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Farnham to Godalming Walk

A long but pretty walk with gentle hills via a nice mixture of river valley, forest tracks, and many beautiful country houses.

Gastro Pub My Favourites North Downs Surrey Surrey Hills

History

Club walks since April 2015, and a summary which goes back to Jan 2010.

Date Option Post # Weather
Sat, 26-Jul-25 Farnham to Godalming 11 cloudy with glimpses of sun
Sat, 23-Dec-23 Farnham to Godalming 10 cloudy and mild
Sun, 29-May-22 Farnham to Godalming (or back to Farnham) 4 chilly cloudy start but got warmer
Wed, 02-Feb-22 Farnham to Godalming - River Wey, the North Downs Way, Waverley Abbey, Peper Harrow Estate, and back along the River Wey into Godalming 27 the morning was overcast but turning sunny mid afternoon
Wed, 29-Jul-20 Farnham to Godalming - River Wey, Waverley Abbey and Peper Harrow Park 15 warm summers day
Wed, 06-Nov-19 Farnham to Godalming - River Wey, Waverley Abbey and Peper Harrow Park 9 Sunny to midday then cloudy
Sat, 26-Jan-19 Farnham to Godalming - A quiet corner of Surrey 13 mostly dry and occasionally sunny
Sat, 07-Oct-17 Farnham to Godalming (or Circular) - Surprisingly remote for Surrey 30 overcast all day
Sun, 26-Feb-17 Surrey Heathlands 9 mild and dull with some wind
Sat, 02-Apr-16 Saturday First Walk - The River Wey valley, with sandy heaths in between 7 sunny and warm a bit cloudy in the late afternoon
Sat, 28-Mar-15 Farnham to Godalming Walk 3
Sat, 28-Jun-14 Farnham to Godalming Walk 7
Sun, 02-Jun-13 Farnham to Godalming Walk 13
Sat, 19-Mar-11 Farnham to Godalming Walk
Sat, 21-Aug-10 Farnham to Godalming Walk
Sat, 21-Mar-09 Farnham to Godalming Walk
Sun, 20-Jul-08 Farnham to Godalming Walk
Sat, 22-Mar-08 Farnham to Godalming Walk
Sat, 24-Mar-07 Farnham to Godalming Walk
Sat, 26-Jul-25
Farnham to Godalming 11
PeteG
PeteG
Length: 21.23km (13.19 miles) 5.5 hours
" This walk starts and ends along the River Wey. It follows the start of the North Downs Way through a narrow forested valley. It passes close to the ruins of Waverley Abbey (English Heritage), and goes through woods to Charleshill. There are further sandy bridleways through woods before entering the open parklands of the Peper Harrow estate which has its own church and cricket pitch. Then along a narrow wooded valley beside the River Wey to tea in Godalming's ancient centre.

The majority of this walk is within shaded woods, hence it can be undertaken on a hot summer's day without feeling uncomfortable. Conversely, because many of the paths (particularly after lunch) are sandy bridleways, the walk tends not to be as muddy as other walks can be."

Trains: Get the 0954 Alton train from Waterloo (Clapham 1001) , arriving 1055. Return trains to Waterloo are at: xx10, xx42, xx51.

Buy a return to Farnham. You will also need to buy a single from Godalming to Guildford at the end of the walk.

Lunch: The Donkey is closed, leaving The Barley Mow after 4miles. as an early stop.

Tea: The long afternoon can be broken with a short diversion to the Stag on the River pub in Lower Eashing. Godalming has various tea options with The Star being the favoured pub.

  • SouthernExplorer
    Jul-25

    The Star pub is holding a street party on Saturday 26th July with seating, tables, outdoor bar and live music to celebrate being awarded Green Kings pub of the year 2025.

  • Austen
    Jul-25

    Given the late start, I might take an earlier train.

    Mind you, after the performance of Waterloo last weekend, I am not expecting much in the way of service.

  • Sandy
    Jul-25

    Yes Austen, I failed to get out of the borough of Kingston on Saturday and there was another meltdown on Monday. It’s allegedly all fixed now though

  • SouthernExplorer
    Jul-25

    I’ll try to catch up.

  • PeteG
    Jul-25

    A total of 11 on this pleasant walk. Cohesion started to drop with the suggestion of a swift half after 4 miles, with two opting to carry on. Most went for pints and were in the garden when walker 12 appeared, deciding to also carry on.

    There is no obvious picnic spot, but we settled on a quiet verge around mile 6. Two hared off aiming for cake at the end.,but we thought the Stag was worth checking out, briefly reuniting with walker 11. By Godalming just two of us braved the queue in the Star, which was quite quick and we got seats, being joined by a walker last seem eating in the Barley Mow and a local, getting the 1810.

  • Sandy
    Jul-25

    cloudy with glimpses of sun .

    11 is right, unless there was an early starter; I think number 12 was a slip of the pen

  • Walker
    Jul-25

    11 then

Thomas G
Length: 21.3 km (13.2 mi)
Ascent/Descent: 246/271m
Net Walking Time: ca. 5 hours
Toughness: 4 out of 10
Take the 09.24 Alton train from Waterloo (CJ 09.31, Surbiton 09.42), arriving Farnham 10.25.
Missed the train? Take the 09.30 Portsmouth Harbour train and change at Woking (09.54/10.00).
Return trains from Godalming : xx.12, xx.25 and xx.40 (from 40 mins journey time).
Buy a return to Farnham. You will also need to buy a single from Godalming to Guildford on the return.
This walk starts and ends along the River Wey. It follows the start of the North Downs Way through a narrow forested valley, passing close to the ruins of Waverley Abbey (English Heritage), and goes through woods to The Donkey, the suggested walker friendly lunchtime pub in Charles Hill (booking advised). After lunch, there are further sandy bridleways through woods before entering the open parklands of the Peper Harrow estate which has its own church and cricket pitch. Then continue along a narrow wooded valley beside the River Wey to tea in Godalming's ancient centre.
Because many of the paths (particularly after lunch) are sandy bridleways, the walk tends not to be as muddy as other walks can be in winter.
Lunch: The Barley Mow in Tilford (7.0 km into the walk, food to 15.00) or The Donkey in Charles Hill (9.7 km into the walk, food to 14.30) .
Tea: various options in Godalming, check the webpage or the pdf.
For walk directions, map, photos, height profile and gpx/kml files click here .
  • Walker
    Dec-23

    Only four of us on the train at Waterloo, but 10 assembled on the platform at Farnham, so a nice sized group after all. There was a bit of sun, but it didn’t last, so basically cloudy and mild . Paths were VERY dry for the most part, making this a good choice of walk for the time of year.

    Five expressed interest in a pub lunch: the others presumably had sandwiches and carried on to Godalming. The morning passed pleasantly. When we got to the Donkey, we found it moderately busy and nice and cosy. The food was delicious and in ample portions - very seasonal, with lots of “hygge”.

    After lunch, two went on to Godalming and three looped back to Farnham using the Farnham Circular route of the Guildford to Farnham walk. We reached there at 3.30pm - perhaps a little early. One got the train straightaway to watch the footie. Two of us went to the town centre for tea and a look at the Christmas lights. I pen these lines on the 17.28 train, which is taking an odd route home due to a broken rail near Woking…

Mr M Tiger

20.6km (12.8 miles), 6/10
(A shorter 10 mile walk is possible - see below).
We start along the River Wey, then follow the North Downs Way through woods, past the ruins of Waverley Abbey and through more woods. We peer nervously into Mother Ludlum’s Cave then run away quick before she catches us. In the afternoon, sandy bridleways, woods, open parkland and more River Wey till Godalming is reached.
For a shorter 10 mile walk you could follow the second half of CW2 Walk 12 back to Farnham from the Donkey. (Note, though, that that option involves a 450m stretch along a road with no verge).
Trains
Get the 10:07 Alton /Basingstoke train from Waterloo (Clapham Jct 10:15) arriving Farnham 11:13.The train divides at Woking so make sure you are in the Alton section of the train.
Return from Godalming at xx:27 and xx:56.
Get a return to Farnham plus a single from Godalming to Guildford.
(Should you do the shorter walk, trains return from Farnham at xx:00 and xx30)
Lunch
First up, the Barley Mow (tel 01252 792 205) in Tilford. The traditional lunch stop for SWC walkers comes some 2.75km (45 minutes) later, The Donkey (tel 01252 702 124), in Charles Hill (booking advised). Both pubs described as walker-friendly.
Tea: Godalming
For an early stop, try the Stag on the River in Eashing (tel 01483 421568).
In Godalming itself, Caffè Nero is open till 5:30 and Costa Coffee open to 5, both on the High Street. (Café Mila closes at 3). For a pub, there's the Star on Church Street.
Tea: Farnham
The Mulberry, the pub by Farnham station, serves tea and coffee well into the evening,. Quieter pub options nearby include The Lamb and the William Cobbett on the other side of the A31.
Directions: Main walk Farnham to Godalming
Shorter walk back to Farnham: From the Donkey, follow the Guildford to Farnham walk from point 108.


  • author image
    Mr M Tiger
    May-22

    4 arrived at Farnham. It was a chilly cloudy start but got warmer . We made good progress through the verdant countryside until we got to the sheep. The sheep had fallen on its side in a heavily fortified field and was struggling to get up. Being sophisticated city folk, sheep wrangling was not really our thing. Not mine anyway. After some deliberation, we headed on and tried enquiring at local houses. Having been told it would die if left there, we headed back,with a few more walkers in tow, to sort the sheep out, but were overtaken by a local who had overheard us. She sprinted past, leapt over the locked gate and before any of us could catch up, had flipped the sheep over. It was fine. (As was I when I fell over earlier).

    Only one ate at the Donkey but some drinks were consumed. One of the donkeys gave us a hee-haw. Windows rattled.

    Here we parted company, 2 going to Godalming and 2 back to Farnham.

    The Farnham 2 tried going over Crookham Hill to avoid the stretch of road with no verge. The detour was fine with good views but we then had to contend with a busier, longer road that also had no verge.

    We got to Farnham OK and visited the Bush Hotel which has a pleasant garden and a couple of cheeky robins looking for scraps. Worth noting, perhaps, that some of the route retraces the morning's.

Marcus
Book 1 Walk 12 - Farnham to Godalming

Length: 20.6 km (12.8 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10 Several ups and downs but no steep hills today
London Waterloo: 09-53 hrs South Western service to Alton Clapham Junction: 10-00 hrs
Arrive Farnham: 10-55 hrs
Younger walkers with travelcards - activate your cards from Clapham Junction
Return
Godalming to Waterloo: South Western services at 12, 25, 40 and 51 mins past the hour
Rail ticket: today you will need a day return to Farnham PLUS an off-peak single from Godalming to Guildford
Much of today's west to east walk is along sandy bridleways which hopefully will be well drained and subject to minimal mud. Let's hope so.
Leaving Farnham we soon find ourselves on the North Downs Way then the Moor Park Heritage Trail as we pass WW2 pillboxes then Mother Ludlam's Cave. On then with views of Waverley Abbey, along tracks and into the village of Tilford. The pub in the village, the Barley Mow, although only one third of the way into the walk, makes for a most pleasant early lunch stop. Otherwise, luncheon is taken forty five minutes later in the village of Charleshill at the popular Donkey pub.
After Charleshill we head for the Peper Harrow Estate and then towards the River Wey which we follow into Godalming. For tea and cakes the suggested stop is Cafe Mila off the High Street. For a good pint of beer, the pub in town recommended by SWC's beer connoisseurs (and we don't argue with them ) is the comfy The Star in Church Street.
This is a long walk for an early February day but if we maintain a non-dawdle pace we will manage most of it in daylight with only the final riverside leg in the gloaming.
Walk Directions are here: L=1.12
  • author image
    Margaret
    Feb-22

    A short option is possible by combined this walk with walk 2-12 for the afternoon route from the Donkey pub, which gives a Farnham Circular of about 10 miles.

  • Marcus
    Feb-22

    With later starters we mustered a very healthy 27 today. And we were lucky with the weather again for our Wednesday walk. Although the sun we had enjoyed on the train journey to Farnham had disappeared by the time we set out on our walk it was still very mild and the morning was overcast but turning sunny mid afternoon . So very acceptable walking conditions for an early February day. But the big bonus today was there was virtually no mud on the paths and bridleways, so walking was that much easier and more enjoyable than when plodding through mud.

    On reaching Tilford eight of us decided to stop and take an early lunch at the Barley Mow pub, and although the landlady had an unfortunate knack of overcharging her customers (3 of us !) we nevertheless all had a nice lunch and the Harveys beer was top dollar.

    In the meantime the others had continued on their walk to the Donkey pub in Charleshill, where I gather some seeking a drink and a snack had a less than friendly welcome. How dumb are some publicans in post lockdown times. At least 3 walkers switched from the walk directions to the Book 2 walk to double back to Farnham on a 10 mile walk. But the rest continued on today's posted walk to Godalming, as did us Barley Mow diners some forty minutes behind the others. In the sun the afternoon was quite lovely and easy going through Surrey's heathland and countryside. My group of six found the Church of St Nicolas in Peper Harrow open for once and it was so nice to visit this interesting church - the first time for me during the seven times I have been on this walk. A little later, after crossing the noisy A3 road, two in my group peeled off to visit the Stag on the River pub in Eashing, leaving the rest of us to continue on the walk to Godalming.

    On reaching the town at walk-end, we found a dozen or so of today's picnickers comfortably encamped in the Star pub on Church Street. The Barley Mowers joined them. Some took an early dinner, taking advantage of "Wednesday burger evening" - and very good they looked, too. We left the pub in relays for the short walk to Godalming Railway station, where fast trains took us back to London.

    For the second week running, on reaching home it was so nice to take off the walking boots and not be faced with a boot cleaning job.

    A rewarding day's walking in lovely company.

  • Marcus
    Feb-22

    I forgot to include today's nature notes in my walk report below. Some good clumps of snowdrops were spotted in the afternoon, and birdsong was good all day, particularly around Eashing. Maybe Spring is not too far off.

Marcus
Book 1, Walk 12 - Farnham to Godalming

 Length: 20.6 km (12.8 miles). Continuing along the river at walk-end to Guildford adds 4 miles to the walk.
Toughness: 6 out of 10


Meeting place: outside Farnham station building at 11-30 hrs

 We will do a socially-distanced meet up there and split into groups of no more than si x . You must please be prepared to swop contact details with others in your group for contact tracing purposes

If you are comfortable travelling on public transport out of rush hour, and comply with social distancing rules and wear face covering etc, the suggested train to the walk-start is as follows:

London Waterloo: 10-23 hrs. Alton service. CJ 10-30 hrs
Arrive Farnham: 11-25 hrs

Return service: Godalming to Waterloo: 16-09, 16-25, 16-41, 16-51, 17-11, 17-25, 17-41, 17-51, 18-25 hrs and so on

Guildford to Waterloo: usually 4 fast trains an hour

Rail ticket: Buy an off-peak day return to Farnham plus a single from Godalming to Woking

Today's walk in the western extremities of leafy Surrey starts and ends along the River Wey. Fit walkers can have an extended walk beside the river by continuing at walk-end from Godalming to Guildford. At this time of year this extension should make for a very enjoyable early evening walk. But for us lesser mortals, 12.8 miles should be quite sufficient for today's walk, along mostly flat sandy bridleways and through commons.

The delightful early pub-lunch stop on this walk is the Barley Mow in Tilford. The pub has reopened and has a new menu for current conditions. But the traditional pub stop for this walk comes 50 minutes later on in the walk at the Donkey pub, Charleshill, which should be open and serving food and drinks. If stopping here say hello to the two donkeys, Pip and Dusty, resident in the back garden.

The afternoon leg of the walk takes you towards walk-end back along the river into Godalming. Tea options are listed in the walk directions, found here: L=1.12
  • Anonymous
    Jul-20

    hi Marcus please correct me if i'm wrong but just looked up the bus 46 route and there appears to be a stop at Charleshill where the lunchtime pub, the Donkey, is situated?

    runs every 2 hours

    thanks

  • Marcus
    Jul-20

    Hi Anonymous, Yes - the timetable shows there should be a Number 46 bus service to Goldalming stopping in Tilford, Charles Hill today at 12-52 hrs and 14-52 hrs. But I leave it to you to work out where the bus stop is !

  • Marcus
    Jul-20

    I met ten off the posted train outside Farnham station, and we sort-of splintered into a number of small groups before setting off, rather haphazardly, on today's walk. Three others had taken an earlier train, and one had driven to Godalming to do part of the walk backwards, so totting up, methinks that makes 15.

    We were blessed with another warm summers day , sunny most of the time, but not as hot as the previous week in Balcombe: near ideal walking conditions. Infact, given over 85 % of the walk is within shaded woodland, we could have tackled this walk on a hot day and not felt uncomfortable.

    We opted to delay lunch until the second pub, The Donkey in Charleshill, where four of us dined - and met the early-train three who were finishing their meal. The pub's owner and staff managed the Covid-compliance very well and efficiently without being officious, and our food dishes, which arrived promptly, were delicious and enjoyed by all. So well done, and thank you to the Donkey.

    Pip was in the paddock behind the pub, looking dozy, but no sign of Dusty today, having a snooze in her stable, perhaps.

    After lunch, per usual, we separated into a number of sub-groups, making for all ports in west Surrey. I remained with my three diners for the afternoon leg, now in warm sunshine, through more woodland trails before reaching Peper Harrow - the only open bit of the walk. Onwards then to Godalming and the final leg beside the River Wey. Three of us stopped for a drink in the Star pub on the High Street (where our car driver was spotted loitering). Two or three from a different pod stopped for a pint in the sun at the Stag on the River in Eashing, and we met them at the railway station. The 18-25 was running a little late, but no matter: by then, we had enjoyed a long day in the sun and a snooze on the journey home was in order.

Marcus
Book 1 Walk 12 - Farnham to Godalming

 Length: 20.6 km (12.8 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10

Either (for Senior Railcard holders - and Clapham Junctioners)
London Waterloo: 09-53 hrs Alton service CJ 10-0 hrs Woking 10-30 hrs
Arrive Farnham: 10-55 hrs

Or (for non-Senior Railcard holders)
London Waterloo: 10-00 hrs Portsmouth Harbour service (Does not stop at Clapham Junction)
Arrive Woking: 10-24 hrs Change trains
Leave Woking: 10-30 hrs On Alton service
Arrive Farnham: 10-55 hrs

Return

Godalming to Waterloo: 11, 25, 38 and 51 mins past the hour (plus 17-41 hrs)

Rail ticket: Buy a day return to Farnham plus a single from Godalming to Woking


Today's walk starts and ends along the River Wey. In between it passes close to the ruins of Waverley Abbey and heads through woods and along sandy bridleways to your choice of lunch pub stops. The (usually excellent and homely) Barley Mow pub is some 6.25 km into the walk at Tilford. Continue on for another 2.75 km and you will reach The Donkey pub in Charleshill, the traditional stop on this walk. Whichever pub you plan to stop at, best 'to phone ahead with numbers.
After lunch the walk takes you through more woods and along more sandy bridleways until you reach the Peper Harrow Estate (with only one 'pee"). Soon afterwards the walk returns to the River Wey for a relaxing river path walk all the "way" into Godalming. Proprietors or Managers of the tea options listed in the Directions will all welcome your walk-end custom.
Although I do not promise today's walk will be totally mud-free, the sandy paths help keep footbed conditions reasonably dry, making this walk suitable to do after lengthy periods of steady rain or in winter.

Walk Directions are here: L=1.12
  • Walker
    Nov-19

    9 of us. Sunny to midday then cloudy . Glorious autumn colours. Beech, larch, sweet chestnut all at their golden best and many oaks looking good too. Kestrels, a kingfisher (seen by one), still some fungi, pink spindle berries.

    Two of us had lunch at The Donkey. Some tried to feed the donkey carrots but it was not interested. Some sandwichistas left early but others drank with the diners. Most (all?) of us finished the walk in the daylight, to my surprise. Of my group, only I went for tea in Godalming, the others being keen to rush home and catch the height of the rush hour.

    Mid afternoon a lady coming the other way announced cheerfully “You are lost!” She had deduced this from the fact we were on her land and not on a right of way. Otherwise direction finding was trouble free. Despite its length this walk was a perfect fit for a November day. Minimal mud.

Walker
Length: 20.6km (12.8 miles). For a shorter 16.2km (10.1 mile) walk, see ** below
Toughness: 6 out of 10.

Catch the 9.23 train from Waterloo to Farnham, arriving 10.25

If you just miss this train, get the 9.30 Portsmouth train from Waterloo to Woking and change there (arrive 9.54, depart 10.00) for the above train.

From Clapham Junction, get the 9.27 Exeter train and change at Woking (arrive 9.45, depart 10.00).

Buy a day return to Farnham. On the way back you need a single from Godalming to Guildford (tickets to Farnham are valid via Guildford, even though this is not the normal route).

 For walk directions click here. For GPX click here.

Once you get free of the horrid A31, this walk is a very pleasant walk up an interesting river valley to the pretty village of Tilford. You are then into more woody heathy territory (which has the advantage of sandy soils to keep the mud quotient down) as far as Charleshill.

Lunch can either be at The Barley Mow in Tilford or the Donkey in Charleshill. The latter is quite small and somewhat gastro and it would probably be wise to have phoned to secure a place. (I have made a booking for 8 people, just to start the ball rolling...). The former is from memory a somewhat larger establishment but is only 3 miles or so into the walk.

After Charleshill you are out in quite wild and remote Surrey territory. Truth to tell, I have not done this part of the walk for 15 years or so, so my comments must needs be somewhat approximate. I can vouch for the pretty ending in Godalming though an area of wild riverside also passed on the Warnborough to Godmalming walk. For tea Godalming has various choices, including - if all else fails - a Costa Coffee open till 6.30pm.

** The shorter option, a walk of 16.2km (10.1 miles) is to do the Farnham Circular option of the Guildford to Farnham walk. To do this, follow the Farnham to Godalming walk as far as the Donkey and then switch to paragraph 109 on page 9 of these directions (you need only print pages 9 and 10). GPX here.

Trains back from Godalming are at 25 and 53 past and from Farnham at 28 and 58 past


  • Anonymous
    Jan-19

    I can recommend Changing Perceptions Community Cafe and Workshop in Godalming for tea. Cafe Mila is also good although last time I was there it was very busy with families.

  • Walker
    Jan-19

    13 on this walk. Despite rain being threatened for the afternoon, it largely held off, with only very minor precipitation after 3.30pm. It was even sunny at times around lunchtime and in the early afternoon. So mostly dry and occasionally sunny .

    I had booked for eight at The Donkey, a wise precaution as it turned out. As it happened, eight was the exact number who wanted to eat, so that was handy. One also joined us as a drinks-only companion. Four picnickers presumably went on without us, as picnickers are wont to do. We eight had a very nice lunch in the conservatory with a good view of the eponymous donkeys, who some of the party communed with after eating.

    The afternoon stretch was the bit of the walk I had not done for years. It is perfectly pleasant in winter, dry underfoot, with some nice wooded bits. We got to Godalming around 4.30, so filled the day nicely. Cafe Mila was just closing and there was some fragmentation of the group as we looked for alternatives. Four of us ended up in Costa Coffee and two of those joined two others later in a pub. The train home was full of football supporters on the way back from Portsmouth, but fortunately the BTP (British Transport Police) were out in force and there was no rowdiness.

Walker
Farnham to Godalming (Book 1, walk 12) - 20.6km (12.8 miles)

or

 Farnham Circular (Book 2, walk 12c) - 16.2km (10.1 miles)

Toughness: 6 out of 10 (officially, but I remember it as fairly flat actually...)

 9.23 train from Waterloo (9.41 Surbiton) to Farnham, arriving 10.25

If you miss the above, the 9.30 Portsmouth Harbour train from Waterloo gets to Woking at 9.54, where you can catch the above train at 10.00

 From Clapham Junction, squeeze onto the 9.27 Exeter train, arriving Woking 9.45 and connect as above.

Buy a day return to Farnham. If returning from Godalming you will need to get a single from Godalming to Guildford (two stops) on the return leg. (Guildford, not Woking, it having been established in the past that a Farnham return goes through the automatic barriers at Guildford and is thus valid for travel to that station.)

For walk directions click here. For GPX file click here.

If you are doing the Farnham Circular option you also need pages 6, 7 and 11 of this document (starting with page 11), with the GPX file available here.

This walk (Farnham to Godalming) basically shadows the River Wey throughout, though for much of its length water is not in sight. An exception is the start of the walk where there is a pretty walk up the river valley (including remains of Second World War defences) to Tilford. Though it is only about a quarter of the way into the walk, the Barley Mow here is a possible lunch stop. You might at least like to check before passing it whether the Donkey in Charleshill, the official lunch stop for this walk, can accommodate you, as the latter is a small-ish pub (though a very nice one).

After Charleshill, the Farnham to Godalming walk continues through woods and heaths - surprisingly remote countryside for Surrey - to pretty Godalming for tea. The Farnham Circular option is to instead switch to option c of the Book 2 walk 12 directions, which takes you over heaths and through woods back to Farnham - a slightly shorter walk for those who think 12.8 miles is a bit of a stretch.

Trains back from Godalming at 25 and 53 past
from Farnham at 28 and 58 past.
  • Anonymous
    Oct-17

    Anyone interested in doing Farnham circular?

  • Anonymous
    Oct-17

    I probably will do the Farnham Circular but we do not need to choose until after The Donkey pub - the recommended lunch venue. Stephen

  • Anonymous
    Oct-17

    Yes,I'm keener on doing the circular one. Also at lunching at the Donkey, the other one sounds too soon into the walk.

    See you on Saturday !

    Gabriella

  • Anonymous
    Oct-17

    Sounds good, Stephen and Gabriella. I will join you.

  • Anonymous
    Oct-17

    30 got off of the train at Farnham

    The guard on the train seemed to have loads of extra work to do as over the intercom he offered tickets for future travel to save people queuing at the station on Sunday or Monday morning and also offered to print out time tables - is this part of the idea to increase guards productivity ? As we left the train he announced 'To the majority of you leaving at this station I have one word for you " Walkies " ' - which raised a titter - nice to have happy guards - we were hoping to get him on the way back but no such luck - our return guard was a lot less sanguine.

    I guess 20 of the walkers did the short version ( Farnham circular ) and so returned to that station in dribs and drabs for the return journey which means about 10 did the Godalming version

    The weather was overcast all day but still quite mild so it was shirt sleeves for most of us throughout the walk

    This walk is very pretty with lots of autumnal leaves and some violet toadstools - see pics - in the woods and occasional views out to the surrounding area. It is easy and flatish so the short version is no more than say a grade 2. We measured it as 17.4 km. The only downside is the amount of metaled paths which were a bit hard on my feet knees and hips

    About 18 of us had lunch in The Donkey - excellent service and the food was wonderful according to the 5 others on my table and the staff were good natured. 2 of the walkers seemed determined to moan and whine loudly about the service whilst waiting at the counter - well done the staff for keeping a good attitude and looking after us - thank you to them

    Five of us researched a new cafe the Krema in Farnham old town - about 500 meters form the station and the cafe was very good as was the tea ( loose leaf ) and the cakes - not too sweet. One of our group mentioned that service in this area seemed to be very good - on the train, in the Donkey and now at Krema - it works we all left feeling really good.

    https://www.facebook.com/Kremacoffeefarnham-947903108614897/ and they do well on trip advisor

    For those who are interested there is a good selection of charity shops in Farnham

    Thank you to the people I walked with for a good day

    General Malaise

  • Anonymous
    Oct-17

    About 10 ate in the earlier pub, the report was also excellent, one said it was the best pub he ate for a while, so thumb up for this pub.

Sun, 26-Feb-17
Surrey Heathlands 9
PeteB
PeteB
Book 2 Walk 12c Farnham circular

Length 16.2km (10.1m); toughness 3/10.

Trains:10.07 London Waterloo arrives Farnham 11.13

Return trains from Farnham on the hour (may have to change at Woking and at xx:30 (direct)

An attractive walk exploring the ancient man-made habitats of the Surrey heathlands.

Walk instrutions

Click here for the instructions for the Book 1 Walk 12 Farnham to Godalming walk and your two lunch pub options

See here for more details about this Book 2 walk. Click on the download walk pdf tab at the top of the page and refer to Section C at the end of the pdf file for information on completing the circular walk back to Farnham.
  • PeteB
    Feb-17

    9 on this walk including a family of 4 whose six year old son set a cracking pace at the start by running ahead. (Ah the reckless energy of a six year old).We all met up at the Donkey pub, which still has donkeys but all the tables were booked so the family group ate the at the bar whilst the rest of us who had brought sandwiches had a drink. The pub/restaurant is tiny and there's hardly any room for those who just want a drink but the staff are friendly enough.

    After lunch we parted from the family and five of us ambled through the heathland which to be frank did not look at its best in late February and is in fact mainly woodland. Three of us had a tea at the hotel in Farnham before catching the 4.30pm train home.

    A fine day out on a mud-free and stile free walk with the weather mild and dull with some wind .

Walker
Book 1 Walk 12 - Farnham to Godalming
Length: 20.6km (12.8 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10

9.23 train from Waterloo to Farnham, arriving 10.25

If you miss this, get the 9.30 Portsmouth train and change at Woking (arrive 9.54, depart 10.00)

 From Clapham Junction get the 9.27 to Woking, arrive 9.45, to connect as above.

 Buy a day return to Farnham. Past experience has proved that this is valid from Guildford to London, so you need to buy a single from Godalming to Guildford (one stop) on your return (not Godalming to Woking as stated in the walk instructions).

For walk directions click here.

To celebrate the lighter evenings, a longer walk. The pretty morning half of this walk is familiar to me from Farnham Circular walks (combining the morning of this walk with the afternoon of book 2, walk 12). It takes an interesting and gentle route along the upper Wey valley, which usually has good signs of spring.

But it is aeons since I did the standard afternoon, so can't say much about it, except that the walk notes talk of sandy heaths, the Peper Harrow estate, and then a nice walk along the Wey into Godalming.

Lunch is at the Donkey in Charleshill after 5.5 miles, but there is an earlier option at Tilford after 3.8 miles, so before passing the latter, it might be worth phoning the former to check they have space.

Tea in pretty Godalming seems to devolve onto Costa or Caffe Nero, but you may be able to find something more characterful.

Trains back are at 25 and 53 past until 19.53, then 20.29 and hourly at that time thereafter.
  • Kate
    Mar-16

    I like the sound of this one but is there flooding in the Wey valley at the moment?

  • Walker
    Mar-16

    Not that I am aware of, no. If you know otherwise, post a link

  • Anonymous
    Apr-16

    No there isn't flooding in the Wey Valley

  • JohnL
    Apr-16

    Cafe Mila in Angel Court on the High Street in Godalming, just before Boots is one of the better tea rooms in Surrey with a good selection of home made cakes. Often busy, but usually space upstairs. Closes at 17:00 on Saturdays.

  • Anonymous
    Apr-16

    7 sunny and warm a bit cloudy in the late afternoon

    If you are looking for a walk that doesn't suffer from mud, this is a good one to do as the soil here seems on the whole to be sandy and dry. There were a few odd muddy patches but they were small and hardly worth mentioning and we arrived at Godalming with boots unscathed.

    It was a delightful walk. The sun was out and the celandines on display in the woods and it was warm enough to have lunch in the garden at The Donkey. The donkeys are still there happily munching carrots and send their regards.

    Cafe Mila was popular with families but we were ushered upstairs to the "adults only" area. The tea and cakes were very nice.

  • Anonymous
    Apr-16

    A 3rd pub option for this walk is The Stag on the River at Eashing. It could be a tea stop or an option for lunch if the walk is done in

    http://www.stagontherivereashing.co.uk/meet-the-chef/