Haslemere Station to Witley Station - Linear

Richard Clayton

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This has been written as a one-way walk between two railway stations in Surrey, from Haslemere across Gibbet Hill and through Thursley to Witley, following the Greensand Way throughout. It is one of a series of walks starting from Haslemere station which I hope you will enjoy.

The first part of the walk follows the Greensand Way from Haslemere town centre, across Hindhead Common up to Gibbet Hill, at 272 metres the second highest point in Surrey. The Greensand Way runs for 108 miles from Haslemere along the Greensand ridge, parallel to and south of the North Downs, into Kent and almost to the coast. It takes its name from the layers of sandstone and in particular the green coloured mineral glauconite.

You face quite a climb up on to the Common, but the views are worth it.

"The view from Hindhead challenges comparison with any in the south of England. The whole western half of the South Downs lies in front to the south, the Hampshire chalk hills to the west, the whole country to the Thames Valley is overlooked northwards. The advanced position of the hill, jutting out southward from the Green Sand range of Surrey, yields a view eastward along the middle of the Weald, with the Leith Hill range on one hand, the South Downs on the other, and Crowborough Beacon, in Sussex, appearing in the blue distance beyond". See Additional Info.

The second part of the walk takes you around the rim of the wonderful Devil's Punchbowl – worth a visit on another day if you don't know it – and through the interesting and historic village of Thursley.

The name came from the Norse god Thor, and the settlement was probably a site where he was worshipped. It is known for its National Nature Reserve, home of the endangered Dartford warbler, and also for being the childhood home of the architect Edwin Lutyens.

The village pub, the Three Horseshoes, recommended as your re-fuelling point, is community-owned. It was saved from closure in 2004 when over twenty villagers raised the funds needed to purchase the business.

England - South England - Surrey - Surrey Hills

Features

Birds, Cafe, Flowers, Great Views, Hills or Fells, National Trust, Pub, Public Transport, Wildlife, Woodland

5/12/2021 - Past Member

Thank you Andrew – this has been clarified and the map updated (Feb 2022). The map provided is rather out of date and combined with the directions at point 26 is a bit confusing. The O/S map shows the Greensand walk going direct from 26 to 28 and under the A3. This path does not exist even though it is on the latest OL33 map The route is via a gate on the left of the track not right but head right after the gate (GS sign on the gate) and across the cultivated field to the Horse Margin and a right turn to the A3 underpass. O/S map OL33 has updated to show the transformation of the old A3 to a byway and the functioning A3 tunnel