Walking the Dog

TIME: 1 hour

This walk is a short distance from Guildford station.

You can park in Wodeland Avenue. Or miss the steep climb by foot, at the start of the walk and use the parking area at the top of the hill*, by turning right at the end of Wodeland Avenue into The Mount and following the road until it ends.

The walk starts at the junction of the Farnham Road (A31) and Annan Road.

Walk away from the A31 down Annan Road. At the junction with Wodeland Avenue, continue across road and to footpath entrance directly in front of you.

Follow footpath and take first set of steps, turning right through kissing gate at the bottom of the hill. Follow the path adjacent to the hedgerow on the left and up the hill.

At the top of the hill, turn right and follow one of the paths that cross the grassland area towards the far left corner.

Here you will see a commemorative stone marking the date the county was overrun by as many as 15,000 Cornish rebels heading for London. There was a brief battle just outside Guildford at Gil Down in June 1497.

Turn right at the stone and head back down the hill until you reach a gap in the wooden fence, on your left.

Pass through the gap into the woods, known as Henley Grove. Continue straight along the path to the other side of the woodland and back out into another grassland area, past Henley Grove Fort. This was built in the 1880's as part of a plan to protect London and increase the South coast's defence against invasion. 

Follow the ancient trackway across the field and through the gap in the hedge, continuing onto and past the radio masts.  When you reach the other end of the track, turn and follow your tracks back the way you came through Henley Grove, then turn left towards the bottom of the field.

Follow the path down, past the allotments on your left, and through the break in the hedge. Follow the steps to your right, back down to Wodeland Avenue.  

You can branch off the track following the footpath on the other side of the roadside car parking area, and join the North Downs Way.

*There is wheelchair access through the gateway from the roadside parking area, but no man-made paths on the actual walk. Only really accessible for taking in the spectacular views.

On a clear day you can see Heathrow Airport, the Wembley Arch, the London skyline including the "Gherkin" and more.

OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST:

• There is a record of a Bronze Age urn containing burnt bones being found at Henley Grove near 1781.
  
• The Mount is one of the most important pieces of chalk grassland in the Borough, and is known for its abundance of Pyramidal Orchids, which have no scent but have dense spikes of pink or pale purple flowers, each with a long spur.

THE PUB:

The Astolat
9 Old Palace Road, Guildford, GU2 7TU. Tel: 01483 455560

This town pub is set in Onslow Village, a residential area about 5 minutes walk away from the start of our walk.
Dog friendly and serving food from 12.00 to 14.30 daily, this pub is open All Day, from 12.00 Sunday to Monday and from 11.00 on Saturdays.
According to the landlord, they can be flexible with food times if given advance notice.
Small patio area and car parking.
The pub's name originates from a reference in Sir Thomas Malory's book Le Morte d'Arthur which identifies Guildford as "Astolat", a legendary city named in Arthurian legends.

Directions: Cross over the A31 and head away from Guildford for about 20 yards. Turn right into Scillonian Road and walk entire length of road, crossing over Poltimore Road, continuing down Scillonian Road again until the junction of Old Palace Road. The Astolat pub is immediately on your right.  

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