www.thisissurreytoday.co.uk Surrey Walks & Rides August 09 37SMG

I always allow plenty of time to enjoy thisbeautiful walk – it’s definitely a favourite.

After a wooded downhill stroll I am enticedto ancient Chaldon Church to see the Ladderof Salvation wall painting, that is800-years-old. Alderstead Heath’s strangeconcrete paths remind me that armed forces’food was stored here. Tollsworth Manor’swalls display varied building materials, buthide a three-bay hall house. Hilltop Farm andRook farm also have centuries-old buildings.

On the Downs’ crest I eat my picnicenjoying spectacular views across theWeald.

It is downhill all the way into aptly namedHappy Valley. I look for spring primroses,summer vetches and yellow rattle, or inautumn, you can enjoy colourful leaves andberries, before the climb back to the start.

Marion Davis

Chaldon I havedone thewalk

details WALK

9 ‘Average timeLong walk 3-4hrs/short walk 2hrs

TerrainCrosses a few roads, occasionalmuddy tracks and stiles –unsuitable for wheelchairs/buggies

Distance■ Long circular walk –6 miles/9.65km■ Shorter circular walk –3 miles/4.8km

ParkingFarthing Downs car park or thecar park at the end of Fox Lane

StartFarthing Downs, Coulsdon orThe Fox pub, Old Coulsdon.

MapsExplorer 146, Landranger 187,Downlands Project’sDownlands Circular Walkself-guided leaflet

Grid referenceTQ301571 or TQ318 568

Nearest townsCoulsdon, Old Coulsdon andCaterham

RefreshmentsThe Fox or The Harrow pub atpoint 13

Public toiletsAt Farthing Downs

Public transportFor Farthing Downs catch thetrain to Coulsdon SouthBus route 466 stops outsideThe Fox

When using a Public Right of Way, remember the land on either side is private property

Note This map is an illustration, we suggest you also use an Ordnance Survey map

S tart from the car park at theend of Fox Lane, walk alongthe path, past the information

board on your right. Continue down thewooded slope and emerge into HappyValley. Continue along the top of thevalley side, keeping the woodland toyour right. The path will cut through a

small wooded area into the next fieldand follow the line of the hedge on yourleft down the valley and up the otherside. Here you will pick up the circulartrail at point 4.■ From Farthing Downs car park, crossthe road and walk across the grass,along the bottom end of the cottage

gardens until you reach the woodlandedge. Keeping the woodland on yourleft, follow the track that runs along theedge of the wood.■ Follow the track until you reach amajor forked junction and bear left downthe track on into Happy Valley. Followthe edge of the wood, keeping it to yourright. The track passes through anover-grown hedge or ‘shaw’ andcontinues along the edge of the woodto the corner of the field.■ Turn right and walk up through thewoodland and across two farmed fieldsto Chaldon Church. After a small riseyou will reach the road. Turn left andwalk along Ditches Lane until you reacha grassy junction with some trees on it.Take the right fork that leads to ChaldonChurch. This grassy triangle, knownas Chaldon Green, is the smallestregistered common in England. Climbthe stile opposite and set acrossfarmland towards Furzefield Wood.■ Enter Alderstead Heath and you willdiscover a three-way junction of paths.Continue straight ahead. At the nextjunction, turn left along the track thatleads you to the edge of the wood andDean Lane. Avoid walking along thisbusy road by turning left along a trackbefore the road, crossing over a stileand entering a farmer’s field. Walk alongby the hedge (leaving Furzefield Woodbehind you) until you reach a kissing

gate. Cross the road and walk down thepublic bridleway to Tollsworth ManorFarm. Just before the farmyard gate,turn left and walk along the edge of thefarmyard. Continue along the field edge,keeping the hedge to your right andthen turn left onto the North Downs Way.You will pass a concrete OrdnanceSurvey post on your right. Continuestraight on to reach Hilltop Lane.■ Cross Hilltop Lane and continuealong the North Downs Way. Afterpassing several houses, you will passthe Park Ham notice board on yourright. Return to the North Downs Wayand just after passing an entrance toRoverdene Scout Camp on your left,look for a path on your left that leadstowards Rook Farm. Walk down theside of the scout camp, along theedge of Ridgebushes Wood, until youreach a five-way junction. Walkstraight ahead, as if crossing the stile(the fence has long disappeared)crossing another two stiles, until youreach Rook Lane.■ Keeping the 17th century thatchedbarn and flint farmhouse of RookFarm on your left, cross over the road(Rook Lane) and walk down DoctorsLane, which is opposite the barn.Continue along Doctors Lane, turningright into Leazes Avenue. At the nextjunction, take the left fork, followed bythe first left. The path will then takeyou downhill, and on reaching thebottom, turn sharp left, along the floorof Happy Valley.■ If returning to The Fox pub: Walkalong the valley floor and turn rightafter the second hedge, up the sameslope you came down to join the walkin Happy Valley. Continue through thewooded area and back along thepath.■ If returning to Farthing Downs: Walkalong the valley floor for one mile. Bearleft and walk up the gentle slope. Atthe top, turn left to Farthing Downs carpark and the end of your walk.

Follow the colouredarrows which displaythe DownlandsCircular Walk symbol

Historic The picturesque Chaldon Church has a woodland outlook

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