Haslemere and Gibbet Hill

Richard Clayton

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Updated in October 2012 - see Additional Info.

This is a circular walk between Haslemere, easily accessible by train and Gibbet Hill on Hindhead Common, the second highest point in Surrey. It is one of a series of walks starting from Haslemere Station which I hope you will enjoy. The outward walk follows the Greensand Way from its humble beginnings (along a narrow alley off the High Street in Haslemere) up onto Gibbet Hill, where it heads off east on its journey towards Kent. You face quite a climb up onto Hindhead Common, but the views are worth it.

Sir Robert Hunter, one of the three original founders of the National Trust, lived in Haslemere from 1883 until his death in 1913. He was Chairman of the Trust for 18 years from its foundation in 1895 and its legal expert, drawing up all the constitutional documents for the 1907 National Trust Act. Hindhead Commons and the Devil's Punchbowl were acquired by the National Trust in 1905 as a result of a campaign led by Sir Robert to protect the land from development. See Additional Info.

'The view from Hindhead challenges comparison with any in the south of England. Though not so extensive as that from Leith Hill, the foreground is more broken and diversified. 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'.

Like many popular areas of open common and woodland, this one has a profusion of paths, tracks and Forestry Commission access roads, all of which make the return walk from the common back to Haslemere a test of navigation skills! I would take the 1:25000 map and a compass. It is not the Amazon jungle, but the wrong turn might lead to missing your train!

England - South England - Surrey - Surrey Hills

Features

Birds, Cafe, Flowers, Food Shop, Gift Shop, Good for Kids, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Museum, National Trust, Pub, Public Transport, Wildlife, Woodland