Walking the Dog

TIME: 1 hour

Nearest railway station is Bagshot, which is about half an hours walk away. Please check map for best route.

Come off at Junction 3 on the M3 and take the A322 towards Bisley. About 150 yards along the dual carriageway, turn left into South Farm Lane. 
Park either to the left or right at the top of the lane, outside the Arboretum, observing people's driveways, access, etc.
Access to the Arboretum is gained by following the lane to the right.

Please note: there is no public parking in the Arboretum.*

For its 180 acre size, Windlesham Arboretum is remarkably well hidden.

Many people from the surrounding area don't even know of its existence. Thousands drive past it every day without any inkling of what may be behind the high trees which shelter it from the M3 and A322.   

The site was once Frommow’s Nursery. The estate contains a strange mixture of follies, monuments, bridges and  lakes!

Bisected by the Windle Brook, which feeds the lakes and ponds, the Arboretum also contains thousands of mature and trees.  

But all is not quite what it seems.... look closely at the ancient architecture and you will see that much of it only dates from the 1980's or early 90's.  

Follow the two public footpaths, and take your time to stroll around the estate, as you will discover a surprise around every corner! Wander through avenues of unusual firs or do a bit of heron spotting on one of the lakes.

IN PICTURES

Do remember this a a private estate, owned by a charitable trust, and you must keep to the regulations posted by the Trustees. 

*Off road car parking is available but to Friends of Windlesham Arboretum Charitable Trust  ONLY.

While the approach to the footpaths, South Farm Lane is wheelchair friendly, the Arboretum's public footpaths are not, as they are grass.

Wheelchair users will need to travel by road to the pub.

OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST:

• In the 1980's an archeological survey of the Arboretum showed there to be signs of previous Iron Age enclosure ditches and Romano-British agricultural buildings on the site.  

• During the excavations, pieces of pottery, a gold plated half stater coin (one of a few surviving coins from the reign of the Celtic king Addedomaros), and large quantities of slag (a by-product of iron smelting) were discovered.

• You may even get to do a bit of A list celebrity spotting while you are here. Both Brian Blessed, who is local, and Kenneth Branagh, have been seen exercising dogs here, and ex-Queen guitarist Brian May lives around the corner. 

THE PUB:

THE HALF MOON
Church Road, Windlesham, Surrey, GU20 6BN. Tel: 01276 473329

This a large country pub, with two car parks and large sunny, well planted, beer garden. There is also a large children's play area to the rear of the garden. The pub also has a restaurant. 

The two dog friendly bars serve the same menu as the restaurant and your faithful friend is also welcome in the beer garden. There a bowls of water inside, for your dog, but staff are happy to fill your own, if you supply one. 

The food, while good, can be slightly overpriced and service may be a little slow, but the atmosphere is warm and friendly. Weekend lunchtime booking is recommended in Winter as it gets very, very busy.

Opening Monday to Thursday 11.00 to 15.00 and 17.30 to 23.00.
Friday 12.00 to 15.00 and 17.00 to 23.00
Saturday 11.00 to 15.00 and 17.30 to 23.00
All these days: Food 12.00 to 14.15 and 18.30 to 21.30

Sunday  12.00 to 15.00 and 19.00 to 22.30
Food 12.00 to 14.30

Find the pub here

The Half Moon is only a short 15 minute walk from the Arboretum. Follow the public footpath path in the Arboretum, towards the motorway, where you will find the footbridge that crosses the M3. Cross over and pass through the wooden gate onto a wide gravel track, which runs along the right-hand side of a wildflower meadow.

Head towards the black-timbered farmhouse, and pass through the metal kissing gate at the end of the track, into Rectory Lane.

Continue up the lane and turn left into Church Road. Cross the road and follow the pavement as it curves to the right, downhill, past the picturesque St John the Baptist church, on your right. The Half Moon is 300 yards further on, on the left.
Please be careful how you cross outside the pub, as visibility is limited and the traffic can be fast.     

FIND OUT MORE