Walk Report

Godalming Circular - Hills and Commons, Saturday 23rd April 2016
15 walkers, 18.5 miles - leader Jennifer Caddy
Bluebells were a feature on the walk. Enough were in flower in some woods to give a noticeable carpet of blue.
It was a cool, cloudy day with occasional bursts of sunshine but no rain. Most paths were dry but one was awash with mud. Fortunately, there was a well-trodden escape route up the bank. As we squeezed between trees and a fence, nine llamas in the adjacent field spotted us and stared.
From Godalming station we headed east by the River Wey Navigation, turned south to Munstead and Thorncombe Street, entered Winkworth Arboretum and walked along the public footpath to the cafe where we stopped for refreshment. After this we continued to Hydon Heath, climbed up Hydon's Ball for a view of the South Downs, passed the church at Hambledon, crossed Buss's Common and arrived at Witley, our stop for lunch. Some ate in the pub; the rest ate in the churchyard where the peace was soon disturbed by a man cutting the grass.
After lunch we took a route through Witley, Thursley and Rodborough Commons, walked briefly alongside the River Wey as a large group of people headed downstream in canoes and on paddle boards, joined the Fox Way and continued to Godalming station. We arrived there at 4.15pm in time for the 4.25pm train back to London.
Photographs by Gavin Fuller

---