doesn't have the notorious muddy stretch after lunch.

A group of about 20 walkers, with 7 opting for an alternative route west(Witley - Thursley - Devils Punchbowl - Haslemere). Sunshine and clouds for most of the day then warm and wet from about 15.30.

20

Sunshine and clouds for most of the day then warm-and-wet-from-about-15.30.