Trail Run: Godalming to Chiddingfold

1. Godalming Railway Station to Fox Dene (2 km)
Exit the railway station, turn left and take the stairs down to the lower car park. Turn left onto Westbrook Rd and continue under the railway bridge, turning left immediately into New Way. You will pass the Railway station to your left and the house and grounds of Meath Epilepsy Trust on your right. Continue for 900 m, bearing left where the track forks to emerge onto Portsmouth Rd. Turn left and cross over by the roundabout after 100 m towards the Inn on the Lake Hotel car park. Continue up Shackstead Ln and in 50 m take the right hand footpath by the bus stop, signposted ‘Bargate Wood’. Continue as the track ascends, then turn hard right into the woods after 130 m. Continue on this track through the woods as it dips and curves to meet Fox Dene (a road in a residential housing estate) after 600 m.

2. Fox Dene to Milford Railway Station (2.5 km)
Turn left onto Fox Dene and then right onto Pullman Rd. After 150 m, this curves left to join Ashtead Ln. After 80 m turn right to cross the road and pick up the public footpath adjacent to Godalming College sports ground. Follow this footpath for 600 m as it passes through the woodland of Ladywell convent and winds down steep sandstone steps to emerge onto Tuesley Ln. Turn right on Tuesley Ln, passing a row of red clay tile cottages. Follow the curve of the lane as it ascends and after 100 m, take the right hand footpath across a gravel driveway, marked by a fingerpost. Follow this for 170 m as it skirts the back of a residential development, then turn left to follow the perimeter of the estate through the trees. After 350 m, the track descends down a steep slope, crossing a brook to join an unmade lane that runs between Tuesley fruit farm and Milford Golf Club. After 700 m you will emerge onto Station Ln at the crossing by Milford Railway Station.

3. Milford Railway Station to Water Lane (2.2 km)
Turn right on Station Ln to cross the tracks at the railway crossing point, then turn left to pick up the narrow public footpath which runs adjacent to the railway line on the other side of the road. Follow this path for 1.25 km – it follows the railway tracks directly for a while, then veers right to skirt Enton Lakes before emerging onto Mill Ln. Turn left by the new houses and follow this narrow lane through the trees for 400 m, whereupon the lane curves left to pass the 17th century Enton Mill buildings and a large pond and landscaping to your right. Continue on the lane as it curves right and passes under the railway bridge. The lane becomes an access track here, with trees either side. After 300 m you will arrive at a t-junction by a cluster of barn conversions and houses at Great Enton. Turn right and in 150 m you will join Water Ln at the apex of a bend in the road.

4. Water Lane to Sweetwater Lane (1.25 km)
Cross the lane directly to pick up the footpath into the trees opposite, marked with a fingerpost. Continue following the obvious footpath as it hugs a fence-line that cuts diagonally across a field and descends through a gate to enter a second field. You will see the eerily derelict Keepers Lodge of Enton Hall tucked away to your left. You will then skirt the tree-line of Chapel Copse and pass a large pond, its banks surrounded by gnarled trees. Across the meadows to your right is Enton Hall and its grounds. After a further 250 m you will pass through a copse of trees onto Buss’s Common – an open patch of sandy heathland surrounded by deciduous and pine trees. Continue on the sandy track through the heather until the track rejoins woodland. Turn right at the first crossroad of tracks after 50 m. You will cross a small brook and join the end of Sweetwater Ln.

5. Sweetwater Lane to Malthouse Lane (0.9 km)
As you enter Sweetwater Ln, turn left immediately to take a winding path back into the trees. Bearing left, continue directly – ignoring any deviating tracks to either side – as the track rises for 300 m. You will then join a confluence of tracks – take the track directly opposite at 1 o’clock and bear left after 30 m where this track forks. This track opens out to a sandy viewpoint after 120 m, with the heather slopes of Hambledon Common opening out to the left. There is a great view of Blackdown Hill from this vantage point, which looks imposingly within touching distance on a clear day. Continue on past the viewpoint, bearing left at almost 90 °. After approx 100 m, take the right hand turn at the t-junction of tracks. Continue on this track as it descends through the trees for 350 m to join Malthouse Ln by a fingerpost.

6. Malthouse Lane to Hambledon Hurst (1.7 km)
Continue directly through Hambledon on Malthouse Ln, passing a row of clay tile cottage to your right. The lane curves gradually to the right and after 200 m, turn right into Woodlands Rd. Bear right after 10 m to pass a row of cottages and a small green dotted with large trees to your left. Follow the line of the garden wall of the last property to join a footpath which descends through woodland to join Vann Ln after 200 m. Turn right on Vann Ln, following the fingerpost signage opposite. After 50 m, turn left across the gravel driveway of Goodbrook House to rejoin the footpath. Follow this directly through the dense woodland. After 1 km you will arrive at a crossroad of tracks, deep in the woods of Hambledon Hurst.

7. Hambledon Hurst to White Beech Lane (3.5 km)
Turn left at the crossroad of tracks and after 500 m, where the track forks, bear right. Continue for 800 m and you will reach a t-junction with a wider track and a slightly more open aspect. Turn right here to follow the line of a small river to your left. After 200 m, turn left onto a bridge over the river, as directed by a fingerpost. Follow this track for 700 m as it rises then descends gradually to meet Skinners Ln. Turn left on Skinners Ln. After 300 m, turn left at the t-junction with Vann Ln. After 350 m, look out for a metal farm gate and fingerpost on the right. This is quite easy to miss! Skirt the gate and continue into the woods. Follow this track through the trees for 650 m and you will emerge onto White Beech Ln.

8. White Beech Lane to Hook House Lane (2.25 km)
Turn right on White Beech Ln and after 80 m, turn left onto the footpath marked with a fingerpost to skirt White Beech Farm on your right hand side. Follow this track through the woods. After 600 m it bears left and you will cross the river on a bridge with green railings. You will then turn right and follow the line of the river, with a fenced pasture on your left, into more woodland. The track snakes alongside the river bank and in 600 m you will emerge into a long, open meadow. Follow the grassy track at the top of the meadow, maintaining the tree-line to your right hand side. After 300 m, turn left through the gate into the trees as directed by a waypoint. This track weaves through the trees, then between the small fields of Church Close Farm, passing St Mary’s Church to your right. Hug the line of the fence where the track splits, ignoring the track off to the church. Continue to follow the track as it skirts sheep fields and cross the stile into Hook House Ln.

9. Hook House Lane to Vann Lane (2 km)
Turn left on Hook House Ln and head towards the large, impressive house at Field Place. Here, you will follow the footpath signage to pass through a small meadow that clips the corner of the lane and descends directly to rejoin it after 100 m. Turn right and continue on the lane as it snakes between the buildings of Duns Farm. After 150 m, take the right hand footpath as it branches from the lane and crosses a field diagonally on a grassy track. Exiting the field, you will cross a brook and follow the tree line into Prest Wood. Follow the winding path and brook through the trees. In 500 m you will emerge into a large crop field with some small hills visible. Continue directly, following the footpath to hug the left edge of the field. You will pass the beautiful house and grounds of Vann Garden to your left. The path then emerges at Vann Lane onto a grass verge.

10. Vann Lane to Markwick Lane (1.5 km)
Turn immediately right into the private lane (with public right of way) to Burgate Farm, passing the lodge house on your left. Follow the lane for 700 m to Burgate Farm. You will have open views of Breakneck Hill and Hascombe Hill looming behind the farm buildings. Turn right at the t-junction by the stone farmhouse. You will pass a large barn to your right after 200 m. After a further 200 m, take the left hand footpath up into a copse of trees and continue for 400 m, passing fields either side and Markwick Farm buildings on your right to emerge onto Markwick Ln through an iron gate.

11. Markwick Lane to The Street (3.65 km)
Cross the road to rejoin the footpath, marked with a fingerpost. This skirts a large meadow to your right and begins to climb steeply up Breakneck Hill. The climb is 400 m long and averages 17% gradient, so will get you working. There are some amazing trees on this (naturally) deserted bit of the route which offer some distraction. At the top of the hill, cross Holloways Heath directly on the plantation track for 700 m and you will reach a confluence of tracks. Continue straight here – a single track tucked between trees that descends steeply down the bank of a small gully. In 400 m the track joins the end of Hoe Ln. After 100 m, turn left up some wooden steps to join a footpath, marked with a fingerpost. Passing through the wooden gate, follow the track as it skirts the perimeter hedge of Hoe Farm and ascends into a copse. After 400 m, turn right at the t-junction of tracks. After 100 m, cross Mare Lane directly – as directed by the fingerpost – to rejoin the track into the trees. This quickly joins Hascombe Court – a private lane with large houses on either side. Continue straight for 700 m then turn right at the junction of lanes. After 200 m, the lane bears right once more and turns into a rocky track which descends steeply for 400 m to join The Street.

12. The Street to Thorncombe Street (1.25 km)
Cross the road to rejoin the path directly opposite, marked by a fingerpost. Continue on the path between small fields for 100 m. Turn left by a small hut to skirt a copse at the edge of a field and continue to follow the path as curves right and left. In 400 m, you will pass Langhurst Farm to your left, and a large sloping paddock on your right. Continue as the track rises into a large copse and swings right. In a further 250 m, turn left at the junction of tracks and you will shortly arrive at Thorncombe St by the stone wall of Scotsland Farm.

13. Thorncombe Street to Gate Street Farm (1.6 km)
Turn right on Thorncombe St and after 50 m, follow the fingerpost left to rejoin the Greensand Way. The narrow track weaves through an area of bracken and trees to your right and a sloping field to your left containing a sculpture of a horse’s head. Continue on the track for 750 m as it skirts woodland to your right and rolling fields to your left. You will then pass through a wooden gate to enter the Wintershall Estate – a charity that specialises in religious theatre. Follow the signage through the estate, passing various plaster casts of biblical scenes dotted amongst the trees. Passing directly over a dipped curve in the lane, you will then cross a large, central grassy area that meets a gravel lane at a t-junction. Turn left here and you will shortly pass the main theatre and costume workshop to enter the fields of Gate St Farm. Continue on the main access track as it bears right past the pig enclosures. You will cross a cattle grid and emerge onto Gate St directly opposite the farm buildings.

14. Gate Street to Snowdenham Lane (3 km)
Turn left at Gate St. to continue on the Greensand Way. Continue directly as the path weaves through trees and between fields, with views across pastures to Wonersh and Farley on your right. After 1.5 km you will arrive at a junction of tracks by a couple of houses at Daneshill. Turn left here and follow the track for a further 1.5 km as it narrows and winds between fields and trees. You will emerge onto a private access lane for Eastwater and Snowdenham Houses. Follow the lane as it curves left to pass Mill Pond and join Snowdenham Ln.

15. Snowdenham Lane to Foxburrow Hill Road (1.2 km)
Turn right on Snowdenham Ln and continue. After 400 m, look out for a private driveway for Wychcroft on the left hand side. Follow the fingerpost and steps directly to the side of it. Take this path as it ascends steeply for 150 m to join Snowdenham Links Rd. Continue directly to rejoin the footpath at the end of the lane where it emerges at Bramley Golf Club. Turn left here to skirt the edge of the golf course and in 400 m you will emerge onto Foxburrow Hill Rd.

16. Foxburrow Hill Road to River Wey Navigation Path (1.65 km)
Cross the road to rejoin the track, marked by a fingerpost and signage for Foxburrow Cottage. Follow this track as it ascends gradually for 500 m to Farley Hill, with the fields of Springhill Farm falling away to your right. Continue as the track bears left to skirt Unsted Wood and you will reach a t-junction of tracks in a further 300 m. Turn right here and descend on the wooded, rutted track for 400 m to leave the trees and join an unmade lane at Bunkers Hill Farm. Continue straight for a further 400 m to cross the River Wey at Trowers Bridge, where you will turn left to join the River Wey Navigation Path.

17. River Wey Navigation Path back to start (2.45 km)
Follow the riverside path for 500 m to cross Cattleshall Rd. Cross directly and rejoin the path at Cattleshall Lock and follow the footpath for a further 1 km. You will emerge behind Godalming United Church and continue to Bridge Rd. Turn left on Bridge Rd and after 50 m, cross by the roundabout to enter Phillips Memorial Park by Godalming Library. Follow the riverside path through the park for 650 m where you will emerge onto Borough Rd, bearing slightly left to continue into Vicarage Walk. After 80 m, turn left by the rectory onto Westbrook Rd and cut through the lower car park to ascend the stairs and return to your starting point at Godalming Railway Station.