Out and about
With the school summer holidays just around the corner, why not take the opportunity to explore Surrey? Historic Godalming is just 20 minutes by train from Woking and is situated in some of the finest countryside in the county. With thanks to Waverley Borough Council for providing details of this walk.
Key facts
Start/finish: Godalming Train Station
Distance: 6.4Km (4 miles)
Time: Allow two hours
Type of walk: Mostly flat, easy walking. Please note, some of the walk is on country roads without footpaths.
Travel information: This walk can be accessed from Godalming Train Station. For local train information, visit www.southwesttrains.co.uk
The route
1. With Godalming Train Station behind you, go straight ahead down the road. Where the road bears to the right take the footpath ahead. Cross Westbrook Road and turn left into Borough Road, passing the church on your right.
2. Bear left down the footpath and go over a wooden bridge and ahead past some offices. Rejoin the pavement and go ahead under the railway bridge, turning left down the footpath parallel with the stream. Continue ahead over the entrance to a block of offices.
3. Follow the tarmac path to the road and turn left. At the end of the road, continue ahead to the footpath through the wood and past a house.
4. Go through the gate and bear right along a road. Turn left opposite the garden wall and follow the wooded bridleway. Keep to the bridleway alongside the field; go through the gate and ahead down a concrete track, past some stables to the road.
5. Turn left and continue along the road over the medieval bridges. These are believed to have been constructed by Monks from Waverley Abbey in the 15th century, and are now maintained by the National Trust. After the bridges, turn left onto the footpath and follow the river.
Feeling thirsty?
If you're in need of a cool drink, instead of turning left onto the footpath, continue along the road until you see the Stag on the River public house. Enjoy a drink or a light bite in their beer garden, adjacent to the river.
6. Go over the stile and straight ahead across the field towards a cottage. Go over another stile to the left of the cottage and join the road ahead.
7. Turn left onto the road and continue past the Villa and Hut warehouse on the right, before turning left along Halfway Lane signed Public Bridleway.
8. Pass the Fitzpatrick Referrals buildings on your left and at the cottage continue right onto the bridleway. Continue along the bridleway where you will join New Way.
9. Continue along New Way until you reach the railway station on your right. Go through the gate and use the subway to end at your starting point.
Godalming
Situated on the banks of the River Wey, Godalming, dates back to Saxon times and featured in the Doomsday Book of 1066. In 1881, it was the first town in the world to have electric public street lighting.
With its narrow streets lined with quaint shops and buildings of interest, such as the old town hall, know locally as the `Pepperpot', is the perfect place to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.
To visit the town centre for yourself, with Godalming Train Station behind you, go straight ahead down the road. Where the road bears to the right take the footpath ahead. Cross Westbrook Road and continue along Church Street until you reach the High Street.
