Gomshall and Netley Park

From its height on the North Downs this walk descends to the pretty village of Gomshall and then back up to the ridge again. Between the trees there are splendid views, particularly to the south. A section of the walk uses the route of the North Downs way, which is a long distance footpath of 153 miles (246km), running from Farnham to the docks at Dover, with an alternative route going to Canterbury. It was opened in 1978 and has become very popular.

Early trading route

It is thought that the route along the top of the North Downs originally (some 10,000 years ago after the retreat of the Ice Age) formed part of a trading link between the people of Kent and Surrey and the Isle of Portland. And when England was still joined to Europe, people from Northern and Western Europe may have travelled this way to reach central England. In more recent times, it was probably used by cattle drovers before it became popular with today’s walkers and cyclists.

Its route on this walk goes through Netley Park which is a quiet, peaceful area, but was not always so. Its name was originally Gomshall Netley because it was owned by the abbey at Netley, near Southampton. Netley House, in the centre of the Park, was built in the 18th century and is privately owned. The busiest activity in this area occurred during World War II when thousands of Canadian troops were billeted here. The area was believed to be strategically important as a defence against a possible German invasion and there are many pillboxes and other constructions in the area.

Gomshall

At the foot of the Downs stands the village of Gomshall, an attractive place to explore with the River Tillingbourne running through it. It has an old mill, dating to the 17th century, which is now a pub and restaurant. An original mill on the same site is recorded in the Domesday Book. The present mill originally ground corn to make flour, and also ground malt. The other pub in the village, The Compasses Inn, is also a popular eating place. One amusing episode in the village’s history concerns the railway station. During the 1840s the decision about which village would have a railway station would be decided by the those that had the largest number of people waiting on a particular day. A local publican, wanting the station to be in Gomshall, provided free beer for all who lined up!

Walk to the entrance on Staple Lane and turn right. At the junction turn left and almost immediately right by the fingerpost down a public bridleway. It soon joins another track from the left. Keep ahead, ignoring the path from the right to meet the entrance to Hollister Farm and Hollister Cottage on the right.

Turn left, along the North Downs Way. Pass stables, go round a gate and an acorn waymarker indicating the North Downs Way. Keep along this track, passing a waymarker. At the next cross-tracks, by the sign for Netley Plantation keep ahead along the North Downs Way and in 580yds (530m) turn right by a waymarker along a public bridleway.

The path winds and descends, passing an old pillbox on the right. At the next waymarker turn right and in 20yds (18m) turn left by another waymarker along a footpath going downhill. Soon a track joins from the right by a waymarker; turn left here along a footpath for 546 yards (500m), which descends between fields to the Shere Road (A25).

Turn left past a garage and then left along Colekitchen Lane. (To visit Gomshall keep ahead here.) The walk now climbs steeply along a tarmac road to the entrance to Colekitchen Farm and, when you reach it, the route of the public bridleway is signed to the right of the farm buildings. Once past the farm the route enters woodland and continues uphill to a cross-tracks.

This is the North Downs Way and you turn left along the path, also signed as an easy access route with a blue arrow. Continue for 600yds (549m), then bear right down a gravel track. As it curves to the left a muddy path joins from the right. Within a few paces a bridleway on the left is indicated by a waymarker but you continue on the main track, ignoring a right turn. At the next cross-tracks turn left by a fingerpost indicating a bridleway and an access route with a blue arrow. Pass a barrier and at a junction with a track on the right, go right then immediately left following the bridleway shown on the waymarker along a narrow, muddy track through woods. In 50yds (46m) pass a waymarker showing the white acorn of the North Downs Way and the path veers left. At a T-junction with a cross-track with a waymarker, turn right with the North Downs Way. Pass a gate past stables (now retracing the outward journey). At the fingerpost turn right. At the next fork, where the outward path came from the left, now take the right fork that leads to Combe Lane. Turn right and where the road bears right, turn left at the fingerpost for the North Downs Way. This leads to Staple Lane. Cross to return to the car park.