Godalming – Shackleford – Peperharow - Godalming
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With its historic High Street and riverside park with views over the Lammas Lands, Godalming is a worthy destination for an outing in its own right.
This section from waymark 4 has been reported as impassable through being overgrown. Alternative is to continue straight up path till it reaches Peperharow Road and turn left to continue past houses to the end, where you meet the original path at Waymark 5. Please let us know if this situation has changed.
Three points of interest which you can see at the beginning of the walk are mentioned here:
1. The Parish Church:
originally Saxon, the Church of St Peter and St Paul has additions and alterations from every subsequent century. Of particular interest are Saxon carved stones, wall paintings, mediaeval altar furnishings and brasses including a brass candelabra.
2. The Jack Philips Memorial:
Jack Philips, somewhat of a local hero, was the chief wireless operator on the Titanic. He is reputed to have remained at his post, sending out a distress signal as the ship went down. The cloister was designed by well-known local architect Hugh Thackeray Turner and the garden planned by Gertrude Jekyll.
3. The Lammas Lands:
historically common land used for haymaking and cattle grazing, now designated a Site of Nature Conservation, this grassland provides a habitat which supports, among others, snipe, reed bunting and overwintering geese, acts as a flood-plain for the River Wey and enhances the natural beauty of the town. It is also home to many species of wildflowers.
The route leaves Godalming along the wooded bank of the River Wey. It leaves the river to take in Shackleford and its Old Cyder House and Peperharow. This is now a private residential estate, owned by a trust and home to about thirty families. It has a particularly beautiful setting. The estate was originally landscaped by the famous gardener Capability Brown. Peperharow is noted for its old agricultural buildings, including a granary built about 1600. Much more recently it was a film location for some of the scenes from Nottingham, a remake of Robin Hood starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett. Apparently a Nottinghamshire-style village was reconstructed on the estate.
On leaving Peperharow the route continues across fields to the village of Eashing, where it crosses the River Wey by a historical thirteenth century bridge. Originally built by monks from Waverley Abbey, this is now in NT ownership.
After possible replenishment at The Stag public house, the route returns to Godalming over higher ground giving a much more open aspect and distant views.
We used to call the short version of this walk (four miles and 80 metres height gain) omitting Shackleford and Peperharow, 'the longest day walk' as there was a tradition a group of us would do it after work on the longest day, perhaps taking a picnic tea and/or stopping at The Stag for an evening drink.
England - South England - Surrey - Surrey Hills
Features
Ancient Monument, Birds, Cafe, Church, Food Shop, Gift Shop, Mostly Flat, Pub, Public Transport, Restaurant, River, Toilets, Woodland
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