- Date: 17 July 2024
- Walk Leader: Peter Berg
- Distance: 9.6 miles (approx.)
A varied walk from Devil’s Punch Bowl
A group of 13 Ramblers set off from the NT car park at the Devil’s Punch Bowl at 10:00.
Heading eastwards along The Sensory Trail, we very quickly came upon some thoughts on what walking the myriad paths of the outdoors has to offer.
Shortly afterwards, we passed the memorial to the sailor who was murdered on September 24th, 1786 by three men. His grave is in the churchyard in Thursley, which we later visited. Passing the Celtic Cross on Gibbet Hill, which at 272 metres is the second highest point in Surrey, a steep descent took us through Boundless Copse at the bottom of which we joined a single track road on to Begley Farm. We turned off here to walk across meadows, passing what may once have been an outdoor swimming pool, and on towards Blackhanger Farm. We then followed a woodland track to Emley Farm, the house of which has a magnificent wisteria around the front of the building. It is a Grade II listed farmhouse, owned by the NT, available for holiday lets. Whilst enjoying a well deserved coffee break here at the farm, we were joined by a late-comer, who, as we had taken a couple of detours earlier, had caught us up, raising our numbers to 14.
Invigorated by caffeine and bananas, resuming our walk, we turned off the track, along paths through meadows, again admiring the views. Taking a path up a drovers track to the hamlet of Bowlhead Green, we passed Chapel Cottage, which still sports a cross and bell on its roof. Joining The Greensand Way, entering the woods above Cosford House, we met a fellow rambler, Keith, from Aldershot, who joined us, increasing our numbers to 15. A steep descent down to Cosford House itself, where the mud awaited us…… An ascent up to the A3, through an underpass and then across a Stephen King maize field – no scarecrows in evidence – to the outskirts of Thursley. Keith said his farewells here.
We stopped off at the church of St Michael And All Angels, admiring the sundial, on its south facing wooden shingled belfry with the inscription “Hora Pars Vitae” , – “an hour is part of life”.
We enjoyed our lunch in the sunshine of the churchyard, reading the gravestone of the sailor mentioned earlier.
Leaving Thursley, we passed the Haybarn, with its unique sign, together with some new admirers.
Shortly after Hedge Farm, we left the single track road to force our way through an overgrown path between fields – brambles and nettles seem to grow very quickly! Crossing a small stream on a wooden bridge, we ascended up past Ridgeway Farm and Upper Ridgeway Farm, to a signposted track which took us back into the NT grounds of the Devil’s Punch Bowl. As it was such a pleasant day, we did not shorten the walk but stuck with the planned route. The Devil’s Punch Bowl is a joy to explore; a great many paths of varying terrain, offering some spectacular and often unexpected, views. On the way back, we encountered highland cattle and a small herd of Dartmoor ponies.
Passing Highcombe Farm, we eventually reached what was to be the final climb on the walk. The path over the last 500 metres rises 92 metres, over some quite rugged, stony, rain washed ground. On reaching the top of this climb, we emerged out of the trees and once again back into the sunshine, where we could admire the view and reflect on our walk. Approximately 9.6 miles with 1350 ft of descent. (and ascent).
Author: Peter Berg
Photography: Rosemary Field, Jo Legg and David Roberts