Sixteen Polyramblers assembled at Merstham station having all taken a train from London Bridge. Shenanigans were to be had, with unmanned ticket barriers providing the only way out from the (Brighton) platform! Firstly they failed my outward portion return ticket to Merstham. Several of us had the same problem. It became apparent there was a screen on the sidewall where you could display your ticket to a gateman on the opposite platform who could open the barrier by remote control. Having cleared the barriers, my safety briefing then ensued and we set off northeasterly, crossing under the fast quarry line, then over the M25 footbridge. Soon a left turn uphill on a footpath took us under the M23 underpass, which I called “acoustic underpass”. I decided to stop the party here awhile and demonstrate by singing a short song. Unfortunately the echo didn’t sound quite as good as it did on the walkover version, which proves how the clothing of an extra 15 people can absorb the sound! (Les has posted a short sample video of this rendition to the Club’s Social Group!) The path then took us further northeastward up the escarpment, then at the top joined the North Downs Way as a level bridleway eastward.
Soon there were good views of Redhill below, on our right. We then passed Willey Park farm, then onto a lane where taking a left turn, we called at the The Harrow PH, being on the outskirts of Chaldon. This was our half hour liquid refreshment halt. Continuing eastward we took War Coppice Road coming across the folly of Whitehill Tower, built by Jeremiah Long in 1862 as an ornament in the grounds of his Surrey villa, but has been neglected for years, needing desperate attention before it may collapse. In half a mile we reached a wooded track which soon took us onto a lovely open area at the top of the escarpment, this was Caterham view point with excellent views to the southeast, south and southwest, including Godstone. With several benches overlooking the views, it proved an ideal picnic spot. The sky became very grey, but the rain mainly held off save a few short sprinkles.
After lunch, we followed a wooded track around Pilgrim Fort and down via stepped section to the A22 Caterham bypass which we crossed via a footbridge. Beyond the bridge we came across the site of a hauliers firm and our track took us across Winders Hill. Our route then continued through Hanging Wood, then along the side of Gangers Hill and South Hawke, until we reached a sudden descent of steps. These were placed straight above the tunnel carrying the Oxted to Croydon railway. Near the bottom of the steps was a viewing balcony with a seat where you could see the railway in a straight line below as it comes out of the tunnel towards Oxted. About a mile later we crossed a rather busy lane, and proceeded uphill on the other side, then below the slopes of Beach Plantation, until we reached the Greensand Way path. At this point we left the North Downs Way, which would carry on to Botley Hill(where the club ended one of the NDW sections back in July 1985). But today we turned right onto the Greensand Way downhill and over another M25 bridge and across a meadow into the urban area of Oxted. We reached that station just in time for the trains back to London.
I would like to thank Mary for doing the roll call at the start, and to Kim for backmarking.
Geoffrey
Photos by Les, Chris and Geoffrey
