I imagine that the firing ranges will be open over the Easter weekend. Please let me have any necessary updates to the walk, or any offers to take it off me!

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Approximately fourteen walkers assembled at the station. Approximately, as in the mild chaos of locating the correct exit, we skipped a precise headcount. A late arrival joined us at the lunch pub just long enough to be included (and being a regular, it felt only right), bringing the likely total to fifteen.

One walker peeled off shortly after the start, not to be seen again (at least by the main group), while nine of the more energetically inclined pressed on together along the longer route to the Royal Oak pub. Of these, four committed to a proper pub lunch, while the remainder opted for sandwiches. A smaller contingent took the shortcut via the shooting ranges, which, in the spirit of the long Easter weekend, were reassuringly peaceful.

The four lunchers reconnected with the sandwich group at the station, and, in due course, were joined by some of the short-cutters who made a detour to the Jolly Farmer pub for an end-of-walk drink. Most of the group then caught the 16:06 back to London Waterloo, but not after a short argument as to which route was a short-cut or really a long-cut.

The weather improved as the day progressed: from a tentative drizzle at the start, through mild and overcast conditions, and finally into long, generous stretches of sunshine, with spring itself joining us for the latter stages.

Being the first week of April, the countryside was fully engaged in its seasonal performance. There were flowers-a-blooming and birds-a-singing in abundance. We passed several magnificent gardens in full spring flourish, with daffodils of such impressive proportions one felt they might be rented as flats in London, and early lilacs offering their unmistakable fragrance. Notable highlights included a splendid Araucaria (monkey puzzle tree) near St Mary’s church, and a particularly well-trained mulberry tree nearby, demonstrating a level of discipline (in its effort to resemble a super-sized bonsai tree) unknown to many short-cut taking walkers.

Additional entertainment was provided by a number of friendly pub dogs, a deer gracefully hopping across a field of daffodils, and several alpaca farms.

All in all, a fine walk and an excellent choice for the season, though perhaps marginally shorter than the advertised 19.8 km. That said, I am confident that the subsequent boot-cleaning efforts will comfortably make up the difference in the final accounting of effort

Supplementary

This walker took a more reasonable train (09:39) than the recommended. De-coupling at Woking to Alton he started around 30 mins behind the main group.

Overall this is a great walk for the time of year and the weather was set fair. His being an entire solo walk using the text (correction attached), he was pleased to catch up with the four lunchers at the Royal Oak from the posted train (thanks Maverick). Due to a prompt lunch service this walker treated himself (following in the steps of another swc member) to a pudding with coffee combo rather than press on.

Post the pub, with less than half the walk remains and with hourly trains back he pressed on to Worplesdon via the Jolly Farm (busy so not worth a drink stop - NB approx 20 minutes left to get to the station if taking the direct route)

In time for the 17:06 back and delighted to catch up with another regular walker where having not met him in a long while, uk politics was discussed.

Text corrections for the author

Point 14 page 9: The house is called West Heath no longer Shepherds Well and across the common no information board exists (must ask the author about the board and local giraffes and elephants)

The large gates of the firing ranges were closed at both ends, though nobody was using them. A local man (ex-military) told us that he thinks this is because of irresponsible dog owners.

Soldiers have to run forward, fall down flat and then fire, only to discover they’re now covered in dog mess.

However there are so many paths nearby, it’s not difficult to improvise a bypass.

The Jolly Farmer is an excellent pub providing both sunshine and shade in its spacious gardens.

As Karan says allow 20 mins to the station via the road, but if returning to the route, (more scenic and quieter) allow 40 minutes.

The shorter morning route across the Ash Ranges is worth doing, but it is avisable to call the Range Office in advance on 01252 325233 to check if they will be open. Otherwise you may have to turn round and retrace your steps for 1.4k, though GPS users should be able to find a more direct route, there are paths everywhere!

Thanks, Mike. Yes, Ash Ranges are open this weekend and they are not firing so the shorter route is available if people want to do it.

For up to date bus information see https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/buses-and-other-transport/bus-timetables/woking

Seven walkers were on the posted train to Ash Vale and after some initial confusion, set off along the Basingstoke canal. Early rain had stopped turning to a mild day with some sun . There was a lengthy debate about doing the shortcut, which a small majority favoured, and the others decided to stick with the group. We thought the track over the firing range was beautiful in the autumn sunlight and well worth doing. A short very muddy patch before the Red Lion resulted in some fragmentation of the group, in other words I fell behind. When I caught up I found two others had gone in for a drink and been told there would be a long wait for food. While eating nibbles and surreptitious sandwiches in the garden, we were joined briefly by walker 8. He had done the main route a bit behind us, and decided to get the bus to Woking. Incentivised to press on by the trains back being hourly, two motored off until we were intercepted by walker9 who had parked at Worplesdon village. We soon caught up with the picnickers and mostly stayed together for the rest of the walk, which was nearly all very easy going. We realised we were going to be in time for the 1506, which most duly caught.

Despite having posted this walk, I was not sure what to expect. It is a long while since I did it and then, I think, it was in winter. But autumn really suits this walk, the golden October sun slanting through the trees, flecks of leaf colours, and - particularly in the afternoon - lots of fungi of diverse types, which I wish I could identify. (Fly agaric, puffballs…but what were the others?) We were 8 at the station and no one joined us later or popped up en route, so 8 it was. Five of us ate in the garden of the Royal Oak pub - it was warm enough when the sun shone, though there were a few clouds and one disobliging sprinkle of raindrops. The food met with general approval and came pretty quickly. Like so many pubs with a former reputation for being popular, it was not busy at all in these straitened times. After lunch a nice variety of scenery - fungi-filled woods, some fields, a strange deserted complex on the edge of Worplesdon village which we eventually decided was a college of some kind. Just before this we had a sit down in the sun for a while - a forgotten tradition of SWC walks that could do with a revival. There is supposedly a hotel in Worplesdon village where we might have tried to get tea if we had ever managed to find it. But we were out the other side before we realised we had not done so. Given this, all but one of us opted to do the diversion to the Jolly Farmer pub for tea (only one had beer) in its charming garden. Two then braved the road on the direct route to the station. The rest of us returned to the main walk route - which involved an almost identical stretch down an identically busy road. I would have thought that it would make sense to make the diversion to the Jolly Farmer the standard ending. Certainly that is what I will do in future. (Note to anyone planning to do this walk in June or July: Whitmoor Common and its woods is a good place for butterflies at that time of year). The last bit down a quiet lane to the station was very pleasant and we were in good time for the 5.40pm train. All in all a satisfactory way to fill a Saturday and a walk that should be done more often.

I have just checked the train times for this and currently (as of Friday am) there are no issues showing for the trains for this walk due to snow.

was hoping to do Tonbridge walk but weather appear to be better for this walk. Any takers for ending at Brookwood Station (about 10 miles in total)

Weather forecast here is sunny. Plan to do Ash Vale to Brookwood but 9:53am start at Waterloo, everyone is welcome.

There were 9 of us on the delayed 1014 and at least 3 on a later train,so let's say 12 on a beautiful day with snow underfoot especially along the canal and in the first woodland section. The Royal Oak only just fitted us in for lunch, those who dined seemed satisfied. Two of us returned to the canal and walked to Brookwood after lunch; I wasn't aware of the other comments till later so don't know if anyone else took a short cut. Anyway, great to have a wintry day out in the sunshine.

13, as there were 4 on the later train. The remaining 11, walked to Worplesdon in separate groups and caught 4:14pm train. Lovely snow covered countryside and sunny all day make this an excellent outing. In the afternoon we saw Alpaca, Ostrich and Lama etc. The only disappointment of this walk (ie walk design) was no refreshment anywhere nearby at the end of the walk, all felt the earlier pub was too soon (just an hour after lunch).

Yes there was a good turnout in June. I haven't got round to updating the directions, but not much had changed. Paragraph 3 – I think the blue arrow has gone, but the turning is obvious enough. Paragraph 22 – the important thing here is to keep to the right of all the campus buildings, with a fence and field to your right.

7 set off under bright-clear-crisp-winter-skies for a varied and interesting walk which works very well in the winter. The route in the morning followed some very picturesque sections of the Basingstoke Canal -- portions of which were covered with a thin layer of ice. We then skirted through lightly forested sandy heathlands. Five enjoyed a warming lunch at the pub where the two sandwich eaters joined us to thaw out and eventually to continue together with the walk. Point 22 of the instructions generated some discussion and could benefit from some further refinement... After a slight exploratory detour to a local farm yard, however, we did ultimately continue on piste....It appears the GPX and the written instructions vary somewhat from time to time from this point onwards....After some discussion in the woods, we concluded timings were probably better suited for continuing on the main route by-passing the pub. On this section of the route, point 32 generated some further discussion with the group splitting into 2 for the final leg -- both arriving in good time for the 16:40.

Hard to print out more than a few pages of the document?

I had no problem! Walk looks good.

Around 18 on this walk in pleasant weather: the sun emerged in the afternoon. Warm enough to sit out in pub garden at lunch. Prompt service. Tricky walking instructions in places. Plenty of armed, but friendly, soldiers running about in the first half of the walk: a regiment competition, rather than a felt need to police the bandits hiking on army land. Most got the 3.40 back to Waterloo. Thanks for putting the walk on.

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