There are a lot of things people get for their birthdays: a cake, a gift, or a party. For me last year, was a birthday walk! At the start of 2020, I made two New Year’s Resolutions: quit smoking and hike at least twice a month. By my birthday on 17th January, I had not touched a cigarette and I was on my second walk of the year! I was on track, but that was of course without saying that a global pandemic would send the world into lockdown a month and a half later.
I did this hike with a friend and we booked it through Outdooraholics, a Meetup group. The Farnham circular is an interesting walk to do as it takes you through sites full of history. So, let’s take a walk in the past!
Logistics for the Farnham circular walk
- Distance: 12 miles (19km)
- Total Ascent: 328 ft (100 m)
- Highest Point: 358 ft (110 m)
- Lowest Point: 164 ft (50 m)
- Walking estimate: 4 hours and a half to 5 hours
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- How to get there:
- Trains from London Waterloo. It takes approximately 1 hour
- It is a circular walk so you can book a day return ticket
- What to pack:
- Comfortable footwear and clothing
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and head cover, if you are going on a bright day
- Rain gear if you are going on a rainy day
- Water (at least 2L recommended),
- Snacks & packed lunch if you are not planning on stopping at the pub for lunch
- Additional Information
- There are no public toilets on this walk
- Customer Toilets are available at the Barley Mow Pub in Tilford
- Where to eat and drink:
- The Barley Mow, Tilford, Surrey
Highlights of the Farnham circular walk
- Farnham
- Moor Park
- Mother Ludlam’s Witch Cave
- Waverley Abbey
- Tilford village
- 800-year-old oak tree
- Bourne Woods
The Farnham circular walk
Farnham
We start our walk on a beautiful sunny day. We arrive at Farnham, an ancient market town in Surrey. The town is located 35 miles (56.32km) away from London and accessible by train from London Waterloo. The history of Farnham traces back to the Stone Age as shown by the tools and animal bones that have been found in gravel pits. We find many old buildings in the town such as Georgian houses and Farnham Castle.
Moor Park: a Witch Cave and an Abbey
As we leave the town of Farnham, we enter the site of Moor Park. The site is 60 acres of riverside grounds. We pass by the Gate House, easily recognisable by its clock above the gate, which was the site of the Battle of Moor Park. In 1897, Sir William Rose, the owner of Moor Park, had chained the gate as he decided he did not want anyone to enter the park without prior written authorisation. On the morning of January 17th, four to five hundred local men and women, gathered outside armed with sticks and forced open the gate. This miniature battle has been called the Battle of Moor Park.
We then continue on the trail and arrive at Mother Ludlam’s Cave. The 192 feet long cave is associated with the legend of Mother Ludlam who was a white witch. There are many versions of the legend With the most popular being recorded in 1937. It says that the Devil, in disguise, tried to borrow a cauldron from Mother Ludlam who recognised him. Therefore the Devil stole the cauldron and in his escape created a series of hills with his footprints, known as the Devil’s Jump. He ended up dropping the cauldron on the last hill, now called “Kettle bury”. To keep the cauldron safe from the Devil, Mother Ludlam took it to Frensham Church, where it remains.
We then go on to explore the site of Waverley Abbey which was the first Cistercian Abbey in England. It was demolished in 1536 after King Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of the Monasteries. The stones were used for local buildings including the Waverley Abbey House.
Tilford green & green woods
We continue our walk by the river Way and come across one of the few remaining Victorian wall postboxes in the country.
We take the direction of Tilford where we stop for lunch. Tilford is a pretty little village by the River Way. It has a traditional green where we can watch cricket matches. Tilford is the home of an oak tree estimated to be 800 years old with an 8-metre girth.
Once our lunch is over, we start walking back towards Farnham. Before we reach our last waypoint, we encounter some pigs, who came running to greet us.
We finally arrive at Bourne Woods. This site is a famous film location, where scenes from movies such as Gladiator, Robin Hood and Harry Potter have been shot. Most recently a huge film crew was spotted in Bourne Wood. Rumour has it that they were filming season 2 of the Netflix production “The Witcher”, but hush hush, it’s a secret!
Looking for more walks in Surrey? why not check these posts
Guildford Circular: A Walk In The North Downs
Shere To Dorking: Walk In The North Downs
7 Best Surrey Hills Walks – Guides & Walking Routes
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