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.