We set off from Waterloo on a fast train to Guildford and more walkers joined us at Clapham Junction. I was really pleased there were 18 of us on what was an overcast day in late November. I was worried about completing the walk before it got dark (sunset at 15:58) and perhaps I may have overdone it a bit during my short briefing in which I stressed that we needed to keep up a good walking pace.
The station isn’t far from the river Wey which we followed south out of Guildford. It wasn’t long before we were out in the countryside walking by a very full river with a weir to our right, noisy with rushing water. The water meadows on the other side of the Wey were heavily flooded. It was a relief to me to be back in nature and away from the traffic of the busy town.
After a while we left the banks of the river, heading west, up a steep short hill and over a railway bridge to get to Sandy lane. We then branched right and followed the North Downs Way climbing through a pleasant rural valley which headed towards Compton and lunch at the Watts Gallery. It was not raining and we were quite warm so we stopped for a brief water break and to remove a layer of clothing. Everyone was chatting and seemed happy and I was surprised to get to Watts Gallery about 20 minutes early. So I need not have worried after all!
Most people had brought there own lunch and sat at the picnic tables outside. This was just as well since it was very busy in the tea room. It’s a delightful place with a lovely shop and many of us enjoyed a pot of tea or cup of coffee after lunch. This was originally a part of the Arts and Crafts movement and a pottery was opened here in the early 20th century by George and Mary Watts. Currently there is a resident artist here and an art gallery which unfortunately we didn’t have time to explore. After an hour we left and headed for Watts Chapel which is less than a 10 minute walk away. Watts Chapel and the cemetery were well worth visiting. The chapel is quite stunning and beautiful both inside and out. It was built by Mary Watts with the help of the local villagers from Compton. We paused to view Aldous Huxley’s grave before continuing on our walk.
We passed through a stud farm and then through a wood. The path through the wood was very muddy in places but nowhere near what it had been like on my walkover a few days before. Then there had been a stream running down the centre of the path! Emerging from the wood I suggested we have a drinks break and various people said they would like either a brandy or a gin and tonic. So witty! None of which I had of course. We then walked up a country lane to Polsted Manor and then forking right we headed up to Loseley Park. There is an imposing and historic Mansion house here set in a big estate. It is perhaps now more famous for Loseley ice cream but the house itself was once visited by Queen Elizabeth I. The park is closed at this time of year so we skirted around it and passed by an ornamental lake which had recently been dredged. We then continued east on a well marked path back to the river Wey and from there it was only a mile to Guildford. We crossed over an attractive bridge and then walked between the river and the flooded meadows before arriving back at the A3100 on the outskirts of the town.
We had made good time and I needn’t have worried. Some of us headed back to the station, others went for tea and cake and I joined a group who went to the White Lion for a well earned drink.
Leader: Chris
Photos by: Ida, Joyanna, Patricia, Lois and Hilary