The North Downs Way. Kev Reynolds
built on the east side of the river. In the High Street stands a group of 17th-century almshouses and a very fine Guildhall with a famous clock overhanging the road, while the Angel Hotel boasts a wooden gallery and a coaching yard. In the Middle Ages Guildford prospered through the wool trade, but when that trade began to decline it was replaced by the opening of the River Wey Navigation in the 17th century. Today the town is largely divided by the A3, and spills east and west into the surrounding countryside, but its heart is graced by the River Wey which hints at a rural atmosphere. The town has all facilities, including B&B and hotel accommodation (www.guildford.gov.uk or www.guildfordcommunity.org.uk).
STAGE 2
Guildford to the Mole Valley (A24)
| Start | Guildford |
| Finish | the Mole Valley (A24) |
| Distance | 13 miles (21km) |
| Maps | Harveys North Downs Way West 1:40,000 OS Landranger 186 Aldershot & Guildford and 187 Dorking, Reigate & Crawley 1:50,000 OS Explorer 145 Guildford & Farnham and 146 Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate 1:25,000 |
| Refreshments | Newlands Corner |
| Accommodation | Albury (+ 1 mile), Shere (+ 1 mile), Gomshall (+ 1 mile), Tanners Hatch Youth Hostel (+ ¾ mile), Ranmore Common, Dorking (+ 1 mile) |
This stage is more strenuous than the first, for almost as soon as Guildford is left behind the North Downs Way makes the ascent of sandy St Martha's Hill, a splendid viewpoint from which, it is claimed, six counties can be seen. The way crosses the hill and descends north before climbing onto the Downs proper and reaching another noted viewpoint at Newlands Corner. Thereafter the eastward trend resumes along the crest of the Downs, much of it through woodland, but emerging now and then to gain a wide panorama. At the end of the day the path slopes down to the Mole Valley above Dorking, passing a large vineyard and with Box Hill looming ahead as the next obstacle to be crossed at the beginning of the next stage of the walk.
From the A281 at Shalford Park cross with care and continue heading east along a residential street, Pilgrims’ Way. Rising gently the road curves slightly left, with a row of lime trees on the right-hand side. When these end veer right along a surfaced drive which soon ends in a small car park. Continue ahead, pass to the left of the white-painted Chantry Cottage, and enter Chantry Wood on a rough track. This mostly edges the wood, with NDW waymarks at path and track junctions. At the end of an open but fence-lined section, come to more woods, and at a crosstracks you maintain direction. The track has now narrowed to a bridleway. Eventually join a stony path and continue ahead, still within the woods.
The Pilgrims’ Way refers to the route commonly thought to have been taken by a penitent Henry II following the murder of Thomas à Becket in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170, and subsequently walked by countless pilgrims and recorded in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. The route is 118 miles (190km) long, and links Winchester with Canterbury. Today much of the Pilgrims’ Way is paved road, but there are long stretches of footpath and trackway too, some of which have been adopted by the North Downs Way.
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