The Greensand Ridge at Farley Heath
Walk directions
Stand in the car park facing the road and walk to the entrance on your righthand side. Cross the road and follow the signposted public bridleway across Farley Heath. Keep to the right at the first fork. When you reach a cross-track beneath telephone lines, take a couple of paces to your left, then continue straight across on the bridleway. Keep straight on again at the five-way junction, and take the fork to the right a few paces further on. As the main track swings round hard to the left, continue down the woodland bridleway straight ahead. You’ll wind gently down to a waymarked post beside a stile; turn right here, and follow the public bridleway for a further 70yds (64m) to a T-junction with Pithouse Lane.
Turn right and follow this deeply rutted sunken lane, with a conifer wood to your right. Pass beneath a wooden footbridge and finally around a metal barrier across the track to meet a narrow tarmac road at Smarkham, a pretty tile-hung property.
Turn left, signed towards Winterfold, and climb through this delightful, seclued valley past the rambling half-timbered Madgehole Farm up to Madgehole. Here you leave the tarmac and turn hard right just beyond the barn, climbing steadily past a Christmas tree plantation on your left. Follow
the waymarked bridleway as it winds right then left through Great Copse. It crosses a sandy path, then joins the Greensand Way as it joins from the right.
Turn left onto Row Lane, and, after 150yds (137m), fork right towards Ewhurst and Shere. Follow the road until you come to car park 5 on your right. Turn left here, onto a signposted footpath into the woods. Follow the yellow arrows and keep right at the fork 90yds (82m) further on.
Almost at once, bear left off the main track, up a narrow footpath by the side of a wire fence. This leads you down beside the huge garden of Winterfold Cottage to another waymarker post. Fork left and follow the public bridleway along the rough cottage drive to reach Row Lane.
Cross over and continue along the bridleway. After 200yds (182m), it bears hard right downhill onto Ride Lane, which will carry you all the way to Farley Green. Keep right at the junction with Pithouse Lane and then keep straight on until gradually the banks roll back as you approach Farley Hall.
Pass the half-timbered farmhouse on your right, and keep bearing left until you come to the top of the green. Bear left again, and follow Farley Heath Road back to the car park.
Additional information
Terrain
- Forest tracks and rutted lanes, running in water after rain
Landscape
- Remote wooded hillsides, occasional farms and cottages
Dog friendliness
- Can mainly run free, lead required for roadside section
Parking
- The Hurtwood Car Park 8 (Roman Temple), on Farley Heath Road
Toilets en route
- None on route
About the walk
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Been on this walk?
Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.
Walking in Safety
Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.
Get an AA guide
Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.
About the area
Surrey is one of England’s most wooded counties, with over a quarter of the landscape designated as an official AONB and plenty of history evident in the countryside. You’ll find sandy tracks, cottage gardens and welcoming village inns, and on the fringe of Greater London you can picnic in Chaldon’s hay meadows, explore the downs at Epsom, or drift idly beside the River Thames.
Nearby places to stay
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Holiday Park
Edgeley Country Park
★★★★★
"Excellent facilities and peaceful setting in leafy Surrey near London...."
Hotel
Barnett Hill Hotel
★★★★
"Natural and attentive service throughout the hotel...."
- Family rooms: 0
- Free TV
- WiFi available
Inn
The Drummond at Albury
Quality Assessed
"A great place to stay that also serves a seriously decent cup of coffee...."
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Edgeley Country Park
Within 45-minutes of central London and Gatwick Airport, but a whole world away from the stresses of everyday life, Edgeley Country Park is an idyllic retreat. Tucked away in 26 acres o...
★★★★★ Rating
Barnett Hill Hotel
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The Drummond at Albury
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Guildford Manor Hotel
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The Richard Onslow
A historic building on Cranleigh’s High Street, The Richard Onslow is a classic English village inn. Alongside a friendly old bar and snug, an elegant dining room, and a secluded courty...
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The Kings Head
Tucked away in a tranquil village in the Surrey Hills, The Kings Head offers three very comfy and stylish bedrooms. The team are extremely friendly and the kitchen sends out delicious a...
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The Mandolay Hotel
Ideally located near the heart of Guildford, The Mandolay Hotel combines contemporary style with comfort and convenience. All bedrooms are thoughtfully designed with modern amenities, i...
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Guildford Harbour Hotel
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