Surrey Supreme: Ancient Woods and Affluent 'Hoods

Both the panoramas provided and the exertion entailed on this walk will be pretty prodigious. As we cover the crest of the Cretaceous greensand, we'll see its classic cover (Scots pine, birch, holly and oak) and the vintage vernacular that nestles among it (sandstone and tile-hanging). Here is Surrey supreme, where Edwin Lutyens hid magnates' mansions amid Gertrude Jekyll's gardens and where the money from mechanised industrial methods funded elaborate evocations of medieval piety. One such is the dazzlingly decorated Church of St Peter at Hascombe. But if you'd rather just be in the pub, we'll have lunch at The White Horse in Hascombe and a drink at The Merry Harriers in Hambledon.

The sights:

Hambledon: A scattered village with church and farmhouse by themselves looking very pretty. In the churchyard of St Peter (the church itself is heavily-restored Victorian) are two old yew trees, one with a 9.1 m girth dating back to the C9. A pub stop is planned for The Merry Harriers in the village.

Hydon's Ball: Heathland and a hill of 179m in the care of the National Trust. At its highest point is a large stone seat which was placed there in 1915 as a memorial to Octavia Hill, one of the Trust's founders. On its slopes grow pine, rowan, ash and birch and two non-native shrubs (Amelanchier and Gaultheria) planted by gardener Gertrude Jekyll who lived nearby at Munstead Wood.

Hascombe: A picturesque location in a wooded valley and one of the prettiest villages in the county. All stone and tile-hanging and feeling isolated and timeless. The White Horse, in which we'll have lunch, is C16-C17 with later additions. Winkworth Farm is a C16 farm, extended in 1775, then remodelled by Edwin Lutyens in 1895.

St Peter's Church, Hascombe: Henry Woodyer's church of 1863 is 'a Tractarian work of art' (Betjeman). The plain exterior hides a richly decorated interior with gilding and painting added in 1883-4. A medieval rood screen made of Jerusalem olive wood has been incorporated. The church gets three stars in Simon Jenkins's England's Thousand Best Churches. 

The route:

Our progress in the muddy conditions will be eased by a number of tarmac tracks. The Greensand Way will lead us over the A283 to Hambledon and its Common. Then, just after the church, we'll leave the Greensand Way and head northeast to ascend Hydon's Ball. A bridleway leading off Hydon's Heath will almost take us to Winkworth, where we'll follow Juniper Valley a little way, then bridleways to Mare Lane which will lead us to Hascombe where we'll have lunch at The White Horse at 13:30 and see the ornate church. Leaving the pub we'll ascend Breakneck Hill and cross The Hurtwood on the Greensand Way. Crossing Burgate Hanger will take us to Vann Hill. We'll soon be back in Hambledon where we'll cross the outward bound route and have a drink at The Merry Harriers at 45 minutes before we finish. A bridleway across Buss's Common and over Stone Hill will lead us back to the A283 which we'll cross to return to Witley Station.

Dogs:

I love having dogs on my walks and this one is ideal for them as it is short and has few fields with livestock or stiles. The pub also welcomes dogs. Some of the route is along lanes so dogs may need to go on leads. Your dog must be responsive if it is off the lead. 

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(All images were taken by the leader in February 2023. OutdoorLads is welcome to reuse them.)