Beautiful Walks and Views Witley Nr Guildford

This is my Bluebell Walk in Witley,

it's a favorite spot of mine, I remember being taken with the whole infant class by Miss Ward on a lovely warm summers day. She was a lovely caring teacher.

The girls gathered great bunches of bluebells, while we the boys would just run about making a load of noise.
Mindless boys and pretty girls just having a good time.

I don't recommend picking the Bluebells these days, as it's not legal, plus, they droop and die very quickly.



Miss Ward would tell us the names of the trees as we all walked along the footpath, Oaks and Pines, Larch, Rhododendrons, and the Eu tree's. Ah yes, and the Mountain Ash.
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A favorite of mine the Mountain Ash, (The Rowan Tree) so vibrant just after a shower. As the Sun picks out the vivid blood red the berries, and the leaves seemed somehow good enough to eat. Lush, Green, Succulent, and soft.
(Of course we can't eat any of the Rowan, as it's poisonous.)

Wow, wonderful waves of happy little bluebells, permeating through my memory. What a day doing simple things...

Get in touch. I recommend it for all liefs ebbs and flows.

I often go to the "Bluebell Woods" and relive that day with the greatest of pleasure. It feels as though I'm a million miles from the hum drum of Guildford Town, I love Guildford too, and yet one's just a few steps from "Humanity". Cosseted in the bosom of nature. You just can't beat a walk on the wild side. Go and Explore!

It is a tad over 9 miles from Guildford. I know it's not that near but it's a lovely Little walk and Witley's a lovely old village.

Just take the A3100 through Godaming, Mildford and then onto Witley, about a mile on from the Star Pub you'll see the Chichester hall next to the Cricket grounds on the left. Carry on and take the next left at Culmer Lane, under railway arch into water Lane, it takes you to Sweet water ponds.

A lovely place for some private fishing.

There's a car park on the right, at Sweetwater Lane.

The walk to the "Bluebell Woods" is across the road opposite Sweetwater Pond car park, down the white sandy track, just a few hundred yards further on the right. It's just before you get to the:
"Railway Bridge".
You can carry on under the bridge over the stream and onto Witley rec. Where you'll find, Footy, Cricket, Picnics, plus a place for the Kids to play on the swings, slides and various other fun things.

In the fields too the right you'll see several very old Oak trees, they look as if they're around 3 or 400 hundred years old. "Beautiful".

The fields and Oaks belong to Witley Manor, quite a large detached house, with eight bedrooms. It was built in 1750.  

When you come back from the Rec, take the right hand fork/drive before the stream which will then lead you back to culmer Lane.

Turn left under the "Railway Arch" and shortly you will arrive back at your car.

The whole walk can be done in 30/40 minutes. I doddle along for about an hour, I like to see everything.

Guildford to Sweetwater Driving directions - Google Map

By Train
You can get a train to Witley station, and its a nice four stop hop. When you get to Witley stn take a left out of the stn and then left again at the end of the road, walk to the top of the hill, the train tracks should be to your left.

So at the top of combe lane cross over the main Petworth road and you will see a driveway opposite, also with the train tracks to your left, carry on down to the end of the drive and you will find the public footpath.

I warn you though, it's probably going to be a bit overgrown, but never mind a? About half way down you'll find an old sand pit where I and my friends used to play, a bit over grown, but just push on to the end of the footpath and you will arrive at water Lane.

To your left you will see the Railway Arch on Water Lane. Take a right up to Sweetwater Lakes, past the old Railway cottages, and then left down the white sandy foot path.

Conversely you can turn left at the end of the footpath by the Railway Arch on Water Lane, and immediately under the Arch take a right down the driveway. Carrie on to the Witley Rec, have some fun, then take the foot path you arrived on.

But this time take the left fork and on over the stream carry on a little further and you will find the Railway bridge in the picture above.
(It can be a bit muddy, but with care you'll stay clean.)

Just past the bridge take a left into the bluebell woods. Have fun, then go back to the foot path and take a left, and you'll arrive at Sweetwater Lakes.

Turn right and back to the railway arch, left up the narrow footpath to the station. It's about an hour to just walk it. Have fun :-)

Sweetwater walk
If you would rather go on this walk, there is a footpath just above the car park. Take a right out of the car park and you will be on your way. this picture is "At The Beginning of the walk"

As you walk, you'll see some open fields on your left, and what was

"Enton Hall" the Hall became a hydro after the second world war, it's now been converted into up market properties. Non the less it makes a good view.

A little further on you'll come to a pine woods. there is a broken down stile just after this, take the path to the left, and you'll soon be at a small lake.

It used to be for keeping carp, and was owned by the Hall. it's a nice spot to just listen and hear the birds chirping. It's a lovely calming spot.

You can then walk back the way you came. Or carry on over the center of the fields. After a few hundred yards you'll cross the old farm track, carry on up over the next field.

When you come to the stile there is a small field, sometimes there will be horses, don't worry, they are well used to hikers. Cross the field and on your left there is another stile. So, Jump over that. lol.

You'll then arrive at Water Lane. Cross over and down the Ironstone road, past what used to be "Cow Sheds" take the next left down Mill Lane and down under the railway arch. Round the corner you'll find what was "Enton Mill"
(now coveted into some beautiful Homes)
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where you'll find lovely little Mill Pond. There always used to be some Muscovy Docks, but I haven't seen them lately. I'm sorry but I don't have any pics at the moment.

After the pond take a left up threw the field, this will after five minutes take you to the Petworth Road.

(You can carry on up Mill Lane. This will take you to the Petworth Road at "Witley Cross Roads", there are a couple of shops there. Take a left and eventually you'll arrive at the Witely Rec.)

Take a left past the old Oak framed houses and you'll see on your right, the Witley War Memorial.

Next right up Church Lane, up the steps on the right into the Church yard. It's a beautiful old church opposite Witley primary school.

You now have another choice to go back down Church Lane and turn right at the Petworth Road, past some more lovely old houses.

After a few minutes you'll see The Chichester Hall on the left. cross over to the rec, and in the far corner is the foot path leading you back to Sweetwater and the car park.

Want some more?
O.K. So instead of turning left down Church Lane, take a right up past the school.

There's a fork in the road, and in the middle of the fork you'll find the foot path. You will get some good views that look over the Rec and beyond.

When the path ends, just walk on a few hundred yards up the road and you'll find another foot path with an old iron stile, this leads down the hill, this path takes you over some lovely fields. There might be some Horses here, but as I said before, don't worry, they are also used to walkers.

Cattle and Horses are by nature, inquisitive, so if they come over to you, don't panic, just keep walking and talk softly. You'll be O.K.

When you get to the road, cross over and walk along Culmer Lane and in five or ten minutes you'll be back at the car. Enjoy :-)
P.S. In due course, I'll put some walking maps together.

Guildford to Sweetwater Driving directions - Google Map

Beautiful Walks and Views The Mount Guildford

Witley History (british-history.ac.uk)