Head for the Hills

A Day in North Downs

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⏱️ Walk 5 hrs (16.5km)

📈 Total Ascent 455 m

⛰️ Highest Point 171 m

Welcome to this Signature Hike

This circular hike through the North Downs has riverside walking, ancient woodland and a secret picnic spot.

Read the infomation below to learn more about your walk before you head off.

Ready to walk?

Be sure to download your PDF guide for the walk and make sure you have the OS maps app downloaded.

Or email yourself the guide:

Before you start

Here’s 3 important things you need to know before you head off:

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Save this Guide

Save the PDF guide on your device that you’re going to use on the walk. (This contains all the handy information, from how to get there, points of interest and pubs, taxis etc).

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Download OS Map App

This is how you will navigate your way around the route. The link for the route is in this guide and will take you to the OS Maps app.

Click here for Apple
Click here for Android

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Battery

Make sure you have plenty of battery. We hope you have a great walk.

The Curators Bertie & Ruby

Meet the Curator

Bertie is a great outdoorsman whilst also working as Chairman of a children’s charity and trustee of another non-profit organisation relating to elderly care and children in Africa. His passion for walking in the Surrey Hills was sparked by the introduction of Ruby into his life – his advice to all aspiring Vespucci adventurers: get a dog and buy some good walking boots

“It has taken me 16 years to discover this gem of a hike, and it’s all thanks to Ruby, my wire haired German Pointer, who, quite literally, sniffed it out for me. Who would have thought that after 35 minutes on a train from Waterloo you could criss-cross quite so spectacularly around views of the Surrey Hills, the South and North Downs, and all from such a large and historic town that is Guildford? Ruby is responsible for the sneaky secret picnic spot, (she chased a rabbit up to it!) a tranquil and stunning place with a view to die for.

The hike has everything from very old and spectacular woodland, sandy heathland, streams, Winnie the Pooh-type moments, to a 12th century church. Rest and relax at my favourite pub with the sound of the stream running through the garden.”

Hike Summary

North Downs

Let’s be honest. Buying a return to Guildford from London Waterloo is unlikely to set the heart racing. However, keep an open mind and prepare to be surprised. Thanks to the expert guidance of our Guildford residents, curators Bertie and Ruby, this Hike contains all our favourite elements for a perfect day out in the countryside. A stroll alongside the River Wey is first up as you leave Guildford behind and Head for the Hills. Pick up the historic Pilgrim’s Way and start the gentle climb through the ancient woodland of Chantry Woods. The views are already impressive before you’ve even emerged beside St Martha’s

Church, perched on a hilltop with another spectacular panorama. Gently traversing down the hillside, we suggest a minor detour to a fantastic hidden picnic bench you would never otherwise have known existed. Enjoy the pretty streams and lakes around you before arriving at the sweet village of Albury which offers a welcome opportunity for a drink at the Drummond and some restocking at Pratts, the village store. This is the halfway point and your route back runs in a figure of eight via medieval gunpowder mills, a Doomsday Book mansion and the beautiful Pewley Downs.

Hike Highlights

Distance from London

Experiencing a stunning hike that’s only 35 minutes by train from London Waterloo

An array of hotspots

Roaming riversides, ancient woodland, historic churches, hilltop views, secret picnic spots, a classic country pub, medieval gunpowder mills and more

Wild swim spot

Pack your trunks for a swim! The best spot is by the bridge just before crossing the river Wey.

By train – Trains run from London Waterloo and Clapham Junction to Guildford very regularly and take 35 minutes.

By car – If you are coming by car, there is plenty of parking in Guildford Town Centre. If you don’t mind missing out Guildford, parking at Chantries Car Park (GU4 8AW) is also a good option. To get back to the car park from the route, head south after Pewley Down.

Sometimes, we can get so caught up in reaching our destination that we forget to take in our surroundings. When in fact, some of the best moments on a walk are the ones spent not walking. It is not until you stop and look a little closer, that you truly see the magic of where you are.
Our hikes are not about how fast you walk, but about how much you take in. We share these beautiful trails with an abundance of wildlife and there’s always something to marvel at – so long as you take the time to look around.

The Drummond is a delightful pub well worth making the effort to reach. The food is excellent and there is accommodation as well if you feel like stretching out your hike. The beer garden has a stream running at the end of it. The birds and the sound of running water are the perfect way to relax at the end of your walk. If you are walking in a large group, it is worth calling in advance to book.

Points of interest

Places to enjoy along the route

YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE

Named after Yvonne Arnaud, a famous actor, the theatre was opened in 1965. Sir Michael Redgrave drove in the first pile in 1962, the foundation stone was laid by Vanessa Redgrave in 1963 and the building was topped out by Susan Hampshire in 1964. Dirk Bogarde opened the theatre in 1965 and Ingrid Bergman starred in the first play. Yvonne Arnaud’s ashes are scattered in the graveyard of St Martha’s.

SHALFORD PARK

Shalford Park was bought by Guildford Borough Council in 1938 to protect the park from development. The Water Meadows are notable for their 12 acres of uncultivated meadow that support a wide variety of wildlife. Until the 1960s, the meadows were regularly flooded in Winter to create an outdoor skating rink. Today, the meadows can still be flooded to protect Guildford town centre from rising water levels.

PILGRIMS WAY

The Pilgrims’ Way is the historic route taken  by pilgrims from Winchester to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury in Kent. The route itself is dated by archaeological finds to 600-450 BC but has probably been in existence since the Stone Age. The course was dictated by the natural geography: it took advantage of the contours, avoiding the sticky clay of the land below but also the thinner, overlying “clay with flints” of the summits.

CHANTRY WOODS

Henry Norbridge acquired Chantry Woods in 1486 as a gift to the church. Located near Guildford town centre, these woods, spanning 200 acres, are a hidden gems known to locals. The mature woodland features impressive bluebells in the Spring. While portions have been replanted with pine, conifer, and beech, remnants of the original ancient sweet chestnut trees, oaks, and hazel coppicing can still be observed.

PEWLEY DOWN

The wide-open space of Pewley Down was purchased by the Friary Brewery in 1920 and donated to Guildford for use as a public area in memory of those who died in World War I. Both the lime-rich soil and the ancient hedgerows in the area create the right conditions to support a unique variety of insects, butterflies and plants. All along the hilltop are magnificent views to the north and south before you head down Pewley Way and into the centre of Guildford.

What’s Next?

Done the hike? Let us and fellow members know how you got on and leave any tips and advice!

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Head for the Hills, North Downs, Surrey ⏱️ 5 hrs