Haslemere and the 'Priest's Path'

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Lowland and Hill Walks
Aug 06
2022

18 people attending

2 places left

Your price
£12.50
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Easy Moderate Very Hard
11 miles

This is a very scenic circular walk from Haslemere train station – 50 mins from London Waterloo. It includes some of the finest views and breath-taking countryside in the southeast and passes through pretty woods and fields between Hindhead and Black Down. The walk is also steeped in history and follows in part the ancient ‘Priest’s Path’.

Haslemere is an historic and charming market town located in the very south of Surrey and is named from the hazel trees around a lake (long since drained). In Tudor and Stuart times it was a centre for the iron industry. Our walk takes us through the little village of Grayswood and on to Prestwick and Chiddingfold - a stunning village steeped in history with timber framed houses and quaint cottages. It was formerly the centre of glass making and its glass was used in St Stephen’s Chapel, Westminster and St George’s Chapel, Windsor.

We shall pass by the Crown Inn which was allegedly established in 1285 and built as a Rest House for Cistercian monks during their pilgrimage from Winchester to the shrine of Thomas Beckett in Canterbury. Visitors have included Edward VI in 1552 and Queen Elizabeth I in 1591. More recently in the 1980s, the rock band Genesis purchased a farm in the village and turned one of the buildings into a recording studio.  Our route back passes through the National Trust’s hidden gem of Swan Barn Farm before returning to Haslemere’s bustling high street.

The walk can get really muddy and there are several stiles so appropriate footwear is a must. There is also grazing livestock in parts so please take particular care if you bring a dog.

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All images were taken by the walk leader.