The Wey South Path - June 2021

 I did this in early June 2021, again great weather! This was the 5th time I have done this one day walk and despite the early challenges, it's becoming something of an old friend. I took the guide book as usual but now barely need to look at it. This is an advantage, no longer having to worry about wrong turns on this somewhat complex route, it's possible to just enjoy the scenery and the peaceful atmosphere - i.e what walking is all about...

Must be getting fitter too? For the first time barely any aches in the legs after the walk or the following day, and the first time I felt I could have done it again the next day! Something new I tried this year, perhaps reducing the lactic acid in the muscles - some 'Wim Hof' style deep breathing, i.e purposeful deep breaths especially in the run up to climbs etc for a little over-oxygenation, perhaps it works?

Back to boots this year after trying walking shoes last year, which was a mistake. My Salomon mudstone mid height lightweight boots once again leaving me with zero blisters over 35 miles. Plenty of sock changes as usual, no morning shower, showering the night before prevents the feet from softening.

Please try it yourself some time, although I recommend May to July if doing it in one day, for the length of the day, and also the marshes near Amberley are (they say) impassable in the wetter months of the year.

***Please see earlier posts for route information, these are just a few additional 2020 pictures of a walk now done a few times. A map is probably not necessary, but 'the book' most certainly is (see earlier Wey South Path posts), and 'the book' can be bought from the Wey and Arun Canal Trust online shop.:-

https://weyarun.org.uk/shop/maps-and-books/6-the-wey-south-path.html


An overview map:-

https://www.ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Wey-South+Path

and another:-

https://www.walkandcycle.co.uk/trail?trailcode=SURRTR0032

A good early start, walking by 0530 from Guildford.

That garden in Bramley again, wow...

As usual, no time to stop, not if I am to do it in one day...

The Onslow Arms at Loxwood, where the canal boat trips are based. Must go one day!

Love this vista.

No words needed.

Greatham Bridge, early 14th century!

Amberley at last. Just the hill to climb to the end. Whose idea was it to finish it at the top of a hill!

Never was a train journey home so pleasant.

North Downs Way Part 2 ! (July 2020 - Merstham to Otford)

North Downs Way Part 2 !  (Merstham to Otford)

Picked up where I left off in 2019 at Merstham. 2020 was a different year as we all know so couldn't spread my 'longer' walks out and instead squeezed two (the Wey South Path and this one) into July. Not always easy, the 'Stars have to align', work, childcare, 'permission', and of course the weather. If it's wet and miserable, well, it's mean't to be enjoyable! Luckily the weather was nearly perfect.

Not sure if my feet hadn't recovered or I was taking too many pictures (!) but only managed 20 miles when I wanted to go a little further. Taking trains from my Woking base means the start time is not going to be as early as I might like so started at 6.45am in Merstham when ideally I'd like to have started an hour earlier, and that was catching the 5.30am train from Woking! Finished about 1730 in Otford. The next leg was 15 miles and I couldn't have done it without running out of daylight. So Otford it is in 2021 for my next leg - and hopefully minus a face mask on the train!

Please see the earlier 2019 post for details of the walk (packing list, the essential Colin Saunders guide book etc):-

http://walkingfromwoking.blogspot.com/2019/

Once again Colin's book was a must have. The signage is mostly good but there are sections where the signs are missing and having the book to hand gives great peace of mind. 

Starting out at Merstham.

A military vehicle somewhat the worse for wear...

It's a climb up - but it's the North Downs of course!

The North Downs does not follow the old Pilgrim's Way, but does intersect at times. I wonder how old this sign is?

In the distance (looking north) you can see London, the Shard is the most obvious.

A zoom in.

A couple of projects on the go?

There is some road walking, and you need to be careful sometimes.

This is more like it!

And the view noted above. 

Caterham viewpoint on a Tuesday around 8.30am, and still nice and quiet...

Quite a drop at times.

Some of the signage is quite new, but be aware, not all sections of the route are this well marked.

3 miles to Kent.

I'm not sure why, but the snails seem to get bigger as you approach Kent.

Although it doesn't say so, this stone approximately marks the Surrey - Kent border according to Colin Saunder's book.

My favourite picture on the walk.

A walled entrance in the middle of nowhere with no evidence of a house nearby. A build that never happened?

Coming into Otford.

The pond a little further on. A pleasant little place.