What a way to lose oneself: navigating Guildford’s Downs
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Join me for a sociable walk to round off the Easter break. The title refers to “what fun” we’ll have “on the way” up the Downs and out of Guildford to the Watts Gallery Artists’ village, not “losing oneself” at Loseley Park (avoiding Bummoor Copse) and “navigating” to the Wey Navigation.
This will be a mix of downland walking, undulating countryside and towpath, plus the inevitable roads up, out of and back in to Guildford.
Please note that the route does not include time for entry to the paid indoor spaces at the Watts Gallery (gallery and Limnerslease). As a comprehensive visit takes 2-3 hours, we will stop for up to an hour for you to have an early lunch in the picnic areas, visit the grounds, shop with contemporary exhibition, cafe/facilities and Watts Chapel (free admission).
To help you explore, please download to your phone the site map for the Watts Artists’ village https://wattsgallery.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/Watts-Gallery-Artists-V…
The sights
North Downs and the Mount: After our climb out of Guildford, we’ll be rewarded with views northward to the Cathedral, distant Woking and over Guildford from the grassy Mount. There is also a commerative stone marking the march of the 1497 Cornish rebels against Henry VII’s taxes to raise money in his campaign against the Scots. The rebellion was crushed at the Battle of Deptford Bridge.
Watts Gallery Artists’ Village and Chapel: George Frederic Watts and Mary Watts founded the gallery in 1904. We won’t visit the gallery but will have time (admission free) for you to explore the gardens, the outside of their home Limnerslease (“limner”: artist, “leasen”: glean), the posh shop, contemporary gallery and cafe. We should be able to visit the beautiful terracotta cemetery chapel with its stunning wall paintings, and the grave of Aldous Huxley (who died on the same day as CS Lewis and JFK) who wrote “Brave New World” – I haven’t read it, so will be happy to be enlightened!
Loseley Park: 1400 acres of countryside surround the Elizabethan house and walled gardens; we will glimpse the house from the lake. For those who remember (like me), sadly the famous Loseley ice cream has not been made here since the maker was bought out in 2011.
Wey Navigation: Opened in 1653 and now owned by the National Trust, 20 miles of navigation wind their way from Godalming to Weybridge. We will pass the railways which likely aided its demise, St Catherine’s Lock (its shallowest lock), a 1940s pill box and enjoy the towpath back to Guildford. The eagle eyed amongst you may spot the same stretch as on my assessment walk.
St Catherine’s Chapel: A short climb will take us to the “chapel of ease” built in the 14th century to save parishioners the longer journey to Guildford. The chapel and its fair were painted by JMW Turner and it is now a ruin with extensive views over the Downs.
The route
Click the link to see it on the Ordnance Survey website: https://explore.osmaps.com/route/15677249/guildford-watts-to-wey-navigation
From Guildford Station, we’ll climb up the steep road westwards reaching the highest point of the walk (144m after 2.5km). We will stop to admire the view from the Downs at the Mount, then continue along the bridleway past Henley Fort and avoid the A3 turning south and descending to the Watts Gallery. After lunch, we return eastwards via the farmland of Loseley Park estate and its lake. Be on your best behaviour passing the Surrey Police HQ and then the delights of railways, car parks and industrial estates before we reach the leafy Wey Navigation towpath for a picturesque stride northwards into Guildford. We’ll detour to St Catherine’s Chapel and a short climb a mile south of the town. There’s an optional pub stop at the end of the walk before returning to the station.
Dogs
I love having dogs on my walks and this walk is ideal for them, and there will be stretches on quiet roads out of and back into Guildford. Dogs are allowed in all outdoor spaces and the shop of the Watts Gallery Artists’ village.
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(All images were taken by Alex Young in 2022 and 2023.)
What to bring
Wear walking boots or waterproof shoes. Bring or wear a coat if rain is forecast. Avoid wearing jeans as they become heavy and chafing when wet.
If the weather is cold, bring a hat, scarf and gloves as appropriate and employ layering with a base layer, secondary layer, fleece and coat, perhaps insulated.
Food & drink
You will need a packed lunch, and plenty of water and snacks to see you through the day. We will stop for a picnic lunch at the Watts Gallery but I recommend you bring lunch rather than relying on the busy (and pricey) café. Takeaway drinks can be bought here. For your own comfort you may wish to bring something to sit on.
We have time for a drink near Guildford station at the end – either the White House or George Abbott pub.
Toilets should be available at the Watts Gallery lunch stop.