{"id":"6984794b533dbb4b7311889b","title":"Walk 382 Friday Street Leith Hill And Holmbury Hill","path":"walks/scrapbook/by-year/2019/volume-28-apr-to-jun-2019/walk-382-friday-street-leith-hill-and-holmbury-hill","contentMarkdown":"# 🥾 Walk 382 - Friday Street, Leith Hill and Holmbury Hill\n\nJust a few of us met up on Sunday 26th May for a walk in the Greensand Ridge area of Surrey. This is a bit out of our normal area, but well worth the journey, in my opinion. The weather started off well, with sunshine and blue skies.\n\nLeaving the car park, we followed the lane past the mill pond and into the hamlet of Friday Street. Crossing through Severells Copse, we joined a bridleway called Leyland's Road. This took us through the woodland of Wotton Common, where we saw plenty of rhododendrons in flower. They seem to do well in the sandy soil here.\n\nThe long path gradually gained height until we reached the top of Leith Hill, the highest point on the Greensand Ridge. It is also the second highest hill in the south-east of England. (The highest being Walbury Hill, near Newbury.) There is an 18th-century Gothic tower on the summit, which is now owned by the National Trust and has a little tea shop.\n\n![This tree in Mosshall Wood hanging on for dear life.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume28/images/fridaystreet.jpg)\n\nWe stopped here for refreshment. Some of us had tea and cake while one or two of us went up the tower to the viewing area at the top. On a clear day you can just see some of the London landmarks, however the weather was beginning to turn, with thick clouds appearing.\n\nWe left Leith Hill, heading toward Holmbury Hill, following the Greensand Way for some of the way. A steep path took us up to Holmbury Hill, where we stopped for our picnic lunch and to enjoy the views. The clouds were getting darker and the occasional spit of rain was felt.\n\nNext we headed to the village of Holmbury St Mary, where we stopped for a drink at The Royal Oak pub. It began raining as we sat in the beer garden. Luckily the parasol on the table also served as an umbrella. The rain eased up as we finished our drinks and set off for the final leg of the route.\n\n![Crossing a stream in Severells Copse.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume28/images/severells_copse.jpg)\n\nA fine drizzle tried to fall a couple of times on the way back, but it never got heavy enough for waterproofs. It was less than a couple of miles, crossing heathland and woodland, back to the car park. See our route on Google Maps.\n\n![The tower on the top of Leith Hill.](https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume28/images/leith_tower.jpg)\n\n*Thank you to Sue J for leading the walk.*\n\n## 📸 Back to Volume 28\n\nReturn to volume index","contentHtml":"

🥾 Walk 382 - Friday Street, Leith Hill and Holmbury Hill

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Just a few of us met up on Sunday 26th May for a walk in the Greensand Ridge area of Surrey. This is a bit out of our normal area, but well worth the journey, in my opinion. The weather started off well, with sunshine and blue skies.

\n

Leaving the car park, we followed the lane past the mill pond and into the hamlet of Friday Street. Crossing through Severells Copse, we joined a bridleway called Leyland's Road. This took us through the woodland of Wotton Common, where we saw plenty of rhododendrons in flower. They seem to do well in the sandy soil here.

\n

The long path gradually gained height until we reached the top of Leith Hill, the highest point on the Greensand Ridge. It is also the second highest hill in the south-east of England. (The highest being Walbury Hill, near Newbury.) There is an 18th-century Gothic tower on the summit, which is now owned by the National Trust and has a little tea shop.

\n

\"This

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We stopped here for refreshment. Some of us had tea and cake while one or two of us went up the tower to the viewing area at the top. On a clear day you can just see some of the London landmarks, however the weather was beginning to turn, with thick clouds appearing.

\n

We left Leith Hill, heading toward Holmbury Hill, following the Greensand Way for some of the way. A steep path took us up to Holmbury Hill, where we stopped for our picnic lunch and to enjoy the views. The clouds were getting darker and the occasional spit of rain was felt.

\n

Next we headed to the village of Holmbury St Mary, where we stopped for a drink at The Royal Oak pub. It began raining as we sat in the beer garden. Luckily the parasol on the table also served as an umbrella. The rain eased up as we finished our drinks and set off for the final leg of the route.

\n

\"Crossing

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A fine drizzle tried to fall a couple of times on the way back, but it never got heavy enough for waterproofs. It was less than a couple of miles, crossing heathland and woodland, back to the car park. See our route on Google Maps.

\n

\"The

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Thank you to Sue J for leading the walk.

\n

📸 Back to Volume 28

\n

Return to volume index

\n"}