Explore Shere Woodlands & Netley Park
Join Surrey Hills Society Chairman, Gordon Jackson, for a 3.5 mile / 5.5 km walk enjoying these beautiful woodlands and spectacular views towards Shere and the South weald
Date: Sunday 3rd September
Time: 10.30am for 11am start. Anticipated finish about 1pm
Meet: The end of Honeysuckle Bottom, Green Dene, East Horsley, Surrey
PLEASE NOTE our meeting point has been changed because West Hanger car park and Staple Lane are closed due to the Shere Hill Climb event. We strongly recommend that you access Honeysuckle Bottom via Green Dene from the A246.
Post code: KT24 5TD
What3words: ///cove.expect.calculating
Grid reference: TQ 09436 50269
Parking: There is some parking at the end of Honeysuckle Bottom. It may be necessary to park along the road – if so, please park so as not to obstruct passing places
Any travel advice: Easiest access is by car.
Description of walk: Our route will take us on part of the old ‘Drove Road’ originally used for driving livestock along the Downs. Today it is part of the North Downs Way, the 141mile ‘National Trail’ which links Farnham in Surrey with Dover in Kent. We will enjoy the enchanting woodland with a mixture of deciduous and coniferous trees and head towards Netley Park, which is owned by the National Trust, and was once part of the Netley Estate owned by the Lomax family. The areas are designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the valuable wildlife and flora and once formed part of the Bray Estate of Shere. The woods were used to produce timber for the Estate and for the Gomshall Tannery.
Also of note are the relics of World War 2. The area was of great strategic importance during the early part of the War as the North Downs was used as an important line of defence in the face of a German invasion. The many surviving 'pill boxes' in the area and their overlapping fields of fire attest to this.
Our walk is on the top of the North Downs escarpment and we will be afforded excellent views across the valley to Shere and beyond.
Any specific walk conditions / issues: This walk is suitable for older children but not pushchairs or those with mobility issues
Dogs allowed / not allowed? Well behaved dogs are welcome.
Length of Walk: 3.5 miles (5.5 km)
Book via Surrey Hills Society website Events page www.surreyhillssociety.org/events/ or click HERE
Contact: Surrey Hills Society Co-ordinator 07530 949302
Email: info@surreyhillssociety.org
Led by: Gordon Jackson – Chairman, Surrey Hills Society