Farncombe Station – Compton – Littleton – Farncombe Station

After leaving the residential streets of Farncombe the route proceeds along a wooded bank which has bluebells and wild garlic in late spring. This is followed by a lovely open section across an expansive field to the village of Compton.

As you walk through the village the 10th Century Grade I listed St Nicholas Church is tucked away from the road on the left-hand side. Its basic structure including the tower is Anglo-Saxon but it has been much altered. The Norman influence can be seen in the arches, the timber roofing, thought to date back to 1165 and the carved screen in the chancel, one of the oldest in the country. The spire was added in the 14th Century and the pulpit and clock in the 17th Century.

Watts Gallery (near Waymark 12) is dedicated to the artist George Frederick Watts (1817-1904) who lived nearby for the latter part of his life. It is open to the public for an admission charge. Possibly of more interest are the public toilets and tea room, which also serves lunches. There is also an artist-orientated giftshop.

Watts Memorial Chapel (between Waymarks 11 and 12) was designed and erected by his widow, Mary Watts. It is Grade I listed and built in the shape of a Greek cross. The interior is 'an unique fusion of art nouveau, Celtic, Egyptian and Romanesque influence'. It is open to the public with free admission. It is worth a look in on your way past and I speak as one who is uncultured and usually unimpressed by such things! It is surrounded by a lovely peaceful graveyard with several benches – a good place for coffee break or lunch.

The Withies Inn, accessed from Waymark 14, dates from the 16th Century and is one of the oldest buildings in the village.

The route then goes through Loseley Park Estate, which has been the setting for a number of British films and TV series including 'Midsommer Murders', 'Miss Marple' and 'The Crown'.

Loseley House can be viewed in the distance from nearWwaymark 16. It is a Grade I listed large Tudor manor-house which was built 1562-8 and has been in the More-Molyneaux family since the early 16th Century.

The route returns to Farncombe Station via a quiet country lane and residential roads.

Between Waymarks 2 and 4 and also between 5 and 7 the path, though clearly defined on the ground, is not marked on the map and is not an official public footpath, so there are one or two fallen trees to negotiate and low clay banks to clamber up and down – see Photo 6 for an example - but there is always a handy tree to hang on to! Hence the moderate grading.

Note to dog owners: there are no stiles on the route and the only place you are likely to encounter livestock is in the field after Waymark 8.

England - South England - Surrey - Countryside

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Walk id: 8649

Walk grade

Moderate Walk

Length

5.9 Miles

Height gain

55 Metres

Duration

2 Hours 28 Mins

Average rating

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