- Date: 22nd July 2026
- Leader: Val Wood
- Distance: 6.8 miles (approx.)
Borden Wood circular on a hot and humid day
Twelve of us met at the start point in the pull in alongside the Borden Wood Road, just before a sharp left turn at the crossroads towards the hamlet. Setting off an hour earlier at 9am we took the sharp turn down to another sharp bend to the right where we turned off left down a no through lane towards the hamlet of Rondle Wood. Along with Borden “Village” hamlet it comprises 10 houses each and they are less than a half mile apart. Borden has the edge because it boasts a small village hall. Formerly the school, it was gifted to the people in 1940. It is a small, quaint and atmospheric hall at the heart of Borden Wood. Available to hire it has kitchen, WC and open fire in the winter, where the local people gather for such community events as Harvest Supper, Christmas concerts; it is particularly well suited to family gatherings and social events. Although parking is very limited. However, our group are striding in the opposite direction soon veering off the lane along a bridleway above, in one of the expected wooded areas given the names of the hamlets. Gradually dropping down through the cool woods before taking a sharp left.
These woodlands are owned by Fyning Hill Estate – a 420 acre estate with a grand house. It has had a newsworthy history, much of which is documented online. In recent times it was owned by Jordanian businessman Taj Hajjar, who was a friend of King Hussain of Jordan and became notorious for the biggest ever robbery in Sussex in early 1980’s when £800,000 worth of jewellery was stolen. Hajjar put up an £80,000 reward, but no thief was ever apprehended. He sold to Australian tycoon Terry Packer, and it became his UK Polo Pony HQ, who then sold it to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in 1999. Apparently, it was then part of the divorce settlement in 2007 between him and his second wife, when it was valued at a meagre £18 million.
Onward we go, coming out of the woodland and climbing a little through some wide prairie type grassy fields before turning north down a very straight bridleway to New Barn Farm. The farm is now divided into a substantial tree nursery selling mature specimens wholesale and retail. This is the place to come if you’d like to plant an instant woodland. The other half is a riding stables where, in the past, I’ve often seen not only the horses inquisitive in their stables but many farm cats. All quiet and empty today.
Heading east/northeast first we turn left briefly on Cook’s Pond Road before continuing towards Waldergrove Farm, north of Milland, and turn south at Alford’s Farm, eventually turning west along the 65 mile Serpent Trail- a well-known, torturous long distance route between Haslemere and Petersfield. Now mostly wooded our route takes us eventually across Cook’s Pond Road again, then on the lane towards Borden Wood, turning on to a wooded uphill footpath to join the last few yards on Green Lane track before straight ahead at the crossroads and rejoining our cars.
Starting at 9am meant we enjoyed several miles in cooler temperatures; woodland shade was most welcome. I think we all felt the humidity for half an hour or so leading up to our early lunch stop on grass, under some large oaks. I had originally planned a longer version of this walk, but this will await a cooler autumn day before much of the route becomes wet, marshy and sometimes impassable during the heavy rains we often experience in winter. Many thanks to Sandy for the lovely photos.
Author: Val Wood
Photography: Sandy Arpino