11/08/18 - London Countryway Stage 7 - Box Hill to Horsley

Distance - 10 Miles
Start - Box Hill
Finish - Horsley
Geocaches - 4
Pubs - I missed the Barley Mow at Horsley
Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6


More delightful walking on the London Countryway, as I leave the ridge paths of the North Downs Way and Greensands Way, to drop down from the hills and start the attack on the Thames Valley.

The walk starts at Box Hill and Westhumble Station.  Served only hourly from Victoria, I board with an alarming number of people in hiking gear.   I am asked firstly if I am a member of the Saturday Walking Club and then if I am an Outdooraholic.   The second question took a double take but an explanation from the leader details that they are 31000 (!) strong meetup group based in London who hike every weekend.  With the leader also holding all the groups rail tickets and organising trips to the single train toilet, it all looked a bit school trip-ish to me but their itinerary looks fun.

On train departure at Box Hill, they are all heading west and its just me and a denim clad rambler heading east, looking for the North Downs Way, which runs along private roads to gently gain height.

Metalled North Downs Way

The best walking is undoubtedly the first half of the way.   Once through the trees, there are fine views over England's biggest Vineyard, Denbies, revealing Dorking and the planes taking off from Gatwick.  You have to wonder where the passengers think they are flying to that could possibly be better than this.

Denbies Vineyard

Ranmore Common next, providing good paths but little too look at when you cannot see the woods for the trees.  The shade, however, is most welcome and St Barnabas of Ranmore is an architectural highlight.

St Barnabas of Ranmore and a cycling team in Pink

More woodlands through indistinct areas marked on the OS Map as White Downs, Sheepwalk Lane and Effingham Forest.  Few ramblers around but there is a close encounter that I wished I'd been able to focus on better before it shot off.

Resident of Effingham Woods

The drop down from the ridge is at the Sheepleas, where London reveals itself for the second point on the Country way.  I am without my telescopic lens to pick out the famous reference points visible with the naked eye but the notice board does explain what the photo doesn't pick up.

London - Far Away

The remainder of the walk was all down hill to Horsley Station.   Little to look at but plenty of interest - if you do you research.  Mine was half completed.   I knew St Mary's Church reputedly has the head of Sir Walter Raleigh (pickled by his wife and kept in a red leather bag, no less) buried in the crypt.  A wedding interrupted exploration.

Wedding at St Marys

A cracking Geocache tells me the history of West Horsley Place.  We know its ancient because of the type face on the OS Map.  Owned by Walter's Son at one point and recently bequeathed to Bamber Gascoigne before he donated it to become an arts centre.

My lack of research?  I forgot to deviate from the path to take in the Barley Mow for post walk refreshment.   There's nothing to be sourced at Horsely Train Station, so I head back to the City dry.