🥾 Walk 285 - Blackheath, the Chantries and St Martha's Hill

Kathy and I also have a confession to make (just like Rob when we did this walk last year) we drove to Blackheath Common car park, and we were the only ones there, everyone else had gathered at the second car park in Blackheath, so we drove there to join them. There were eight ramblers, including the leaders, and all had walked with the BWWs before.

Kathy realised we were in the wrong place, highlighting that we had started the walk at Blackheath village last time. We decided to start the walk where we were and left the car park into the woods on a path that led us to Blackheath Common, but we had missed the blooms of the heather this year. With Jim's help, we navigated to the bridleway which tied in with our written instructions. We followed this path to the railway bridge which led to the Dorking road in Chilworth.

Crossing over we walked through a small farm on a path between meadows. Further on over the bridge would be an opportunity to visit the Chilworth Gunpowder Mills, we did not go as far as the bridge today, but climbed over a stile to our right, through two meadows, another stile, a footbridge and an enclosed path where we saw the woolly pigs (but no piglets this time) and a very productive allotment, this path led to a large pond. A second pond called Postford pond' and Albert Mill and Paper-Mould Manufactory were the next landmarks.

A path on our left took us to Waterloo pond and Millstone cottage, we continued along a fence with the cottage garden on our left, a path under tall beeches, leading to Tillingbourne Valley on our left and wooded slopes on the right. This path eventually narrows and we go up the steepest part of this hill near to St Martha's Hill car park. We followed this wide sandy path up to the top of Saint Martha's Hill and stopped for a rest outside the church.

Leaving the church, we kept to the main track joining the north downs way for a short while, then going deep into this spectacular wood of the Chantries. We follow this wide path ahead, reaching a path that zigzagged ahead we take a much narrower path to the right, a yellow arrow confirms that we are on the right path. We follow this path over the hilltop to 'the grandest part of the chantries with a fine mix of Scots pine, larch and various cedars', in the spring the area is full of bluebells. We bear left and stop at a break in the trees with a view to Guildford Cathedral and have lunch.

We took a path to the right through the woods and a nature reserve to Chantry Lodge. Taking a fairly hidden narrow sunken path to the left of a white cottage we reach a residential area where we follow the road, over a lane, up the steps and across a meadow to a footpath leading to Salford Mill where a guide provides some leaflets and interesting information about the mill, and we stop for a drink at the Seahorse pub, which sells some very interesting 'teas'.

Re-commencing the walk we take a track at the back of the pub and follow a path signposted to Godalming, taking the narrower right path with views of the river Wye, taking a swing gate on the right over two boardwalks and the bank of the river crossing the weir to the Wye canal. We cross the canal at St Catherine's lock, where we saw several narrowboats, which may well have been part of an event in Guildford, according to another walker we chatted to, as well as a brave family who were standing on large boards making their way down the canal. We walked for some time along the towpath leading to the national trust path, part of the 'Wey navigation'. Cross a bridge we follow a long straight path which is part of a disused railway line, reaching the main road we follow the track on the other side through woodland and past a memorial pier with picnic tables.

We joined the Downs Link north path and turned left in the direction of St Martha's, the path continues to a major road and we walk ahead on a track to Southlands Stud where we continue to another main road. We take a right diagonal path on the other side, through the woodland leading to the 'great historic Tangley Manor'. The walk details suggest it is worth a look, but as a result of past experience (when we were made very unwelcome) all but one decided to give it a miss, we continue through woodland to the road near the 'Blackheath' sign. This is where the walk should have started if we had parked in the village, again with the help of Jim, as well as Christine (both had maps and compasses) they successfully took the group back to the car park where we started. See our route on Bing Maps.

Despite a tricky start and end to the walk, and some distance to travel to the start of the walk, everyone appeared to enjoy a varied walk in a different area to usual, we had good weather and no rain as forecast.

Thanks to Ann for writing up the walk and Kathy for providing the photos.

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