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ROUTE 2

St Martha’s Hill–Abinger loop

Start/Finish	Guildford train station SU 992 496; or Echo Pit Road car park TQ 004 484
Distance	28.5km (17¾ miles)
On road	7.5km (4¾ miles)
Off road	21km (13 miles)
Percentage off road	75%
Ascent	550m (1805ft)
Grade	Hard
Time	4hrs–4hrs 30mins
Maps	OS Explorer 145, Landranger 186
Pub	The Volunteer Inn, Abinger Hammer
Café	Abinger Hammer Tearooms

Overview

Although clocking in at less than 30km, this little gem of a route certainly packs a lot into its relatively modest distance. The route takes in a loop of the wooded and hilly country to the east of Guildford; heading east along the sandy tracks of The Chantries and St Martha’s Hill, weaving a route between the villages of Albury, Shere, Gomshall and Abinger Hammer before launching up the steep south escarpment of the North Downs and returning along the bridleways of the NDW. Three-quarters of the route is off road, much of the rest follows narrow country lanes. There are a few climbs to deal with but none so fearsome as the ever-steepening 125m pull up from Hackhurst Farm to the top of the North Downs.

Pedal power! Climbing the steep escarpment on Hackhurst Downs

Directions

1 From Guildford station, follow the one-way system around to join the A281 Shalford road. After 650m, join the cycle path running parallel to the RH side of the road; follow this for 600m before turning (NDW) and crossing back over the A281 onto a residential road. Continue up the road for 400m before turning onto a track road (NDW). Follow the track round past Echo Pit Road car park (an alternative start/finish) as it climbs to the left of Chantry Cottage. Continue on this excellent track along the edge of the Chantries woodland. Beware of an area of soft sand that may stop you in your tracks.

2 At a T-junction with a minor road (Halfpenny Lane), dogleg then and climb steeply up the flank of St Martha’s Hill following NDW signs. At a fork, the good uphill track becomes footpath only, so turn and contour around the hill on a frequently unrideable soft sand track. Once the track starts descending you may gain enough traction to stay upright. At a path T-junction, keep along the bridleway. Cross over the next , passing a Downs Link signpost on your right. At a bridleway fork, bear to go through a small car park and emerge at a road. Dogleg then onto a narrow, sandy bridleway path to follow the Pilgrim’s Way (PW). Keep at a and climb across a field before descending steeply down a sunken lane to a . Turn downhill along Water Lane.

Heading east on the Pilgrim’s Way, with Albury Downs beyond

3 At the T-junction with the A248, turn then after 300m, on entering Albury, turn onto Church Lane opposite the shop/post office. Bear at a fork and continue past the church and war memorial; the road comes to an end and a track continues (wooden bridleway signpost) before swinging right, uphill between steep embankments. Climb steeply to a T-junction with a broader track, bear and continuing climbing. At a fork in a sandy clearing, bear following a blue bridleway waymarker, then soon bear to cross a gravel track and continue uphill onto a sandy track (bridleway waymarker).

4 On emerging at a road junction, continue along Park Road (Peaslake and Ewhurst). After 600m, where the road bends to the right, bear onto a bridleway track (wooden signpost) and continue . Follow an old fence then bear at a fork by a wooden post with bridleway waymarkers. The path soon emerges at the edge of a small housing estate, continue along Pathfields and at a on Sandy Lane, cross onto The Spinning Walk; keep as tarmac gives way to track. At a T-junction, with Gravelpits Farmhouse to your right, turn onto Gravelpits Lane. Continue to a , cross over Queen Street then bear onto High View. At a LH bend after 200m, bear under the railway onto Tower Hill.

5 From Tower Hill almost immediately take the second entrance onto a broad farm track bridleway. Pass some barns then keep through the farmyard. At a T-junction, turn onto a broad gravel track and at a RH bend after 250m, turn along a signposted bridleway track, soon forking then and continuing . The track joins a concrete road and emerges at the busy A25; turn and continue into Abinger Hammer, taking the first to climb then descend along Hackhurst Lane. Continue past Hackhurst Farm as tarmac gives way to track. Dismount to cross the railway line through two gates (with caution).

6 Remount and begin the long climb up the ever-steepening north escarpment of Hackhurst Downs. In summer, the lower reaches of the path are engulfed by foliage. Where the path forks, keep (), climbing steeply. Shortly after the NDW footpath crosses the bridleway the climb levels out; continue around a gate to the next bridleway . Turn onto a path criss-crossed by gnarly tree roots and follow this around to a T-junction with a byway track. Turn and continue through a metal gate along a track with a bridleway signpost.

Cruising along the ridge on the North Downs Way at Hackhurst Downs

Negotiating gnarly roots on Hackhurst Downs

7 The bridleway soon joins the NDW; keep over several s, passing stables and Hollister Farm as the track turns sharply right (N). Keep (ignoring two left-hand turns); at Combe Lane, turn then sharply (North Downs Way) passing a concrete dew pond. Cross a lane to go through West Hanger car park and continue along the NDW through woodland on a broad track. Arriving at the A25, follow the path that leads to the right.

8 Cross the A25 by the Barn Café and continue through to the far (W) end of the large car park at Newlands Corner. Exit the car park along a broad bridleway track through woodlands, popping out onto a narrow lane after 1.3km. Turn and continue back on yourself along the lane. Where the lane reaches a car park, swing and descend along Halfpenny Lane. At the bottom, turn along a bridleway path by Keepers Cottage.