Saturday Walkers' Club

Time Out Country Walks near London Volume 1

Walk 20 : Milford to Godalming

The Greensand Way & Winkworth Arboretum

Length 17.25km (10.7 miles), 5 hours. For the whole outing, including trains, meals and a church visit, allow 8 hours.
OS Maps Explorers 145, 133 & 134, or Landranger 186. Milford, map reference SU 955 414, is in Surrey, 9km south of Guildford.
Toughness 6 out 10.
Features This is a relatively strenuous walk, and bits of it can be muddy in wet weather, but it is rewarding and full of interest. From Milford Station, you come to the lakes and the magnificent timber-framed Enton Mill – one of the many houses on this walk that have seventeenth or eighteenth-century galleting – black pebbles lining the mortar of the walls, a method much used in those days in Kent and the south. Near a pub and church in Hambledon, you join the Greensand Way, a sandy bridleway through The Hurtwood, offering hazelnuts and blackberries in season. Lunch is at the gourmet White Horse pub in Hascombe, a village with a remarkable church covered in wall decoration, so that it looks almost Moorish.

In the afternoon, the walk goes on legitimate rights of way that give free access to the National Trust's Winkworth Arboretum and its lakes – the azaleas and bluebells make this a place to visit in springtime – and then along the fringes of its woods to a horse training course and the rich outskirts of Godalming, with its many imposing buildings. The final approach to the town is along the National Trust's River Wey and Godalming Navigations path along the canal, to the Church of St Peter and St Paul and the ancient High Street.

Shortening the Walk You could call for a taxi from the Merry Harriers pub in Hambledon. Arriva bus 42/44 runs about once an hour (not Sundays) from Hascombe to Godalming, passing Winkworth Arboretum.

If you have a map, you can save about 1km near the end of the walk by heading for Farncombe Station rather than Godalming; it is about 750m from the Farncombe Boat House.

History The timber-framed Enton Mill was built in 1757.

St Peter's Church, Hascombe, was rebuilt in 1863, following the old Saxon design, but slightly larger and incorporating older features such as the seventeenth-century font. At the same time, Canon Musgrave had almost every inch of wall space decorated 'to make us aware of God's glory shining through the physical world'. Above the altar is an ornate dome, formed from the decorated undersides of the roof's supporting timbers, and allowing a view through to the hallelujahs painted on the roof. John Betjeman called it 'a Tractarian work of art'. (The white button for the lights is just through the curtains, up on the left.)

The Old Cider House, Catteshall, was previously the Ram Cider House pub (which took its name from the Ram gravity pump used for raising water). The house is based on a wattle-and-daub sixteenth-century building and the pub used to sell 35 different types of cider.

Godalming is thought to mean 'field (-ing) of Godhelm' (the putative first Saxon to claim the land). It was a coaching town between London and Portsmouth, and a centre of trade in wool, stone-quarrying, timber, leather, paper, corn and brewing. The High Street has many half-timbered and projecting buildings.

Saturday Walkers Club Take the train nearest to 9.40am (before or after) from Waterloo Station to Milford. Buy a cheap day return ticket to Milford. Journey time 50 minutes. There are two trains an hour back from Godalming (hourly on Sundays), with a similar journey time.
Lunch The suggested lunchtime stop is the White Horse pub (tel 01483 208 258) in Hascombe, which serves good food from midday to 2.20pm daily (till 2.30pm at weekends). Groups of more than 15 people should phone to book.

An earlier lunch is possible at the recently refurbished Merry Harriers pub (tel 01428 682 883) near Hambledon, which serves lunch midday to 2pm daily. Groups of more than 15 should book.

Tea The recommended tea place is Hector's On the Wey café (tel 01483 418 769) at the Farncombe Boat House, Catteshall Lock, just outside Godalming. This serves strong tea and a good selection of cakes. Groups of more than 20 should phone ahead. This is open until 5pm or 6pm Wednesday to Sunday during the summer and at weekends in the winter. Allow 30 minutes to reach Godalming station.

If the Farncombe Boat House café is closed, there are several places in the centre of Godalming, such as Café La Crème at 15 Church Street, the Bay Tree coffee shop at 62 High Street and Caffè Nero at 91 High Street.

Earlier in the walk, there is a National Trust tearoom at Winkworth. This would make a convenient mid-afternoon stop if you have an early lunch at the Merry Harriers, or spend some time visiting the arboretum.

Travel by Train
  • Out: (not a train station)
  • Back: (not a train station)
Travel by Car

Start: Milford (Surrey) Station is near : GU8 5AD [gmap]

Finish: Godalming Station is near : GU7 1EU [gmap]

Return to your car by train:

  • (park at the start) at 4pm
  • (park at the end) at 10am
OS Explorer Map

145 : Guildford & Farnham [Amazon]

133 : Haslemere & Petersfield [Amazon]

134 : Crawley & Horsham [Amazon]
Revised

This walk was fully revised in : Apr-08.

Download the PDF (link above) for the revised instructions, but for the map, you'll still need the book.
Other Surrey Hills Walks Liphook to Haslemere, Farnham to Godalming, Gomshall to Guildford, Haslemere (round walk), Milford to Haslemere, Holmwood to Gomshall, Witley to Haslemere, Ockley to Warnham, Guildford to Farnham, Guildford to Gomshall, Effingham Junction to Westhumble, Coulsdon South Circular, Haslemere to Midhurst,

Walking Instructions 

[Numbers in square brackets refer to the map in the book.]

  1. [1] Coming out of Milford Station, cross the railway footbridge and exit platform 1 on the station building side by a white gate.
  2. Cross over the main road to take the footpath opposite, between fences; this narrow path runs parallel to the railway lines on its left-hand side, your direction 200°.
  3. In 425 metres the path bends right away from the railway lines and in a further 200 metres you begin to see lakes to the left-hand side. Then in 100 metres your path joins a farm track to continue straight on.
  4. In 300 metres cross a road (The Quest and Mill Lane Cottage are to your left) and continue ahead on a footpath, your direction 210°.
  5. In 140 metres you come out on a road T-junction, with Witley Social Club on your left-hand side, and you turn left, your direction 110°.
  6. In 210 metres bear right with the road, a stream (visible in winter) now on your left-hand side.
  7. In 150 metres you pass the very lovely Enton Mill on your left-hand side, to go under a railway bridge and continue on the road.
  8. 300 metres beyond the bridge, you come to a T-junction, by a barn supported on wooden pillars on your right-hand side [2]. Turn right, your direction 170°. In 140 metres, at a T-junction, cross it to go straight on, your direction 120°, on a signposted footpath.
  9. In 130 metres go over a stile bearing half right, your direction 130°.
  10. In 100 metres you pass a metal barrier (a kissing gate minus tongue) to continue straight on. In 200 metres cross a car lane and continue into another field, heading towards a lake (visible in winter). Keep the mini-pylons on your right, your direction due south.
  11. In 325 metres you bear left to enter the fringes of a wood through a metal swing gate (which has a wooden fieldgate on its left-hand side).
  12. In 40 metres, by a mini-pylon, fork left, following a yellow footpath arrow on a post, your direction 160°.
  13. In 100 metres you come to a post with arrows and turn left [3], your direction 100°, initially following overhead mini-pylons.
  14. In 65 metres, at a crossing of paths, keep straight on, your direction 110°. Ignore tracks to the right and in 100 metres, you come to a potentially muddy zone by a post with multiple arrows, at the edge of the wood. You go left, your direction 70°.
  15. In 65 metres you veer right with this wide bridleway, out of the wood, your direction now due east, following mini-pylons.
  16. In 600 metres you come out to a car road T-junction with the Merry Harriers pub to your right, a possible early lunch stop.
  17. Turn right on the road, your direction 165°. And in 25 metres turn left on to the signposted public footpath opposite the pub, through a metal kissing gate, your direction 75°.
  18. In 145 metres bend right with this path, and in a further 80 metres, your path becomes a driveway for houses. In 65 metres you come out on a tarmac road and turn left on this road, uphill, your direction 110°. In 50 metres you come to St Peter's Church, Hambledon, which, alas, is kept locked.
  19. Just past the church, but still alongside its churchyard wall [4], fork right on a signposted public bridleway (an earth car road), your direction 125° – and a small parking area on your left-hand side. You are now on the Greensand Way (so marked on the OS map).
  20. Keep on this road and, in 450 metres, it becomes a narrower path. In a further 370 metres, you come to a T-junction where you turn right, on a sandy road, your direction 170°.
  21. [!] In 20 metres turn left up an easy-to-miss public bridleway, your direction 150°, to go along the north fringe of the wood. In 170 metres fork right, down into the wood, your direction 140°, and ignoring ways off to remain on the Greensand Way.
  22. In 125 metres keep on, following a GW and bridleway sign (with a parallel car road on your right). In a further 75 metres, ignore a lesser car-wide way straight on, to fork left with your way, uphill, your direction 100°.
  23. Then in 130 metres, ignore a faint fork off down to the right and towards a house. Keep on the main path, now along the south edge of the wood.
  24. In 85 metres you pass under a mini-pylon. In 650 metres, having enjoyed fine views off to the right, ignore a signposted footpath off to the right.
  25. In 160 metres, at a tarmac road, go left, uphill, your direction 295°. In 85 metres turn right on a bridleway, signposted Greensand Way, your direction 45°, into The Hurtwood (as marked on the OS map).
  26. In 80 metres you pass a metal fieldgate to continue in the same direction.
  27. In 200 metres, at the top of the incline, bear slightly left along the main track. In 200 metres cross over a car-wide earth track and in a further 200 metres cross a car-wide earth road [5] to keep straight on along the Greensand Way. In 220 metres ignore a fork to the right.
  28. [!] In 150 metres, by a post, turn right, your direction 150°, following a GW yellow arrow.
  29. [!] In 25 metres, turn sharp left to go downhill on a narrow path, your direction 20° (not the wider track off to the left at a path junction just past this). The main track you left a few moments earlier is now down below on your left, on the other side of a bank.
  30. [!] In 200 metres (with – in winter only – a large house and tennis court visible ahead), and by a post with a yellow footpath GW arrow (on a black background), turn left, leaving the bridleway. Go steeply downhill, with wooden handrails on your right-hand side, your direction 50°.
  31. In 40 metres you exit the wood by a stile to continue on with the field edge on your right-hand side.
  32. In 130 metres go over two stiles and through a potentially extremely muddy area to reach the B2130. Cross the road to come to the White Horse pub, Hascombe, the suggested lunchtime stop.
  33. Coming out of the pub after lunch, fork sharp right into Church Road, your direction 25°, in 75 metres coming to the entrance to the delightful St Peter's Church, Hascombe (it is open to visitors).
  34. Continue on the road past the village pond on your right-hand side, and bear left with the road as it passes the School House on your right-hand side. Then in a further 200 metres, by a cottage [6], where one bridleway is straight on, you turn left, on another bridleway, your direction 290°, with the course of a stream still down below you on your left-hand side.
  35. In 75 metres you go over a stile on your right (with a metal fieldgate on its right-hand side), your direction now 305°. Continue over two stiles, and after 130 metres you join a bridleway and turn right along it, your direction 345°.
  36. In 80 metres your path merges with an earth road and you carry straight on through a metal field gate marked 'The Stables', ignoring a bridleway off to the left. In 45 metres you pass a house on your left-hand side. In a further 175 metres, fork left on a path down between fences following a blue public bridleway arrow, your direction 285°.
  37. In 120 metres, having negotiated this potentially muddy path, go through a metal fieldgate to cross the B2130 and continue straight on up a public bridleway (a gravel driveway signed to Leybourne Cottage), your direction 255°.
  38. In 55 metres you pass Elm Cottage on your left and, in a further 50 metres, Leybourne Cottage, to continue steeply up the bridleway.
  39. In 160 metres ignore an opening and way off to the left. In 145 metres, at the brow of the hill, you pass High Winkworth House on the left-hand side. By a sign for the entrance to High Hascombe House, turn left on the tarmac lane, your direction 260°.
  40. In 210 metres, at a tarmac T-junction, turn right, your direction due north.
  41. In 400 metres you come to the B2130 where you turn right on to the road, your direction due east (be careful as there is no pavement).
  42. [!] In 140 metres [7] turn left on to a not-very-evident signposted public footpath, just inside Eden House's driveway and forking left off it, your direction 345°.
  43. In 45 metres you pass a part-timber framed house on your left-hand side, with Winkworth Arboretum soon visible beyond the fencing on your right-hand side.
  44. In 500 metres or so, you come to an earth road, with a car park on your left-hand side, and you turn right, following a public footpath sign, through a wooden swing gate to the right of a metal fieldgate, your direction 55°, along a car-wide earth road. In 10 metres you pass a cottage on your right-hand side. And, in 60 metres, you pass the National Trust's ticket kiosk on your left (entrance to the Arboretum for those leaving the public footpath costs £5).
  45. In 150 metres, at a crossroads, you follow the yellow public footpath arrows going straight on down towards the Azalea Steps and lakes.
  46. In 75 metres turn left with the yellow arrow, by a wooden sign saying Fiona Adam Steps. At the bottom of these steps, turn right, again following the yellow arrow, your direction 110°.
  47. In 130 metres, at a T-junction, follow the yellow arrow to the right, your direction 200°.
  48. In 35 metres, where the steps go up to the right, turn left, with a log cabin then on your right-hand side, your direction due east. You pass a lake on your right-hand side.
  49. Out of the wood you come to a T-junction by a National Trust donation pyramid on your right, and you bear left with the yellow arrow, your direction 100°, passing a National Trust sign saying 'Hope you enjoyed your visit'.
  50. In 100 metres you go through the car park on to a tarmac road where you go left, your direction 345°.
  51. In 100 metres you can take the (rather overgrown) signposted 'Permissive Footpath' to your left, running parallel to the road; if you do this, you rejoin the road in 200 metres to continue in the same direction. In 100 metres, by a public footpath sign and a sign for Phillimore Cottage, [8] turn left uphill on a tarmac lane, your direction 340°.
  52. In 100 metres go over a stile on the right, marked with an arrow, then turn left, your direction 300°, with the field edge on your left-hand side. In 200 metres you go over a stile, then in 10 metres pass a sign saying 'Agricultural and Sporting pursuits in progress' to go straight on – in 15 metres crossing a path – your direction 310°.
  53. In 160 metres you pass a bench on your left-hand side to keep straight on (slightly to the right). Then in 45 metres you cross a path, and in a further 350 metres, having ignored all ways off, you come out through a metal kissing gate on to a tarmac road where you turn left, your direction due west.
  54. In 100 metres [9], by a public bridleway sign, turn right off the road on to a track, your direction 330°, ignoring a gate into a field on your right.
  55. In 250 metres, at the end of a tall wooden fence on your left-hand side, cross a bridleway to continue straight on past a metal barrier, between fences.
  56. In 265 metres cross a tarmac road [10] to continue straight on, along a signposted bridleway.
  57. In 1km you pass the swanky gates to Catteshall Farm on your left hand side. In a further 250 metres, you pass the entrance to Catteshall Manor (with a sign for The Book People) on your left-hand side, and bend right with the road. Then in 80 metres you come to a T-junction, with the timber-framed Old Cider House on your right-hand side, where you turn left, your direction 245°.
  58. In 65 metres you turn right into Catteshall Road, your direction 335°. Then in 80 metres you cross Warramill Road to continue ahead.
  59. In 50 metres, by Brocks Close, you fork left on to the main road to cross the bridge, your direction 300°. Stay on the road and, 175 metres beyond the bridge, you come to another one with Farncombe Boat House on the right-hand side.
  60. To visit Hector's On the Wey café, go down steps on the right on this side of the river; the café is at the far end of the boat house. Afterwards, return to the road and turn right.
  61. Once over the river, cross the road and turn left, going through a small metal swing gate in 5 metres, to pass Catteshall Lock on your left-hand side, continuing on the National Trust's River Wey & Godalming Navigations path, your direction 220°.
  62. In 900 metres you pass the partially converted Godalming United Church to come out on the A3100 where you turn left, your direction 210°, to cross the Town Bridge over the River Wey.
  63. At the other side of the bridge turn sharp right down some steps to get on to the riverside path, meandering with the river on your right-hand side (and Godalming library away to your left).
  64. In 450 metres, beyond the bowling green and before the church, fork left away from the river path towards the back entrance of the churchyard of Godalming's Church of St Peter and St Paul. Go through the churchyard and exit it, in 80 metres, into Deanery Place, near the entrance to the church.
  65. If you wish to visit one of the alternative tea places, turn left and go up Church Street. In 130 metres (having passed Café La Crème) you come to the High Street; the Bay Tree and Caffè Nero are along the High Street on your left. Afterwards, head back along the High Street and (by the Old Town Hall) turn right into Church Street to return to the church.
  66. Continue past the church entrance and across a road to pick up a signposted passageway leading to the station, still straight on.
  67. Once at Godalming Station you need to go under the subway for trains to London.