- This walk is limited to 17 walkers + the walk leader.
- Do not turn up for a walk without prior booking, else we will have to turn you away
- Follow all safety advice given by the walk leader
- It is recommended you bring hand sanitizer or gloves in case you need to touch gates/stiles/etc
- If you or someone else from your household has COVID-19 symptoms, please do not attend.
This walk takes us to an area in the Surrey hills that we haven’t visited for a while, passing Shalford Mill on our way to join the North Downs Way, which we follow to St Martha’s Hill with its striking church and panoramic views. From there we follow the Pilgrims’ Way across the rolling landscape, stopping for lunch on the way towards the picturesque village of Shere. There’s an excellent ice cream shop, a café and two pubs here, as well as public toilets – we’ll stop here for a short while to allow people to take advantage of any of these (weather and space permitting – if it’s really wet or everywhere is packed, we may press on).
From Shere, we turn around for the return leg using parts of the Fox Way and Downs Link route, passing through Little London on our way to Blackheath Forest, which then gives way to the more open heathland of Blackheath Common, before making our way via Tangley back to our start point in Shalford.
Meet at 10:25am on the large grassy area outside Shalford cemetery, opposite the Queen Victoria pub (where, space permitting, we may seek refreshment at the end of the walk!) This is a very short walk from Shalford station, following the arrival of the 09:20 service from Reading (09:29 from Wokingham, 10:13 from Guildford). Return trains run every hour. The walk leader will be on this train (so if it is delayed then the start of the walk be) to guide people to the official start point where there is more space to gather.
If driving, charges (APCOA) apply to park in the station car park, or you may be able to park on Station Row near the pub, or in the car park by the scout hut and recycling facilities just over the railway on the corner of Dagley Lane (but wherever you park, please do so legally and considerately and check the conditions yourself).
Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of water. The terrain is varied, with some paths quite sandy and others liable to be muddy, so please wear suitable footwear.
Book a place on this walk by completing the Google Form. We will only use the contact information you provide to get in touch about the walk, or to share if requested with NHS Test and Trace.
If after booking, you need to cancel your place on the walk, please email walkbookings@berkshirewalkers.co.uk so that we can make your place available to someone else.
Please only contact the leader with queries about the walk or if you are delayed on the day.