This is a favourite walk I've done many times, and is about 10.5 miles. Starting at Newlands Corner you drop down to the picturesque village of Shere (where some of the 2006 film "The Holiday" starring Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz was filmed), and then continue east skirting just south of Gomshall and Abinger Hammer before climbing up (north) towards the North Downs Way, picking it up just west of Blatchford Down and heading back to Newlands Corner again. Great walk!
It was very misty at the beginning of the walk, so I didn't take any pictures until I was almost at Abinger Hammer.
The following pictures are the climb up to the North Downs Way just east of Abinger Hammer, and a favourite section.
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| Love this gentle climb, my screensaver for many years... |
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| Choices, choices! |
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| Entering 'The Shire' (LOTR reference...) |
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| Beware of trains. |
Further up the hill and just off the path is a perfectly preserved pill box, part of the "GHQ Line" (built in 1940), and part of the ring of defences south of London designed to counter any WW2 invasion. It is a remote and secluded spot which probably explains it's excellent condition. Most of these pill boxes seem to have been bricked up but this one is open and still has the original whitewash interior, designed to reflect interior lighting more efficiently. It's position on a hill far from roads etc probably mean't that this one wasn't an easy build. Spare a thought for the Royal Engineers...
The following pictures show where this walk meets the North Downs Way at Blatchford Down. The walk is easy now, fairly level and very relaxing if you like being immersed in woodland as I do!
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| These two trees have always intrigued me. They appear to be connected by a large branch at knee level, really quite odd! |
Back at Newlands Corner again, minus the morning mist now.
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| The Newlands Corner cafe, it never fails. |
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| I will! |
