Unboxing Day
About this time of year and ever earlier, I get nagging anxiety about Christmas. I don't have a huge amount to buy, I don't feel required to put on a particularly big show and I'm quite comfortable with the socials of the day itself. Nevertheless, still the weight of collective expectation loads itself upon me and frankly, ruins things. I actually quite like the festivities but prefer it kept special and contained within a rough week and a half of the holidays. Come the new year, I want it gone. The need for consumption, eats into the contentment of daily life and the selfish enjoyment of a winter's walk, for example. I've resisted the chaos and taken myself out to rise above it, letting Mr B gleefully buy stocking fillers in Brighton.
Here is a straightforward walk, jigging up and down the lofty North Downs before maintaining an easy level, keeping one's head and enjoying the views south. I had looked to get to Guildford but chose instead to enjoy my lunch and get home at a reasonable hour. Without the Box Hill addition, Guildford would have been a likely outcome and one for the future. There is quite a lot to explore aside from the public rights of way, as much of the land is National Trust and littered with alternative routes and connections. I made use of some. It is a walk that takes you through country estates and along the 'stop line' of defensive fortifications but also walking in the footsteps of others in more peaceful times.
Dorking Deepdene is easily reached via Gatwick on the train in little over an hour. Return from Gomshall could have been made by the 32 bus to Dorking and train back or, as timing permitted, a connection via Shalford. The bus would have made this more economical but despite the wealth in this area, there is something a bit olde worlde about the trains that makes them seem a bit secondary to convenience.
From the station, join the main road and go north. Now, I could have found a back route via Pixham and it seems the Riverside Walk might have helped me up the hill but a brief walk along the A24 brought me to the Stepping Stones car park, the North Downs Way and the dreaded walkway. I say dreaded because it's personal. The encounter I made with the oft-pictured Stepping Stones over the Mole at the bottom of the Surrey Hills was less than idyllic. I don't like a river-crossing of this nature, as I seem to have cultured a phobia that makes my legs shake and my eyes water. It is irrational and a bit frustrating for someone who regularly gets themselves into and out of walking scrapes. Don't let it put you off, especially as you can avoid the whole sorry affair by taking the bridge, a little further north. To summarise, the water was even higher than last time and a tree had lodged half-way along. The stones are very reasonably placed but it took a little wobbly preparation to get my feet going. Somehow, the river coming from the right made it a bit easier but the rush of water, partially over the route was intimidating. A couple of moves gingerly towards the middle and there was no going back. My head was spinning when I clambered over the tree but I persisted and gave myself a talking to to straighten my legs. I made it and I was glad no-one was watching. I calmed myself down to ascend the 275 steps to the viewpoint on Box Hill.
The trig is a little below the peak which is unusual. The morning was hazily overcast but it was an invigorating climb with southward views. The North Downs is slightly lower than the Greensand Ridge to the south but it posesses the same steep scarp and softer dip of the South Downs. The word 'Downs' derives from the old words meaning hill or hill settlement or fort. These hills are no strangers to historical strongholds. Make your way directly north over the Donkey Green. If you go left, you will hit the car park and information boards of the National Trust. There are a few walking loops to be followed and for this first part, you can take the path through the Natural Playground, leave the Happy Valley route and continue to Flint Hill. At the point the bridleway crosses the junction, keep following the purple route to Juniper Hill.
The mixed woodland falls away behind you and views open out to the north. The 18th Century Juniper Hall sits in the valley below. Take a moment at the bench and then descend. The Happy Valley merges with the Juniper Top path. Look out for a steep path on your left. Now, disconcertingly, immediately climb the steps on the opposite side. The path will get you to Broadwoods Folly, built by the one time owner of the hall. As you cross Lodge Hill, views are now to the west and the Zig-Zag Road. You have rejoined the Natural Playground Trail and will exit back on to your original route.
I stopped at the visitors centre and caffeinated myself. Pop round the back and through the car park to take the path on the left. This will take you to the Old Fort. The National Trust interpretation explains the structure derives from a strategy to defend Britain from invasion in the late 1800s, known as the 'London Defense Positions'. The line of mobilisation points never saw any action but are a reminder that fear of invasion is not a modern phenomenon. Walk behind it and through to the formal path. Walk south a little and you'll find Major Peter Labilliere's grave. It's not his actual burial spot or the correct dates for the life of the eccentric christian patriot.
Return northwards and follow the footpath onto Burford Spur. Cling to southern line as it goes steeply down the chalk track. You reach the road at Burford Bridge. Continue past the roundabout and use the subway to cross the road. Just opposite, there is a path back into Burford Meadow that would take you to the stepping stones.
Instead, continue along the road to Westhumble. Pass the Jeans' house and the entrance to Camilla Drive and continue beyond the station. This is the Thames Down Link. Hold firm and go just beyond the inviting Pilgrim Way and take the footpath and Mole Gap Trail, to the left.
From now on, you'll be walking on the North Downs Way or, at times, the ancient trackway going east west. If you've been put off by the gratuitous up and downiness of the Box Hill part, fear not, the path will take you fairly gently upwards to enjoy the views over the Denbies Wine Estate as you walk through the Ashcombe Wood. To the north is Ranmore Common. I stopped at a little siding with a bench sculpture called 'Radius', to have a drink and look down over the vineyard. You cross and then join Ranmore Common Road to where the striking Gilbert Scott church presides.
Over Ranmore Road, the path continues into Steers' Field. In the car park, you might find a coffee trailer for a stop. I looked up the location and it turns out that the field is named after Chris Steer, one of the three founder members of the Long Distance Walkers Association. Very often, I am very often referring you to their pages and I am delighted to be a lady guest in the field of an organisation of 'old middle-aged, middle-class white men' - their description and not mine. Proud to address the diversity issue. There is a good view south from here over the backs of the sturdy belted galloways. The 'belties' are owned by Manor Farm and do a fine job on the chalk grassland.
This area is all part of the Denbies Estate with its origins in the 18th Century. Later the Cubitts developed it, built the church, school, quarried the chalk pits of lime mortar, for their building projects and big houses, planted trees and farmed the area. On the North Downs Way, you will follow a line of pill boxes through to Blatchford Downs and then Hackhurst and the White Downs. At the interpretation board, go south through the kissing gate and descend. You will see signs here for the Walk the Chalk route from Dorking. You will join the footpath, all the way through to the Colekitchen Lane. At the junction with Station Road, go left and you have a choice of lunch stops.
I went to The Gomshall Mill and had a very fine lunch in front of the crackling fire. Continue and follow the signs for the bus stop or station car park. I finished a little earlier than I would have liked but with some satisfaction.
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