Greensand Way stage 3: Hurtwood Car Park 6 to Dorking

You might think it strange to be headed out and about at the moment (I write this the day after all pubs, clubs and restaurants were shut in response to the Covid-19 outbreak) but, like Rudyard Kipling‘s cat, I walk by myself. So a ‘check’ in the social distancing box.

This is a chunky section of the path compared to previous two; by the time I got to Deepdene Station a solid 23km (14 miles in old money).

I only decided to do this late last night and didn’t have a chance to do pre-flight prep post. So, retrospectively....

In the bag....

• fabulous lunch, comprised of the last roll in Lidl, cheese, satsumas, apricots

• flask of tea; and in a nod to extraordinary times, not, I repeat, not, earl grey.

• 1.5ltr bladder of water

• that rarest of creatures, alcohol hand gel

• usual selection of wires and charging pack (although swanky new phone didn’t need it)

Satsuma flavour no less!

Today’s map:

• We’re almost entirely on OS Explorer 146 (Dorking, Box Hill and Reigate).

Righto, onto the main event. Starting back at the car park where long suffering Mr C dropped me off, headed east through mainly pine woodland towards Reynard’s Hill. This area is almost made for mountain bikes and as spring has definitely sprung there were plenty about. Mostly very considerate riders, although bikes can make the going underfoot pretty muddy.

Glorious views abound from Reynard’s Hill, Pitch Hill and the ancient iron fort at Holmbury Hill a bit further on. Reynard’s Hill had a cute cedar-shingle clad look out shelter which had people’s memories of the wood on each tile. Looked a bit like an armadillo.

The wood itself was a genuine tonic after a week of doom and gloom (and inordinate amounts of time staring into a web cam); spring is definitely here and the birds wanted everyone to know it.

Between Reynard’s and Pitch Hills is the Ewhurst Windmill, a corn mill built in 1845, now a converted home. Shimmering in the sunshine it looks like an amazing place to live (even if it does need a lick of paint!). Apparently George Harrison wrote Here Comes the Sun here, which seems rather appropriate for a day like today.

Ewhurst Windmill

The Hurtwood itself is beautifully managed and you could roam around it all day. It’s privately owned common land, for the use of serfs like me since medieval times. I feel I got a lot out of it today.

Emerging from the Hurtwood and crossing some farmland, I started the climb up to Leith Hill. The path is (obviously) quite sandy and passes through mostly deciduous forest. The incline is enough to raise the heart rate and I was glad to pause for lunch at Leith Tower. This was a glorious spot, great views and it luxuriates in the honour of being the highest point on the Greensand Ridge (and indeed in south east England once you take the tower into account). So it is, quite literally, all downhill from here.

The GW from Leith Hill takes you north, past Snakes Hill to the left (steep!) and through a valley called Broadmoor Bottom. Surrounded by more mixed woodland, the path consists of wider byways and bridlepaths, passing farms and stables. This is one of the most picture postcard English-y part of the GW so far; chocolate box cottages and beautiful kitchen gardens all give a sense of having been thrown back 200 years in time. It’s very lovely and the small streams coming down off the valley sides make pretty waterfalls and add to the spring time feel that abounds.

As the GW gets to the A25 it turns east again to take you through Westcott and then into Dorking. Here the path leaves tranquil country scenes behind and more or less entirely runs behind or between houses as the area becomes more built up. It’s still shady and quiet, and you almost feel ‘spat out’ onto pavements and residential roads. The GW tracks across the bottom of Dorking towards Reigate, but I left it and headed north through Dorking to the station. Next time will be Dorking to Redhill, which is my home turf!

Map of the route below- and apologies it‘s just a fit bit version, I’m not allowed to post OS maps!

It’s probably obvious this has been my favourite stage so far. Maybe it’s the context of a global pandemic, maybe it’s spending a week indoors or perhaps just the sunshine, whatever the reason, the miles just flew by!

Anyway, it might be a while until I get to do stage four, so stay safe out there folks!

Coding Cat