A Newlands Corner loop via Shere

In an extraordinary episode redolent of one of her own crime novels, Agatha Christie dominated the British papers during the first two weeks of December 1926. She never mentioned the affair in her autobiography, and the motive which fuelled 11 days of intense police and media activity has remained an enigma long after her death. Agatha Miller married Colonel Archie Christie late in 1914. After wartime service in the Royal Flying Corps, Archie returned to civilian life when their daughter was born, five years later. Agatha’s first novel was published in the following year, and by the mid-1920s income from her books helped the couple to buy a home at Sunningdale in Berkshire.

Newlands Corner mystery

Material success masked fault lines in the couple’s relationship, however. On Friday 3 December 1926, there was a furious row as Archie told Agatha that he would be spending the weekend with his mistress, Nancy Neele. Divorce was inevitable. That night, Agatha left her sleeping daughter and treasured dog, climbed into her bullnose Morris and disappeared into the night. The next morning the novelist’s car was found abandoned by the chalk pit that you’ll see in Water Lane, near the start of your walk. But Agatha Christie was gone.

While the police scoured southern England and questioned Archie on suspicion of murder, the Daily News offered a £100 reward for information. The story remained in the press, and on Sunday 12 December thousands of people converged on Newlands Corner to search for Agatha’s body. Meanwhile, almost 24 hours after her disappearance, Agatha Christie had calmly booked into a Harrogate hotel under the assumed name of Teresa Neele. Despite the national hue and cry, ten days elapsed before the police located her. Archie was in the clear, deflecting reporters by explaining his wife had amnesia, and the couple fled to Abney Hall in Cheshire, home of Agatha’s sister. This bizarre affair has been shrouded in mystery ever since.

From the car park walk back towards the main road and turn right, 15yds (14m) from the entrance, on the waymarked byway, dropping down into the trees to a junction by a pill box. Swing right and follow the byway as it bears left past the old chalk pit where Agatha Christie’s car was abandoned in 1926. Carry straight on beyond a turning on your right.

Turn left on to the unmarked bridleway, passing Water Lane Cottages on your right. Continue between fields to the fork at Timbercroft, and bear right onto the footpath towards the Silent Pool. Fork right again after 100yds (91m), to walk along the narrow signposted public footpath. Cross the concrete quarry access road, then continue ahead through woodland to a stile. Walk along the field edge towards the church, and pass through a kissing gate, over the stream and through a second gate to the A248.

Cross the road and take the footpath opposite. Go through the gate, then cross the field to a kissing gate into Silver Wood. Leave the woods at a kissing gate, turn right and follow the fence line along the next field, over a driveway, through a kissing gate and into a section of wood, and cross Chantry Lane. Follow the path beside a brick wall, and turn right at the Old Rectory. Drop down past the ford, and follow the lane beside the stream and past allotments towards the small green in Shere.

Turn left into Middle Street, then left again into Upper Street. A few paces further on, turn right at the driveway to The Manor House and follow the steep signposted byway under the A25. Wind past a pill box before eventually coming to a crossroads with the North Downs Way (NDW).

Turn left here, over a low barrier, and keep ahead to Hollister Farm. Just beyond the farm, the track swings to the right, and there are two forks within the next 200yds (182m). Keep right at both of them, continuing down the path as far as Combe Lane.

Turn right, then after a few paces swing off left along the NDW. Cross Staple Lane, walk through a car park, over a low barrier and continue along the level, waymarked trail, ignoring bridleways descending off to the left.

Continue for 300yds (273m), then keep right – following the purple arrows – as another track forks off down the hill. A mile (1.6km) of level walking leads to the A25 – cross with care to return to the car park.