Newlands Corner and Silent Pool
Guildford
Children will enjoy the natural play area, the art installation and looking for wildlife at the pool on this walk.
Download the PDF version of this walk and get a kids activity map.
Beautiful views of the Surrey Hills
The Basics
Time: 1 hour 45 mins
Distance: 5.4 km / 3.4 miles
Terrain: One steep hill climb, two busy road crossings, one stile.
Pushchair: The main route connecting Newlands Corner to Silent Pool detailed on this page would not be suitable for pushchairs, but there are some alternatives that are. The first is a short 30 minute way marked walk around the woodland at Newlands Corner. The second is a linear walk along the North Downs Way starting on the opposite side of the road to the car park entrance. This section of the path is straight and even and you could walk to the viewpoint and beyond.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on this walk.
Refreshments: Newlands Café or The Plucky Pheasant are both beside the car park at Newlands Corner, or Mandira’s Kitchen at Silent Pool.
Toilets: There are public toilets beside the play area.
Public Transport: The bus route 25 operates from Guildford around every 2 hours.
Parking: Large, free car park at Newlands Corner (Postcode: GU4 8SE - W3W: ///just.renew.assure)
Optohedron - one of Surrey Hills Inspiring Views viewpoints
Near Guildford, this popular beauty spot has plenty to offer the whole family from a variety of long and short trails, a natural play area, café, toilets, views, picnic benches and an art installation. The route takes you as far as Silent Pool, where there are two scenic ponds, a vineyard, a gin distillery and a highly acclaimed Indian street food café.
The Route
Starting in the car park, head in the direction of the road. Just before the road, look for the stony path on your right leading away from the car park and down the hill. This by-way will gradually bring you downhill with wonderful views to your right. Keep right when the path forks with a permissive horse riding track. The path will eventually become tarmac and soon after this, you should take the turning on your left with an orange badge stating ‘deer trail’ and a blue bridleway marker.
Pass the garages of Water Lane Cottages before the path narrows between two fields. Continue straight on at Timbercroft, following the public footpath.
Just past the cottage, you will come to a gateway that leads down to a sawmill. The footpath continues to the right of this. At this point, there is an option to take a short climb up to a viewpoint via a permissive path. This is a short but steep diversion up onto the top of an old landfill site. The views down to Albury make it a worthwhile.
Back on the path, continue through the trees passing the sawmill on the left and then the entrance to Suez on your right. Keep straight and walk through a little copse before going over a stile into a field with a line of oak trees (there may be cows in this field). Go out through the kissing gate and up to a busy road.
Cars come fast along this road, so cross with care and turn left by the post box and walk up the path parallel to the road but with a hedge between. At the top of this road, you will meet the A25. There are a series of traffic islands meaning you can make it safely across to the other side before turning left and following the pavement to take you to the car park for Silent Pool.
Turn right just before the ‘out’ side of the car park and follow the signs towards Albury Vineyard. Pass Sherbourne Pond and Mandira’s Kitchen on your right and then continue past the wooden information board towards Silent Pool, which you should also pass on your right. After stopping to view the pools, continue on the path, passing the vineyard behind a hedge to your left. The path will begin to rise steeply and you should continue climbing until you reach a junction with The North Downs Way.
Turn left and follow this straight and flat path all the way back to the A25 and the car park on the other side. A couple of hundred metres before the road crossing, look out for a viewpoint on your left where you will spot the artwork ‘Optohedron’. Created by artist Will Nash, this distinct sculptural seat is the latest addition to a Surrey Hills Arts project titled ‘Inspiring Views’.
If you don’t want to do such a long walk, there are couple of easy, short and well marked trails through the woodland starting from behind the play area/toilets at Newlands Corner. The paths are flat, wide and well maintained. A recent addition to these trails is the short boardwalk and information boards taking you around some ancient yew trees.
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Did you know?
In December 1926, Newlands Corner became the location for the mysterious disappearance of crime writer Agatha Christie. Her abandoned car was found there, triggering a huge search that included the dredging of Silent Pool. She was eventually found alive and wall at hotel in Harrogate, prompting some to say that the whole thing was a publicity stunt…
If you enjoyed this walk…
…it is possible to join it to this one at Shere
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