Chiddingfold
Children will enjoy the play area and river on this walk, as well as a family-friendly pub with play area.
The bluebell wood
The Basics
Time: 1 hour 30 mins
Distance: 5.5 km / 3.5 miles
Terrain: Short sections on quiet country lanes sometimes with pavements, fields, woodland paths - very muddy by river in winter.
Pushchair: This route is not suitable for pushchairs.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk.
Refreshments: The Crown in the village which is a fascinating 14th century pub oozing with history. There is also Elliot’s Coffee Shop with tables facing the huge village green. About half-way around the walk, you will come to The Winterton Arms, newly refurbished and with a children’s play area.
Toilets: There are no public toilets.
Public Transport: Stagecoach routes 70, 71 and 72 from Guildford to Godalming stop at The Crown Inn, from where you can join this walk.
Parking: Free car park at the recreation ground on Coxcombe Lane (Postcode: GU8 4PY - W3W: ///match.hiring.withdrew)
Looking over the bridge into the river and playing a fast flowing game of pooh sticks
Chiddingfold is a gorgeous Surrey Hills village with fine homes and a timber-framed pub set around a large green and village pond. Our walk starts from the recreation ground with a small play area and heads across farmland and woodland with river crossings. The walk also reveals a bluebell wood in April.
The Route
Leave the car park and turn left down Coxcombe Lane. Walk along the pavement until you reach Beckham House, then follow the finger post into the graveyard. Walk along the flagstone path that takes you through the graveyard towards the church. Pass by the church to your left and then exit the churchyard via the lynchgate and arrive at Petworth Road.
Cross the road and walk with the village green on your left all the way to the end. The last house along the right hand side of the green is The Coach House. Cross the road here and then turn left down Pockford Road. Walk along the quiet country lane passing some old cottages. Turn left beside a swing hanging from a tree and follow the track up into a field.
Cross the field with electric fences on either side of you. At the edge of the field you will see yellow footpath arrows and you should turn right to stay in the field. Keep the hedge to your left and continue along the perimeter of the fields until you come to a large gap in the hedge. The footpath takes a swing to the left here into the adjacent field. It is not signed, but the worn path is obvious. You should see a house away to your left and should now walk with the hedge to your right. Continue through the field towards the houses and then walk along the track that will be straight ahead. Soon, follow the finger post directing you to the left and out onto Skinners Lane.
Turn left at the lane and walk along the road. There is no pavement, but it is a quiet minor road. Continue until you see a footpath to your right and a sign for Yew Tree Cottage.
Walk up the track to Yew Tree Cottage and then go through the metal kissing gate into a field. Cross the field with horse paddocks to your right. At the other side of the field you will go out through another gate onto a tarmac access road. Cross this and take the footpath opposite going into woodland. This is private woodland, so you should stay on the track, but note that you will see plenty of bluebells here in April. Follow the path through the woodland and when you reach the river, cross the wooden bridge. Turn left after the bridge and follow the path parallel to the river (this path can be extremely muddy, even in summer).The path will eventually take you through a builder’s yard and past the Winterbourne Arms.
Cross the road and look for the finger post and a metal kissing gate opposite the pub. Follow the path and go through another metal kissing gate onto a brick bridge over the river. After the bridge, continue along the path into the woodland. There has been some tree fall along this path and you may need to switch paths through the woodland a couple of times to avoid them. This did not cause a problem to the route and you should just keep onwards in the same westerly direction. Continue through the woodland until you reach two side-by-side bridges made of wooden planks. Take the left plank bridge and enter an open space planted with young trees.
Follow the footpath diagonally across the space and then veer left onto the path when you reach the other side. This will take you past some houses before bringing you to Woodside Road. Turn left here and then almost immediately right into Coxcombe Lane. Follow the pavement back to the recreation ground and car park. There is a public play area on the opposite side of the football pitches, next to the school.
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Did you know?
The Crown Inn is one of the oldest inns in England and it is well worth a peek inside to see the low beams and fireplaces. It has a distinguished past, with at least two monarchs having stayed there: the boy king, Edward VI, in 1552 and his sister Queen Elizabeth I in 1591 on her way to visit Cowdray.
If you enjoyed this walk…
…try this one at Dunsfold, another lovely Surrey Hills village
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