Guildford - Wey Canal, North Downs Way and St Martha's church DAY HIKE
Details
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We’re off to the North Downs in Surrey - an area so spectacular it’s been designated an official “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”. This hike starts at the charming historic town of Guildford which has a long and varied history far back beyond when the Normans built the castle 1000 years ago.
Our hike reveals lush countryside, bright and open woodlands and follows the River Wey Canal - we go beyond the cobbled streets and historical buildings for which Guildford is famed. We visit an enchanting ancient church nestling on St Martha’s Hill with breath-taking panoramic views almost as far as the sea. We then finish in Guildford to get a glimpse of this picture postcard town that’s just a 35 minute train journey from London.
Trip Highlights:
• Explore the beautiful Surrey countryside - an officially designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• Admire the far-reaching views of St Martha's hill with its historic church on top
• Visit Guildford - Surrey's most significant ancient town with Saxon roots and see for yourself why Lewis Carroll - author of Alice in Wonderland, Jodie Kidd, Alan Turin, Terry Jones (the Monty Python writer) and Yvonne Arnaud chose to make it their home
• Follow the tranquil River Wey as it gently flows past willow trees through rural Surrey
• Visit the enchanting ruins of the 12th century St Catherine's Chapel
• Hike along part of the North Downs Way - the 2nd most acclaimed long distance route in South East England
Photos - All photos were taken by Outdooraholics on previous trips
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Hike Description
Guildford is a town dating back to Saxon times and is best known for being a picturesque and quaint market town near London, but the countryside has far more to offer than most visitors discover beyond the cobbled streets and historical buildings. Famous past and current residents include Lewis Carroll - author of Alice in Wonderland, Jodie Kidd, Alan Turin, Terry Jones (the Monty Python writer) and Yvonne Arnaud.
Once in Guildford we’ll hike along the picturesque River Wey canal where the nestled boat houses sit on this tranquil waterway leading us to the ruin of St Catherine's church. We'll then hike into Bluebell Woods where we’ll join the ancient North Downs Way path along a ridge which has far reaching views. At the top of the hill we’ll come to the remote and isolated St Martha’s church (where a church has stood since Saxon times 1400 years ago).
From here there are spectacular views to the south – as far as the South Downs by Brighton and indeed on a clear day you can see seven counties from this point. We’ll then go onto Chilworth which was home to an extensive gunpowder factory since 1626, although it was closed in 1920 and is now an enchanting derelict site covering 27 acres with much to see including relics, tramways and buildings from its nearly 400 year history.
Transport & Meeting Point
We'll meet at Waterloo station at 9:00am and leave the meeting point at 9:15am for the 9:30am train. Please make sure to arrive on time as the group cannot wait for anyone who is late.
We'll meet under the main clock (in front of the departures board). Please click here for a photo of the clock: http://goo.gl/sqsFwr
Please click here for a map of where the clock is: http://goo.gl/piwT4R
Planned arrival time back into London of 5:40pm (we have a group train ticket and you are committed for the day until then).
Food
We'll stop during the hike for a snack lunch so please bring food and drink. We’ll visit a pub after the hike where we can get refreshments.
Distance, Difficulty and Terrain
Distance: 10 miles (16km)
Grading: Beginner/Intermediate with a couple of hills - click here for details
https://www.meetup.com/Outdooraholics/pages/Hike_Gradings
Rating: 6/10
Ascent: 285m
Hiking time: About 4.5 to 5 hours of actual hiking
Cost and Payment
The trip is £28 per person which includes the guided hike and return train travel from the group departure station listed at the top of this event. To join us please RSVP Yes and you will be automatically redirected to PayPal.
Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable but we have a process to release your space for resale to another member. Please follow the instructions in our FAQ page (https://www.meetup.com/Outdooraholics/pages/6368852/FAQ) and email us with your PayPal “invoice ID” immediately after you change your RSVP to “NO”. If you do not email us at the time of changing your RSVP OR if your space does not sell, you will not be eligible for a refund.
What to Bring
• Suitable hiking clothes & hiking footwear (ideally hiking boots). Waterproof jacket, trousers and footwear are recommended
• Water (at least 1 and ideally 2 litres)
• Packed lunch/picnic
• Money for drinks and refreshments after the hike
• That's it! We will take care of train tickets, logistics on the day etc, so that you can just turn up and have a great day :-)
Safety
This hike is led by a trained hike leader - most of our guides are Mountain Leader trained (http://www.mountain-training.org/walking/skills-and-awards/mountain-leader) and qualified Outdoor Activity First Aider. Outdoor activities involve a risk of personal injury. Please come with hiking footwear and suitable hiking clothes such as warm clothes, waterproof jacket and trousers in case of rain - for more info please click here: http://londonhiking.co.uk/Equipment.pdf
Terms and Conditions
By signing up to or attending this event you agree to the Terms and Conditions below: https://www.meetup.com/Outdooraholics/pages/3458542/TermsConditions
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