Slightly frustrating being in Surrey/ Sussex and not being able to set off for my walk until the afternoon as I needed to be at two important zoom meetings at 12 and 13.00. Still decided to visit Haslemere Museum in the morning. Arrived just after it had opened at 10 and had a good look round- most impressed and even picked up some useful walk leaflets!
A quick stop at a Bakers in West Street to buy a roll for lunch and then back up the steep hill to my accommodation. I’d looked at a possible route and picked up a leaflet which had the same start but a different way back, which I decided to more or less follow.
Zooms done I set off , later than I’d hoped at about 2.45. Down the High Street, that was okay and I found the narrow passage way which was the start of my path. Quite quickly I went wrong, a footpath sign mislead me, that and some workmen chatting on the path at the front of some houses where I discovered later was in fact the correct route. So having gone in a complete circle , found a locked gate to my path, doubled back completely, I was eventually on my way. Now half an hour behind schedule!
My path has now changed to a road and I’ve crossed the railway line and walked passed the church, good exploring a different part of the town. Eventually back onto a track – ‘The Greensand Way’. I spot my first potential obstacle but I’m pleased to see that the top of the trunk is quite well worn where many people have sat on it in order to swivel round to continue up the path!
My path cuts across the Polecat Valley and I decide to not go up to the Devil’s Punchbowl car park as the leaflet describes but cut off a corner. Almost as soon as I do this it seems rather familiar and I realise I’d been on this path last February with a two legged and a four legged friend! The sun was shining then as well. Confirmed my position when I came out on a clearing with a small bench where I had sat before.
This time I was taking a complete right turn to continue along the GSW and up to Gibbet Hill. Good view across to London today although I didn’t linger for long. I knew I had to take a small path off the the right which would go down hill. I could only see a very small path so decided to engage a group of walkers in conversation in case they had local knowledge- I was heading for the ‘Temple of the Four Winds’. The weren’t sure but thought it was that way, so off I set, quickly going down hill.
I’m caught up by one of the walkers who chooses to share with me a fungus he has picked up and then decides it’s not a good enough specimen to keep. He then throws it away and his dog bounds off after it. He then comments that he’s been trying to get ‘Daniel’ interested in fungus. Cogs turning I realise that Daniel is not a human companion!
We get to an area called six ways and my instructions tell me to go straight across and uphill. Quite useful to have these as this stone plinth is not marked on the map. I am accompanied and there is a comment that if we are on the wrong path we could drop down to find the Temple Base. Luckily it soon appears and although he has suggested that our routes should soon split I declare that I’d planned to stop here for a break.
Kink in the path and then started to turn and really go down hill. Text message – my friend who I was meeting for a drink was going to be back in Haslemere at 5.30 – over an hour earlier than I had expected!! And I’m about as far away as I could be. I try to speed up but know I still have to be careful going down hill with tree roots etc. Going splat won’t make me any faster!
The track takes me down and down further, under the railway line and out into the village of Grayswood, which was always my intention. Obviously no time to circle round here so take the road downwards – well of course as always happens when you are in a hurry I took the wrong side of the fork to start with. I did hesitate for a moment to photograph this splendid Oak Tree on the village green. I was able to make quite quick time along Holdfast Lane and soon met the last section of footpath back into Haslemere that I had walked the previous day.
And back up to my accommodation. Very quick shower and walked into town for a drink. Had only kept my friend waiting an hour! Not sure I would like to do all my walks as quickly as I did that last section- averaged 5.2 kph and I ‘d had over 500 m of ascent so certainly speeded up on the last section! Still managed to do 10 miles / 16 k even though I set off so late.
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 