Sun, Mar 29 · 11:00 AM BST
This is one of my favourite walks and it is local to me. It is about 5 miles in total. It starts and ends at The Sportsman KT20 7ES. (What3words is tops.packet.wallet.) There is some parking in the pub's overflow carpark - it is free if you patronise the pub afterwards - but otherwise I recommend leaving your car in Mogador Road.
Leaving the pub (which was Henry VIII's hunting lodge) we walk over the M25 onto Colley Hill which has amazing views of the countryside as far as the South Downs.
Descending, we'll walk through a chalk quarry and a forest of yew trees before we ascend onto the North Downs and pass no fewer than three interesting memorials:
Simpson Memorial - In 1910, this land was given to Reigate (now National Trust) in memory of Captain Simpson, by his mother.
Inglis Memorial - In 1909 this memorial (which was originally a drinking fountain for horses and has a bizarrely ornate roof) was given to Reigate by Lieutenant Colonel Sir Robert Inglis.
Memorial to 9 USAAF airmen who died when their B17 Flying Fortress crashed in 1945.
The ascent i fairly sharp but there is no rush - we'll stop to admire the views!! We'll then walk East towards Reigate Hill - crossing the refurbished, Grade II listed, footbridge spanning the A217 and we'll have the option to stop for coffee and cake at 'Junction 8 café'. Refreshed, we'll stop to look around Reigate Fort which, like Henley Fort (which some of you will have visited with Mike on an earlier walk) was built as part of the London defence scheme to protect the capital from the French army.
We head West, then cross the M25 to arrive back at The Sportsman just before 13:30. Recent reviews of the food seem positive; the food was excellent when I last visited.
No dogs without prior agreement, and £4 please.
Any problems on the day, please call me on 07596090066.
Tim
