A Circuit aound Catteshall

The stretch of water between Godalming and Guildford was described by William Cobbett as ‘the prettiest four miles in all England’. The starting point of this walk, Catteshall, is on the riverbank and full of interest. Catteshall Bridge is built on the piers of a medieval bridge that crossed the millstream. The mill itself, listed in the Domesday Book, is now converted into housing. It was once used for making paper, although in its time it also ground corn, made leather and was a fulling mill for the processing of cloth. In its paper-making days the mill used a Fourneyron water turbine, which was the largest of its type ever made. This turbine is of such historic interest that it is now in the Ironbridge Gorge Museum in Shropshire. To the west of the lock at Catteshall lies a water meadow known as the Lammas Lands. The name comes from the festival of Lammas (‘loaf mass’) on 1 August when, after the hay had been gathered, a loaf was baked and consecrated to celebrate the harvest. It is now a Site of Nature Conservation Interest.

Titanic hero

The nearby town of Farncombe also has an interesting history. It was the site of the first camp of the Boy Scouts, organised by Baden-Powell. St John’s Church has a tablet on its wall that commemorates Jack Phillips, once a chorister at the church here. Phillips later became the senior wireless operator on RMS Titanic. He continued working as the ship sank, trying to contact other vessels to come to the rescue. He is also commemorated by a memorial garden in Godalming and by a pub in Godalming that is named after him.

Godalming Navigation

The waterway that forms the start of the walk is known as the Godalming Navigation. It was opened in 1764 to extend the Wey Navigation from Guildford to Godalming. The first bridge you encounter along the walk is Trowers Bridge (originally known as Perry Bridge, after the local architect, John Perry, who designed the bridge, as well as The Pepperpot in the centre of Godalming). To the left, just before the bridge, are the Wyatt Almshouses, of which only the chimneys are visible. These were built in 1622 for ‘ten poor men of deserving character,’ and more recently some additional dwellings have been constructed. They are an interesting site to explore at the end of the walk.

After leaving the canal towpath, the walk climbs towards Farley Hill and Unsted Wood, and loops round through farmland back into Catteshall.

Start at the bridge over the river and walk to the bank opposite Farncombe Boat House. Go along the towpath away from the road bridge to Trowers Bridge. (To visit the Manor Inn continue ahead for 125yds/114m.) To continue the walk, turn right over the bridge and go straight ahead, ignoring the public bridleway on the left. At the next waymarked cross-track a few paces on, take the left-hand bridleway as it runs alongside a sloping paddock. Near the top of the paddock, pass beneath a large fallen tree, and at a junction of paths keep ahead on a slow and steady ascent on the sunken path. At the top, continue ahead, walking alongside a high metal fence behind which is Unsted Park School. Turn left along the tarmac drive and then bear left at the bottom, past The Lodge, to Munstead Heath Road.

Turn left along the road, passing Munstead View Road and downhill until, at a concealed sign by Wood End, turn right along a public bridleway that emerges onto a gravel driveway by Orchard Cottage. Turn left, and, at the road, turn right by some cottages. Pass a small pond on the left, and turn right just beyond Nurscombe Farm, along a public footpath. This bears left over a stile and uphill, keeping to the left of the field. Go over another stile and follow the path between fields and, after a third stile, along an avenue of coppiced hazel. After a couple more stiles, you walk along a wider track past a private house, Orchards, with a large stone wall on the left.

At the road, turn left and continue ahead. Turn right along a public bridleway that descends and eventually passes the entrance to Catteshall Farm. The path becomes tarmac and heads towards several properties. At a T-junction by The Old Cider House, turn left along Catteshall Lane, and then turn right down Catteshall Road. Cross Warramill Road, Brock’s Close and then Lammas Road. The road passes over the River Wey, and you continue along the main road to return to the Boat House.